Thank you. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Mr. Allen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, during the past few weeks, we have heard considerable discussion regarding the implementation of the harmonization of the income support and public housing programs. Some Members have made comments suggesting that changes should be made to the initiative, others have encouraged us to move ahead with the planned April 1st implementation.

My Cabinet colleagues and I have given consideration to the comments that have been made in this House and to the comments of the Standing Committee on Social Programs.

This morning Cabinet agreed to proceed with the implementation of the harmonization initiative on April 1st of this year. We feel that the initiative is important and that the result of the planned changes will be positive.

However, we have also listened carefully to the comments that have been made. As a result, we have made an important change to our plans. This change will mean that seniors living in public housing on April 1, 2003, will not have their incomes assessed for rent purposes. In other words, Mr. Speaker, seniors currently living in public housing will continue to be treated in a similar manner to the way they are treated now.

Mr. Speaker, the harmonization initiative is an important activity for this government. It will result in a consistent rent scale and improved equity in benefits. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Item 2, Ministers' statements. Mr. Antoine.

Item 2, Ministers' statements. Mr. Antoine.

Thank you. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Braden.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, for the past three to four years, our territory has been leading Canada as the fastest growing economy in the country. We have been blessed with diamonds and petroleum development that promises to sustain us for years to come, but that superheated economic activity comes with a price, a very tangible price that we are paying as our social infrastructure struggles to keep pace. One of the most pronounced problems we face, and it isn't restricted to the city of Yellowknife, is dramatic pressure on our housing stock. Mr. Speaker, we just can't keep up with the demand. The consequence, sadly, is what used to be an affordable and relatively available housing market is virtually non-existent. It's played havoc with the lives and the pocketbooks of the low and middle income earners, the single families, the young people trying to get a start on life and the elderly trying to make for a comfortable retirement.

Last fall, two Yellowknife business people, renters themselves, told me they wanted to do something and started a petition. I was pleased that Barry Newman and Mark Zimmer accepted my offer to help and today, Mr. Speaker, I will have the privilege of tabling a petition with the signatures of 405 Yellowknifers who agree with us.

What we are seeing is a better way to end and resolve the sky rocketing costs of rent. We want this government to do more to help developers build affordable rental housing. We want all Northerners to be able to afford to live comfortably, safely and within their means and share in the amazing future we have ahead of us. When I was in the malls and grocery stores looking for signatures, Mr. Speaker, I heard more stories from families and people, young and old, about the daunting rent hikes they are facing. Increases of 10, 12 and 14 percent every year for the past three years. Grandparents forced to accommodate their own grandchildren who, as young adults, can't afford to strike out on their own. Single-parent students facing a rent bill of over $1,300 a month.

I also heard from landlords, Mr. Speaker, who need better ways of coping with problems that arise when tenants can't or won't hold up their end of the deal. Our objective, Mr. Speaker, is to get the government's attention and recognize that our 15-year-old landlord and tenant legislation just isn't helping us as we move forward into a new economy in the new NWT. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

The Member is seeking unanimous consent. Are there any nays? You have unanimous consent, Mr. Braden.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The problem is that there are too many people with almost no alternatives when it comes to affordable rental housing. Mr. Speaker, the 405 signatures that I will put before the Assembly later today are ample evidence that government needs to look at the situation. To those who have dismissed our efforts as a thinly disguised effort at rent control, I say you are ignoring a very real problem that is affecting many people around us. This is not rent control. I do not want such a blunt and clumsy barrier to development. Both renters and tenants deserve better ways to resolve issues than our laws afford them today. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Newman, Mr. Zimmer and I are under no illusions that the issues we are bringing forward are going to be solved right away. Finding good answers will take time, good research and a good deal of consultation. I appeal to the government to pay attention to the 405 people I represent today and make that commitment to the future. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Item 3, Members' statements. Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, Mr. Roland.

Item 3, Members' statements. Member for Frame Lake, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier in this session, I asked the Minister responsible for the FMBS about the policy that we have today covering e-mail and Internet usage. From his response, I am concerned that there is a need to revisit the policy. He read a line from the policy that said, and I quote from unedited Hansard, February 25, 2003: "The use of this equipment or technology for any other purpose is not appropriate." Mr. Speaker, he then went on to say, again according to Hansard, that: "When inappropriate use is detected, employees are normally advised of this." Mr. Speaker, the policy says no use except business use is acceptable and the Minister has advised us in the House that normally when this happens, employees are advised of it. Later, in speaking to the media, the Minister said the rules are not absolute.

Mr. Speaker, to me that means the policy as it stands is open to manipulation. There is a potential for supervisors to pick and choose when to enforce it. I think that's too arbitrary. It allows for selective enforcement. Right now, the way the policy is written forbids any personal use. Yet, Mr. Speaker, even our telephone policy admits that the GNWT allows, and I quote from that policy: "Employees to have reasonable use of government phones for personal reasons." The entire item covering phone use is about two paragraphs long. There is no question about the policy, as to what is or what is not permitted under it. There is no room for selective enforcement by supervisors. Mr. Speaker, how can the government monitor whether supervisors are selectively dealing with our Internet policy as it now stands? The Minister stated in this House that there have been individuals disciplined under the policy. I am quite sure that other than those few select individuals, there are many others who use the Internet and e-mail for personal reasons.

Mr. Speaker, GNWT employees are using the Internet for personal use, just as they use the telephone for personal reasons. That's a fact. So why not recognize it as being used and come up with a simple and reasonable policy? If we are going to say it's okay some of the time, then let's say that. Perhaps we should say if you are going to use the Internet or e-mail for personal use, use it during coffee breaks or lunch hour or after work. Let's have something that makes sense and is consistent. Let's develop a policy that is simple, reasonable, clear and one that can be monitored across the board. Let's be fair to everyone. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Item 3, Members' statements. Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Nitah.

The Member is seeking unanimous consent. Are there any nays? You have unanimous consent, Mr. Nitah.

I would just remind Members that there is a time limit on Members' statements. It's two-and-a-half minutes and we hope you can try to do it within the time limit. If you ask for unanimous consent, try to keep it brief and wrap up your statement in a short time frame. Item 3, Members' statements. Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on every first Wednesday of the month since becoming an MLA unless I am out of town, I have attended a parents' advisory group meeting at Range Lake North School. I will be doing that again tonight and, in their honour, I would like to speak about the enormously valuable work they do in the school and in our community. I also know that a similar group exists in all other schools in the city and in the Territories and I would like to honour all of them as well. Mr. Speaker, the Range Lake North School PAC is made up of parents who volunteer their time, knowledge and resources for one reason and one reason only: because they care about the education their children receive and they want to contribute to that process. They don't expect anything else in return and they certainly don't get any remuneration for all their hard work. Sometimes they do get very disappointed when they hear public statements by leaders who seem to have less appreciation for the work they do than they ought to.

From my own experience, Mr. Speaker, I don't know any other organization more focused and effective in achieving their stated mission and objective. I was there at the end of last school year when they divvied up the money they raised by various means throughout the year. They voted to give $3,500 for band instruments and another $3,500 to be divvied between all classes, so that every home room teacher can buy supplies for their students. They also put $1,000 towards a science video collection so that their students could have access to this internationally renowned learning tool. They provide a snack program, so that every student would have a snack when they need it if they don't have their own for various reasons. In the past, they have provided hats and mitts to students who don't come to school properly dressed, they make available reflective tape for students, so that they can travel safely in the darkness of the winter, they lobbied for flashing lights in school zones near the school to ensure the safety of the children as well. There is so much they do, it's too numerous to mention, Mr. Speaker. We also know about work being done by groups in other schools, Mr. Speaker.

PAC at J.H. Sissons this year made by hand a neck warmer with the school logo for every student. This was not only to keep the students warm, but to promote and enhance the school spirit. They plan to do it for a whole new set of students who will be entering their school next year.

I know that the committee in K'alemi Dene School in Ndilo is the driving force behind the success of that school as well. Mr. Speaker, I must tell you they do much more than organizing a fund raiser. They are deeply involved in every aspect of the functioning of the school. They are there to support teachers when they go through the stress of preparing report cards and parent teacher interviews. Mr. Speaker, may I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement?

The Member for Range Lake is seeking unanimous consent to conclude her statement. Do I hear any nays? There are no nays. You have unanimous consent, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. Mr. Speaker, may I conclude by saying the parents advisory groups and committees are deeply involved in every aspect of the functioning of a school. They are there to support teachers when they go through the stress of preparing report cards and parent teacher interviews .They are intimately aware of the needs and ups and downs of all the staff and keep in close touch with the school administration, who also take active roles in the workings of PAC because they also know happy teachers make for a good learning environment for the students. Last year, Range Lake North School PAC also organized a forum on class sizes and signed petitions for action and submitted it to the Minister and the school board. Mr. Speaker, I know I speak for every Member in this House when I say we fully appreciate and recognize the important work they do in every school and in every community in the Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you. I would just like to remind Members in the House, there are certain rules we follow with regard to what we bring into the House. I have been notified that a few jaws are moving. I hope you are chewing ice because we do not allow food in the Chamber. Water is allowed, you can be chewing on your ice. Just a reminder to Members. Item 3, Members' statements. Member for Deh Cho, Mr. McLeod.