Good afternoon, Members. Before we proceed at this time, I would like to provide my ruling on the point of order raised on Tuesday, October 19, 2004, by the Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Mrs. Groenewegen rose on a point of order during question period after a question and answer exchange between the Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya, and the Minister of Transportation, the Honourable Michael McLeod. Mrs. Groenewegen's point is that the Minister, in responding to a question, was making reference to confidential proceedings in a standing committee and, in doing so, was inferring committee compliance with certain government initiatives. I quote the Member for Hay River South, page 1885 of the unedited Hansard: "I just wanted to raise a point of order that when Ministers share information with standing committees like GED or the Social Programs committee, that we are obliged to keep that information to ourselves and not to raise it in direct reference in the House in order to obtain information about future years' plans. I want to raise this because Minister McLeod was just referencing the plan and decisions of his department. He made reference to the fact that these were discussed with the GED and the GED approved them, and it makes it sound as if this was done at the initiative of a standing committee, as opposed to the department. We share information in the standing committees, but referring to decisions in direct reference to consultation of information that happened and communication that happened within the standing committee is inappropriate in the House."

In addressing this matter, I have reviewed unedited Hansard from October 19, 2004, in particular Mr. McLeod's response to Mr. Yakeleya on page 1883 and 1884, which gives rise to Mrs. Groenewegen's point of order. "Mr. Speaker, we have plans to invest $40 million into the Sahtu roads. We have met with the GED committee and they have advised us that some of our investments should be moved. This year we decided to move $1 million out of the Sahtu, we also are planning to move money out of the Ingraham Trail program into Highway No. 1."

In stating her point of order, I note that Mrs. Groenewegen did not identify which rule of the House the Minister infringed upon. In fact, strictly speaking, we do not have a particular rule stating that Members shall not refer to in camera committee discussions in the House. However, I draw Members' attention to Rule 2(g) of the rules of the Legislative Assembly which states that, "point of order means any departure from any written or unwritten rule or custom of this Assembly or of parliamentary tradition." In this instance, the House is governed by its own precedence and long-standing parliamentary traditions and conventions.

In terms of precedence, I am guided by a ruling by Speaker Whitford on February 14, 2001, in which he rules: "It is an infringement of our rules and contrary to parliamentary practice for Members to refer to committee proceedings that have not been reported to this House. Specifically, I want to caution Members about making reference to what may or may not have been said or who may or may not have been in attendance in any proceedings or events outside of this House."

I am also guided by page 885 of Marleau and Montpetit House of Commons Procedures and Practices: "It is not in order for Members to allude to committee proceedings or evidence in the House until the committee has presented its report to the House. This restriction applies to both references made by Members in debate or during oral question period."

In this matter, Mr. McLeod is relating information respecting the plans of his department. He is certainly permitted to do so. He alluded to advice he received from the GED committee on proposed expenditures for roads in the Sahtu and throughout the territory.

It is relevant in this case to determine whether the advice Minister McLeod is referring to is specifically included in a committee report that has been tabled in this House. In reviewing the public reports of the GED committee, I can find no specific reference to the advice Minister McLeod referred to in the House on Tuesday. While the committee's Report on the Review of the 2004-2005 Draft Main Estimates does make reference to general discussion in committee about the allocation of transportation funding, there is no clear and specific reference to the Minister having received advice on the matters he referred to in the House on Tuesday. I can thus only conclude that any discussion must have taken place at an in camera meeting of the committee and was not specifically included in its report to the House. Therefore, I find that the Member for Hay River South does have a point of order.

As a cautionary note, I would like to take this opportunity to review a number of matters with all Members. While this matter has been addressed by way of a point or order, breaches of committee confidentiality can also constitute a breach of privilege, if raised as such. I again refer to Marleau and Montpetit from page 838 of their House of Commons Procedures and Practices, and I quote: "Divulging any part of the proceeding of an in camera committee meeting has been ruled by the Speaker to constitute a prima facie matter of privilege."

As your Speaker, I have noted a number of occasions during the 15th Assembly that Members, both Ministers and Regular Members, have inadvertently referred to standing committee business and issues in the course of debate and in question period. In some instances, the issues had been previously reported from committee, but often that has not been the case. Now that the matter has been raised and all Members are aware that such references are a serious transgression, I know my caution will be taken to heart.

I can also understand that often it is not clear what references are allowed and which are not. Certainly, when discussing multi-year planning initiatives, some of the information related to past or current years is likely public knowledge, whereas future plans and initiatives may not be. Clearly, the government has the prerogative to disclose matters not yet public as they see fit, even if these matters have been discussed with committee in camera. However, neither Ministers nor Regular Members are permitted to allude to in camera committee proceedings or evidence until the committee has included these proceedings in its report to the House.

As the current point of order illustrates, this is obviously a very difficult distinction to make in many cases, and it is not one the Chair can be expected to be aware of in all instances. Therefore, Members on both sides of the House have a duty to ensure that they are mindful of the rules about confidential information and are respectful of one another at all times. This is one of those areas where it might be prudent to err on the side of caution so that the privileges of all Members, individually and collectively, are protected.

Thank you, Members. Before I go on, I would like to draw your attention to the visitor's gallery. I would like to draw your attention to the presence of Captain Tony Evans of the HMCS Yellowknife.

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With Captain Evans is the HMCS sponsor, Pat McMahon.

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Item 2, Ministers' statements. The honourable Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to provide Members with an update on the Mackenzie gas project and our ongoing preparations for this exciting development project.

As the Premier stated in his sessional statement at the opening of the session, the Mackenzie gas project is a key to the long-term strategic interests of the Northwest Territories and the socioeconomic future of our territory. The Government of the Northwest Territories remains committed to this project, to the joint panel process established to review it and to ensuring that northerners fully benefit from this development.

The proposed Mackenzie gas project is an ambitious project that includes: natural gas gathering facilities in the Mackenzie Delta, a gas processing plant near Inuvik and natural gas and gas liquid pipelines down the Mackenzie Valley to bring the production to market.

With the filing of the environmental impact statement and associated federal regulatory applications by the project proponents, the scope of the project has now been clearly defined and the formal approval process for the project has been set in motion.

The environmental impact statement is a large and complex document, totalling several thousand pages. Our focus in the short term is ensuring that we can conduct a full and thorough review of this document. To take advantage of the expertise that exists within both the GNWT and federal governments, we are working with our federal partners to establish a series of teams to review specific aspects of the filing. We have also established internal committees to coordinate the review and approval of interventions related to the socioeconomic and environmental mandates of this government.

The Joint Cabinet/Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight Pipeline Planning Committee, established to provide advice and guidance to the government on the Mackenzie gas project, has met to consider how we can best prepare for this project. The work of the joint committee will focus on the issues, interests and priorities we must consider in our planning and preparation for this project.

As noted earlier, this government is committed to ensuring that northerners fully benefit from this project. One mechanism to ensure this occurs is through the negotiation of meaningful socioeconomic agreements with the proponents. Over the coming months, the joint committee will consider and advise on the priority areas that we believe must be addressed in these agreements. These priorities include employment and training, infrastructure, social impacts, community capacity and economic opportunities.

The proposed Mackenzie gas project has the potential to create enormous economic opportunities and benefits for the Northwest Territories. We are committed to ensuring that NWT residents can take advantage of these opportunities and that the proposed Mackenzie gas project is undertaken in a manner that is both environmentally and economically sustainable over the long term.

Mr. Speaker, this government is committed to these objectives, and we are taking the necessary steps to ensure that they will be achieved. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Item 2, Ministers' statements. The honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Labour Standards Act lays out employment standards for non-unionized businesses in the territory. It was first enacted in 1968 and was based on legislation in effect across Canada. It has been amended over the

years on a piecemeal basis and now the act is disjointed and at times difficult to interpret.

The Department of Justice has initiated a review of the legislation and later today, at the appropriate time, I will table the document: Renewing the Labour Standards Act of the Northwest Territories: A Consultation Paper.

Mr. Speaker, in this consultation paper, the department has identified proposed directions for reforming the act. Employers or employees are directly affected by this legislation and will be impacted by changes that might be made. This consultation is an opportunity for all who are interested to participate in the review of this important legislation.

The consultation paper contains a brief summary of the major components of employment standards legislation, proposes directions for change and poses questions for discussion.

Mr. Speaker, the Department of Justice wants to hear from employees, employers and interested residents on the specific proposals and questions raised in the consultation paper. As well, any other comments or suggestions about employment standards in the Northwest Territories will be welcomed.

Copies of the consultation document are available by contacting the Department of Justice or visiting the website at www.justice.gov.nt.ca. Copies of the consultation paper are also being sent to unions, chambers of commerce and employers' groups.

Mr. Speaker, after the consultation process is completed, the Government of the Northwest Territories will review the comments and decide whether to proceed with reform of the legislation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Item 2, Ministers' statements. The honourable Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I am pleased to provide Members with an update on the recent appointment of Mr. Jim Antoine as the pan-northern ambassador for the 2007 Canada Winter Games that will take place from February 24 to March 10, 2007 in Whitehorse, Yukon.

---Applause

2007 will mark the 40th anniversary of the Canada Winter Games. Nearly 4,000 athletes, coaches and officials and many thousands of other spectators and media from every part of Canada will travel to Whitehorse to experience the North during the games.

With the announcement of Mr. Antoine as the pan-northern ambassador, the three territorial Premiers and the Whitehorse Host Society are recognizing that this event will be a unique opportunity to showcase the Yukon, Nunavut and the Northwest Territories and the many things we have to offer the rest of Canada.

Initially, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Antoine's work will include coordinating the development of a pan-territorial agreement on a range of potential joint projects. These may include:

• • a national marketing campaign featuring territorial tourism, cultural and economic development opportunities;
• • a pan-northern torch relay;
• • joint sport development programs for athletes, coaches and officials;
• • joint promotion of northern artists and their works; and,
• • television coverage of territorial athletes and performers.

Once agreement is reached on the joint projects, Mr. Antoine will lead officials from the three jurisdictions in implementing them over the next two-and-a-half years.

Mr. Chair, I had the opportunity to meet with Mr. Antoine earlier this week and I can report that he is very enthusiastic about this opportunity and is committed to working hard to help all three territories reap the benefits of this great event.

2007 will be the first time the Canada Winter Games have been held north of 60, and will also be the last Canada Winter Games before the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver/Whistler.

Promoting the games will provide our territory with an opportunity to develop coaches, officials and athletes with a view to maximum northern participation at the 2010 Winter Olympics.

To do this successfully will require an investment and the three territorial governments will be seeking out partnerships as a way to realize our goals. The pan-northern ambassador will be approaching the private sector, including businesses and corporations in all three territories, to support this initiative. Mr. Speaker, we encourage all northern companies to work with us to make this event a success.

With his distinguished career as a former Member of this Assembly, a former Premier, a former chief and a prominent hockey player, Mr. Antoine will make a unique contribution to the success of the 2007 Canada Winter Games. I am very pleased that he has agreed to help all northerners take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Thank you, Mr. McLeod. I am sure I speak for all Members of this House on congratulating Mr. Antoine on that appointment.

Before I go on, I would like to draw attention to the presence in the Speaker's Gallery of Mr. Tony Whitford, former Speaker of the House.

---Applause

Item 2, Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I want to talk about the real and lasting benefits that need to be realized from resource development in the Northwest Territories.

Everyone knows that economic activity associated with a project of the magnitude of the Mackenzie gas pipeline is enormous. It would be the envy of any jurisdiction to experience the contracts, the jobs and the boom of such a development. Mr. Speaker, we, as northern leaders, representing the interests of our constituents, cannot be nearsighted. We cannot succumb to the temptation to support development that in the short time, on the good side, will supply us with business, service, transportation, exploration and value-added sectors, but in the long term, will leave us beholden to the goodness of the government-of-the-day in Ottawa for years to come.

We are understandably interested in ensuring that we are poised to benefit from these activities, but can be assured through things such as a sound socioeconomic agreement. It's the challenge of managing megaprojects and resource development to realize benefits along the way. We are poised and ready to participate in everything from pipe coating to the transportation of tons of materials and supplies needed to build a pipeline. I know the businesses in my riding that I represent are preparing for and anticipating the needs of industry but, Mr. Speaker, there is a bigger picture and it would be irresponsible of this government to ignore that bigger picture.

After the boom of construction, there has to be a lasting residual benefit and a legacy to Northerners. That piece is a rightful and fair share of royalties.

---Applause

Without the underpinning of near-term predictable revenues from royalties, our ability as northern governments to provide program services and infrastructure is going to be seriously limited. We have already invested a huge amount in preparation for this pipeline and we have done it on our limited resources. Projecting into future needs based on the impact of population growth, social challenges and infrastructure demands, we are going to be seriously fiscally challenged. We need a vision and leadership that is farsighted.

The folly of being nearsighted reminds me of a story in the Bible in the Old Testament about two brothers. The older brother was entitled to his birthright, but because he'd come in from the land and he was so hungry, he gave up his inheritance for a small bowl of soup. Mr. Speaker, I would like to seek unanimous consent from my colleagues to conclude my statement.

The Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude her statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Mrs. Groenewegen, you may conclude your statement.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. As I said, the older brother came in from the land. He was so hungry that he quickly gave up his inheritance for a bowl of soup, which satisfied his temporary needs. He later tried to recover it as he wept with bitter tears, but it was too late. Just as the resources of Alberta belonged to and benefited Albertans, a fair share of the non-renewable resources of the NWT belong to Northerners and the governments that represent them.

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The land and the resources on and under that land are the inheritance of Northerners, and that, Mr. Speaker, is not negotiable. When Premier Handley and Minister Roland go to Ottawa, take this message: We were not elected to sell out the inheritance of this generation or generations to come. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My statement today is going to focus on an issue that I've raised in the House before and one that I am very interested in seeing addressed. The issue is the establishment of a permanent trust fund for the benefit of all residents of the Northwest Territories.

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Mr. Speaker, as we are all well aware, the Northwest Territories is on the verge of the development of a Mackenzie Valley pipeline. Our government is spending a tremendous amount of money, time and energy on ensuring that we are ready for this megaproject, but the fact still remains that Ottawa will stand to reap the lion's share of royalties from this pipeline. Over a 30-year period, it amounts to over $21 billion. Over that same 30-year period, the Northwest Territories will receive $900 million. It just does not make sense. It does not make sense that we do not have a fair resource royalty deal with Ottawa. Why can't Ottawa start putting money away for us into a permanent trust fund so that all northerners will benefit? I'm tired of hearing why they can't. I want someone in Ottawa to tell us how it can happen.

The resources here are our resources. We deserve and must demand action from Ottawa. The state of Alaska, which has a population of over 600,000 people, has a permanent trust fund and, each year, pays a dividend to every Alaskan. It varies from year to year, Mr. Speaker, from $1,300 to $2,200. Imagine for a minute what a trust fund like the one in Alaska could do for us in the Northwest Territories where our population is just 43,000 persons. What an incentive for persons looking to move here -- teachers, nurses, doctors -- and those who are here would like to stay a little bit longer if we had something like that. It would be a bonus for living here, and the beauty of it is that everyone, aboriginal and non-aboriginal alike, would benefit.

I know the Premier and the government continue their discussions with Ottawa, and everyone is hoping and

praying a deal can be struck. Until then, it is my contention that we don't take no for an answer from Ottawa and that we demand resource royalties be put in trust until a fair solution and agreement can be agreed upon. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Pokiak.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Given the recent application by Imperial Oil and the Aboriginal Pipeline Group to construct a Mackenzie Valley gas pipeline and the formation of a joint review panel, it is imperative that this government maximize the amount of available training so that residents are ready for the jobs that will be available.

Past experiences with Dome Petroleum and the construction of the Norman Wells pipeline in particular have shown the Northwest Territories to lack qualified residents and the necessary infrastructure to meet the needs of the oil and gas industry. Sadly, Mr. Speaker, most of the jobs associated with these two projects went to southern Canadians. Mr. Speaker, with the pipeline project beginning its regulatory pace, it is now time for this government to prepare our people for the many jobs in construction or maintaining the pipeline.

We have $15 million for the Aboriginal Skills Employment Partnership Program. We must, in all regions, start training our people. In the Beaufort-Delta, there is talk of a new Aurora College training centre. There is also talk of building a students' residence to accommodate students from Beaufort-Delta who may be taking training in oil and gas.

Mr. Speaker, there is a solution to the dilemma of available training and accommodation space. In my home town of Tuktoyaktuk, we do have the facilities to accommodate up to 40 students. I speak of the two industrial camps. If the Department of Education, Culture and Employment and the board of governors of Aurora College can allocate some of the available training money sooner rather than later, we could have residents ready for meaningful employment in the construction and ongoing maintenance of the pipeline.

Once again, Mr. Speaker, if we are to realize a net benefit from resource development, I will emphasize that time is of the essence. Let's get moving on training our people so that this opportunity does not pass us by. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Villeneuve.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Today I rise to talk about some of the important environmental concerns related to the Mackenzie gas project.

Mr. Speaker, I cannot fully express the importance of the Mackenzie Valley with regards to the cultural connection it makes between people from the Deh Cho, the Gwich'in, the Sahtu, and the Inuvialuit. Mr. Speaker, the Mackenzie Valley contains one of the world's last great free-running river systems, the Mackenzie River. Aside from being the longest river in Canada, and the Mackenzie Delta being the largest delta in Canada and the second-largest wetland in Canada, the river also plays a significant role in regulating the circulation of the world's oceans and climate systems. Northern development, the magnitude and the scale of the Mackenzie gas megaproject, will have significant impact leading to the destruction and displacement of wildlife habitat, the fragmentation of migration routes for all of our waterfowl and the disruption of northern harvesting practices and traditions, just to name a few, no matter how many precautionary measures or regulatory regimes are put in place for their protection.

Mr. Speaker, as you and my colleagues may well be aware, there have been conservation efforts and commitments by this government and the federal government in developing a strategy which includes initiatives regarding the protection of a network of culturally and ecologically-significant areas which will be affected by the development of natural resources. I would still like to stress the utmost importance of assuring the people of the Northwest Territories, Canada, and even the world, that regardless of increasing developmental pressure and growing global demands for more environmentally-friendly forms of energy, we will not and cannot jeopardize the diversity and ecological integrity of our eco-regions strictly due to the fact that we owe it to our children, their children, and their children's children.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to end my statement with a quote from Alfred Taniton, an elder who met with the AOC members during our strategy session in Deline earlier this year. Mr. Taniton, with a short analogy, has always remained with me and surfaces in my mind every time the pipeline project is mentioned to me, and I hope that, by reiterating it today in the House, it will serve as a reminder to us all about the spiritual, cultural, traditional and integral relationship we have with our environment.

Mr. Villeneuve, your time for your Member's statement has expired.

I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement, Mr. Speaker.

The Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. You may conclude your statement, Mr. Villeneuve.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just to finish off my quote from the elder, Alfred Taniton. I quote, Mr. Speaker, "Mother earth and everything about her is as sensitive to developments and changes as humans are to illnesses and harm. When people scratch themselves and have their skin removed, it affects other parts of our body. Although time will eventually heal the wound, we are

always left with a scar which never goes away. This is what the pipeline will do to Mother Earth." Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for North Slave, Mr. Zoe.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise in the House today to speak about the need for strong leadership at this crucial time in the Northwest Territories' history.

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Land claims up and down the valley are either completed or under negotiations. Self-government will soon be a reality in many regions, changing the political landscape of the Northwest Territories. Leaders of First Nations groups across the Northwest Territories are in a strong position to negotiate the terms and conditions of future resource development in the best interests of their people.

Mr. Speaker, the potential benefits of the pipeline are significant. The Mackenzie Valley gas pipeline is expected to bring about the largest economic boom in the history of the Northwest Territories. The economic benefits for the Northwest Territories, if this opportunity is managed correctly, are enormous. Exploration of diamonds and other minerals continues. No doubt, there are more large-scale mining projects in the future.

Mr. Speaker, we are a territory that is rich in resources, and yet many of our people are still struggling to make ends meet. This won't change unless we can work together to negotiate the very best possible deals with resource companies and with the Government of Canada. I read the following quote about leadership not too long ago, and it struck me as how fitting for this time in the history of the Northwest Territories. I quote, "I started with the premise that the function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers." According to the premise of this quote, leadership in the Northwest Territories has done well over the last decade. There are now more leaders working in the best interest of the people of Northwest Territories than ever before. However, as we all move our agendas forward, it is crucial that we not allow ourselves to fall prey to divide-and-conquer tactics by outsiders. We might agree to disagree on some things, but we all have a common interest in making sure we, as northerners, are the primary beneficiaries of resource development.

Mr. Zoe, your time for your Member's statement has expired.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

Thank you, Mr. Zoe. The Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. You may conclude your statement, Mr. Zoe.

Mahsi, colleagues. Mr. Speaker, the Aboriginal Pipeline Group has made substantial gains in terms of ensuring aboriginal people of Northwest Territories will benefit from the proposed pipeline. It is a great example of how cooperation can be successful. As leaders of the Government of the Northwest Territories, the Premier has the crucial leadership role in helping the Northwest Territories work together for the benefit of our territory. Time is of essence, Mr. Speaker. If leaders across the Northwest Territories do not rise to the opportunity and come together to ensure NWT residents receive the benefits of our northern resources, we risk losing out on this historic opportunity.

Mr. Speaker, I urge the Premier to be a leader among leaders. Now is the time to join forces. It is the Premier's role to rally the troops. We must all work even more diligently to ensure resource development is to the benefit of the Northwest Territories' residents. Mahsi.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Zoe. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, 28 years ago, when the first plan was being made to build the Mackenzie Valley pipeline, Judge Thomas Berger was asked to review the socioeconomic impacts the project would have on the people of the North. After hearing all the facts, Justice Berger recommended that the project be postponed and that a 10-year moratorium on all pipeline construction be put into place. He recommended the moratorium because he recognized the fact that northern aboriginal peoples were not ready to engage the pipeline project. They were not in a position to derive any meaningful benefits from it. He felt, after 10 years, that it would be sufficient time to settle all outstanding aboriginal land claims in the Mackenzie Valley, thereby ensuring aboriginal people a meaningful role in the project when it eventually went ahead.

Mr. Speaker, I regret to inform the House that our federal government has fallen far short of Mr. Berger's recommendation. We have had three times the amount of time Berger gave us and still not all land claims in the Mackenzie Valley have been settled. In that time, we did build a pipeline, the Norman Wells pipeline. As a member of the Liidlii Kue Band Council and a councillor at that time, I remember the experience very well. The Deh Cho Dene didn't have a settled land claim then either, and the projects happened, just like Justice Berger said it would, without meaningful benefits accruing to aboriginal people.

There were promises of benefits, but none of those promises were ever met. First Nations yet again had to deal with broken promises. This must not be allowed to happen again, and I will do everything I can to ensure that this will not happen again. All aboriginal and northern people must receive direct long-term benefits from the construction of a Mackenzie Valley pipeline and access and benefit agreements that are clearly defined in writing, if not cast in stone. Nothing else will do. This is very imperative. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his

statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. You may conclude your statement, Mr. Menicoche.

Honourable colleagues, mahsi cho for allowing me to conclude my Member's statement. I just want to point out that the North was born on hunting and trapping, and the land provided for us. The animals provided for us and the furs provided us cash. In this modern day and age, the land is still giving us an opportunity to take care of us through the gas, oil and all the resources that are in the North. Here is our opportunity for the land to continue to take care of us, but today we call it resource revenue sharing. I believe firmly that our government has to urge the federal government to say this is a priority for the northern governments. In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, the pipeline we are talking about today must benefit all of us. I firmly believe that. Nothing else is acceptable. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, indeed the news is out about the Northwest Territories diamonds, oil and gas, and our exceptional economic situation is making good copy in southern newspapers. Our economic growth is almost 10 times greater than the rest of Canada, and our employment rates are also breaking all records already without the pipeline. In Yellowknife, we have full employment, statistically speaking, already.

Mr. Speaker, the future indeed looks very bright, but there are many in our communities who are very concerned about the social impact the explosion of booming economy from the pipeline development will bring to the NWT, because, Mr. Speaker, we also topped the statistics on all negative indicators as well. We have an extraordinarily high rate in alcohol and drug abuse. We have out-of-control gambling addictions. We have FAS, FAE, and a high rate of suicide among youths. We have an increasing amount of sexually-transmitted diseases, as well, and in all forms of criminal rate we are at the forefront in these unfortunate statistics as well. Mr. Speaker, I must admit to you that this government has not done enough. We have not prepared people in our communities to be ready to take advantage of the economic prosperity that is to come without crippling impacts that could possibly destroy our communities in the process.

Mr. Speaker, our residents all along the Mackenzie Valley corridor are very concerned about what kind of impact the inflow of thousands of transient workers from the South will have on the cultural and social fabric of our small communities. It is vital that, in all their negotiations and at all tables, the socioeconomic impact of this development project remains at a high level of the agenda. Mr. Speaker, I would like to applaud the Native Women's Association for organizing a conference at the beginning of next month in Fort Providence that will deal...

---Applause

...that will deal with these very issues, and there will be a lot of distinguished aboriginal women leaders who will give us a lot of guidance, and we could do good by listening to what they are saying. I would also conclude by recognizing the very good work done by the Status of Women Council of the NWT.

---Applause

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. The Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude her statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Ms. Lee, you may conclude your statement.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. I would like to conclude by recognizing the very good work done by the Status of Women Council of the NWT who, in July of 2004, released a report titled Review of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement, Terms of Reference of the Mackenzie Gas Project. It is an excellent report with two very neatly organized tables included in the report that tells us what we need to do, what the mitigating steps are that we could take to get our people ready and to make sure that our people benefit from it in a maximum way. I would just like to say that all the governments at all levels needs to read that and get on with the implementation now. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as a Member of the Legislative Assembly, I now know the uncertainties that come with the financial dependencies on the federal government. This hinders our ability to secure well-funded programs and services for our people, and to control our rich territory.

The size of the government cheques that are given to us can only be seen as the stick and the carrot approach to keep the residents in the North and create a deeply-rooted state of dependency on the federal government. With this kind of attitudinal mind of the feds, it is difficult to plan for the years ahead, let alone for the long term. Do we want to cut programs to be fiscally responsible, or do we want to make investments for the future?

Mr. Speaker, the aboriginal self-governments are going to have the same problems. Our people have invested in the land claim process and the self-government framework agreements. Like everyone else, we like to secure long-lasting agreements for our children, that finally recognize our aboriginal rights to our land.

Mr. Speaker, it will be a huge disappointment if our new governments do not have the financial resources to do their job. The GNWT has some ability to absorb sudden adjustments, but this is not without some pain to the regions. How are smaller regions going to be able to cope? The only answer I can see, Mr. Speaker, is for northern governments to have our own sustainable

revenue service charge. Yes, impact and benefits agreements, land access fees and equity ownership in the pipeline will provide our own-source revenues and benefits, but the real security can only come from resource royalties.

---Applause

So I tell the federal government, quit robbing from us. How long...

How long are we going to allow this to happen, to continue?

Mr. Speaker, it is a critical time for our precious territory. We have big problems on the radar screen, a pipeline, more diamond mines, and who knows what next. But we only have one chance to get it right, or before we know it our resources will be gone for good. Our land will be scarred, and all the royalties will be in Ottawa, paying for gun registries and sponsorship scandals, while we beg for a few dollars to teach our children...

...heal our cuts and look after our elders. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my Member's statement.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. You may conclude your statement, Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, honourable colleagues. It is no secret, Mr. Speaker, I want to see the Mackenzie Valley pipeline happen. I am happy for the Tlicho and the Akaitcho people for having diamonds on their land. Mr. Speaker, I have to wonder sometimes if these resource development projects go ahead and we do not have a royalty sharing deal, who will really benefit and is it worth it.

Do the honourable thing, Mr. Premier, and put the Crown on notice that the stakes are high in the Northwest Territories and we want a share, a fair share of those stakes. Mr. Speaker, resource revenue sharing has been happening a long time in our country, since the 1800s. It's now high time that we get our fair share deal for the Northwest Territories, period. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Braden.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. For the past 130 years, the vast lands of the Northwest Territories have been the treasure chest of Canada, the collateral of the nation, with the riches from our forests, rocks and waters. But over the past decades, Mr. Speaker, four provinces and one territory have been carved out of our boundaries. Today, while we are left with a much smaller geography, we are still blessed with the resources that an increasingly hungry world wants, and we have at least two of these. We have energy and we have minerals, and off in the future, Mr. Speaker, let's look way out there, will be the exploitation of our most precious commodity of all, our vast resources of clean water.

The North is also the centre of some of the world's most progressive moves, Mr. Speaker, in democracy and governance. We are trying to make the best of them right here in this Assembly, as we try to forge new alliances between the indigenous peoples of northern Canada and newer Canadians from other nations. We have been, and will continue to be, the most exciting place to live in Canada, if the dynamics of our politics, our economy and our societies evolve.

Just weeks ago, Mr. Speaker, we heard that Canada has awakened to these factors and is calling for a new vision and a new purpose to be struck in a new national strategy for the North. It has been 50 years since this was done. It is an exciting and encouraging opportunity for us, but we must recognize that this will not happen overnight. Indeed, it will be years before the fruits of such a bold initiative begin to take effect. In the meantime though, our economic chance to make most of this happen is being exploited at astonishing rates with precious little left for us.

Last year alone, Mr. Speaker, almost $2.3 billion in diamonds, gold, and oil and gas was taken from our lands; more than twice the value of all the services of this government, in one year, gone. The royalties stream from this amounted to some $200 million flowing into federal coffers that we have learned are already staggering under an astonishing $9.1 billion surplus. Our share of this, at current levels, about $8 million; $8 million out of $200 million.

Mr. Braden, your time for your Member's statement has expired.

Mr. Speaker, I request unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

The Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. You may conclude your statement, Mr. Braden.

Mr. Speaker, as I have said, some $200 million flowing into federal coffers that are already bulging under a $9.1 billion surplus. We get about $8 million out of this $200 million. I do the math, Mr. Speaker, and it just doesn't figure, especially as our Legislature struggles this year on how to pay our $20 million of our budgets for health, education, housing and other matters.

Mr. Speaker, we often hear criticism and outrage of how huge multinational corporations plunder the resources of developing nations. They get away with it by taking advantage of lax, uncoordinated and short-sighted governments. Is the NWT any different? Why are we allowing this to happen?

Mr. Speaker, our northern governments have got to pull together now more than ever, to put aside our differences

and pull together on the urgency for a deal to share our resources. The message we need to spread across Canada and especially in the halls of Parliament and the bureaucracies of Ottawa, is that Canada must choose finally to cast off the regressive mantel of colonialism toward the NWT.

---Applause

Ottawa must see that we are a genuine, vital and legitimate part of the Canadian federation. We are a player, a partner, and more than a source of cash, Mr. Speaker. We ask only to be treated fairly and equitably. It is time for the agreements on devolution and resource revenue sharing to be a reality for us and the aboriginal governments of this land. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When I think about the Mackenzie Valley pipeline it raises a number of concerns for me; primary concerns such as what it will do to benefit northerners. We should be asking these questions for a long time. We had been, is the way I see it. At this time, I think we should know some of the answers before we break ground. Our return to the Mackenzie Valley pipeline for the Northwest Territories without a resource revenue sharing agreement is expected to be $900 million over the next 30 years compared to what the federal government's share is, which is almost $22 billion.

Mr. Speaker, this adds insult to injury. The federal government also seeks to reduce our grant for taking our small piece of the pie from the pipeline revenue. Mr. Speaker, this is raping and pillaging of the NWT and this needs to stop now.

Mr. Speaker, I want to make it clear, our milk is no longer free, so stop taking it, federal government.

---Applause

It's time to marry the cow into a real agreement.

---Laughter

Until the federal government gives the Northwest Territories our share of resource revenues, until they invest into our protected areas, the Northwest Territories isn't prepared to risk our beautiful environment to become what one environmental group called us, "America's gas tank."

The GNWT is investing so much money in the pipeline; we're opening new offices, we're hiring more people in the government, we're doing assessment after assessment without really knowing what our return on the investment is going to be. If we took all the money that we have invested in the pipeline strategy and we put it into early childhood education or a stronger arts program or something better yet, such as youth, we'd be seeing real tangible results, Mr. Speaker. Real results. Mr. Speaker, as I see it, we are racing to build a pipeline, but unfortunately there is no race for the Americas that compels us to head first into an early childhood education program and that's a real shame.

Mr. Speaker, I'm also concerned about the Alaskan pipeline, the way the United States Senate has passed legislation designed to jump start the construction of the pipeline down the Alaska Highway. This bill includes permitting approvals and loan guarantees worth nearly $18 billion U.S. Mr. Speaker, that's $22 billion Canadian and to make my point even clearer, America is subsidizing their pipeline 24 times the amount...

Mr. Hawkins, your time for your Member's statement has expired.

Thank you. Mr. Speaker, may I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement? Thank you.

The Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. You may conclude your statement, Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, honourable colleagues. Mr. Speaker, I'll say again, this bill includes permitting approvals and loan guarantees worth nearly $18 billion U.S. That's $22 billion Canadian, as I've said. To make that point, as I've stressed, clearly that's 24 times what the GNWT will get over our life of this project. Mr. Speaker, that does not make any fiscal sense. Mr. Speaker, the GNWT should be working with the Americas about buying off and sitting still for 20 years because we'd be much further ahead making a side deal than trying to charge into this in competition with them.

Mr. Speaker, if the Alaska pipeline goes first, what happens to all our time, money and efforts that we've invested over the last many years? What happens while we wait for the next 20 to 30 years? I think that may be a waste without any type of certainty.

Mr. Speaker, I do want to support this pipeline, I truly do, because I see tangible benefits. All our northern peoples can gain from this. But from where I'm sitting, it looks like this territory is carrying all the risk and this hasn't changed over the years. We need rock solid guarantees from our federal government that warrant our investment. We need a change of attitude from the federal government for us to truly get on board.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I look upon the United States as being a big giant, those Philistines of the Americas. Mr. Speaker, tell me our Premier is not our little David out there on the plains with an unloaded slingshot.

---Laughter

Mr. Speaker, we need something concrete, not guarantees and promises where we take an empty leap of faith. Mr. Speaker, our shepherds better have a pouch full

of concrete investment of smooth, solid rocks before we take on that giant. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Item 3, Members' statements. Item 4, reports of standing and special committees. Item 5, returns to oral questions. Item 6, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to recognize a friend today: Major Karen Hoeft.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Item 6, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I was going to recognize the folks who are visiting with us here in the Northwest Territories from the CPAC channel that are interviewing a number of Members and Northerners to put together a documentary about us. Thank you and good luck.

---Applause

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Item, 6, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. You already mentioned their names, but I would like to mention a fine constituent of mine who is Pat McMahon, a former mayor of this fine city of Yellowknife. In her fine company is Captain Tony Evans of the HMCS Yellowknife. I'd like to draw to the attention of all Members of this House that I'm wearing the Yellowknife ship's pin right on my chest here with pride. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Item 6, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Pokiak.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to recognize Walter Goose from Holman. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. Item 6, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to recognize the great goaltender from Deline, Danny Gaudet, and the community's good negotiator for self-government. Welcome, Danny.

---Applause

Item 6, recognition of visitors in the gallery. I'd like to welcome anyone in the gallery who may not have been mentioned. Welcome to the Legislative Assembly. Item 7, oral questions. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to direct my questions today to the Premier of the Northwest Territories, the Honourable Joe Handley. Mr. Speaker, in following up on one of the statements of my colleagues on the subject of leadership, I have already, during this session, briefly touched on this subject with the Premier and asked him some questions. Mr. Speaker, I think this is a very timely discussion with respect to the pipeline. The Premier has heard many Members today refer to some of the frustrations that we feel with the response we have received over the years when dealing with the federal government about the northern agenda. I think this is a very timely matter and I would like to have the Premier, on the eve of his departure to Ottawa again to speak with the powers that be, again share with us why he thinks we, as Members and elected leaders in the Northwest Territories, should feel encouraged and why we should feel that the federal government does understand and hear our issues and has them, in fact, on their agenda. Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Premier, Mr. Handley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am confident that we have the attention of the federal government. We have the attention of a lot of Canadians as a result of work that the previous Premier has done and work that I've done as Premier, as well as Members, the business sector and my colleagues on Cabinet. We have made sure that our issues are on the radar screen across Canada.

Mr. Speaker, there are a lot of signals that I have to read between because we don't have concrete agreements on a lot of things. But when the Primer Minister appointed the Honourable Anne McLellan, Deputy Prime Minister, as the lead on the Mackenzie Valley pipeline file, that sent a strong signal to me that this is a very important issue to him and one that he hopes to achieve success on.

The second one is in the Throne speech and in discussions with me and with others earlier on, the Prime Minister has made a commitment to develop a northern strategy. In fact, our Member of Parliament has been named as the Minister of Northern Development. I think that sends a strong signal, and he has offered to do that in cooperation with northern governments, with ourselves, with aboriginal governments and generally with northerners. It says to me that the federal government is, at least at the political level, paying attention to what is going on in the North and have recognized the huge potential that the Northwest Territories has to contribute to this country of ours.

Mr. Speaker, I am confident we have the attention. Now the challenge before us is how to take that attention, that interest in the North, and translate it into real benefits for us as northerners. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to hear that the Premier still feels encouraged by the signals that we receive from Ottawa. I think the Premier is well aware of the fact that I don't feel as encouraged and I don't feel as confident and I need to see some concrete evidence of their support for our agenda.

On the subject of leadership again, Mr. Speaker, I don't want to see us lose anything by default. Again, a Member today referred to the divide-and-conquer approach. When the Premier goes to Ottawa I think very clearly, from today and from other communications, he will know the feelings of the elected leaders in this House. But as we all know, when we're talking to Ottawa, we're talking about the Northwest Territories. We are not the only elected leaders. So if not the Premier, then who has the ability or authority or the mandate to rally the troops, to get the aboriginal leadership together so that we have a unified voice in Ottawa? Does the Premier feel that, when he travels to Ottawa to speak to the Ministers and the Prime Minister and the various leaders, he can speak with the voice of not only the leaders in this House, but also the aboriginal leaders? Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, I really do appreciate the strong statements that were made here today, the clear statements from the Members. I think that tells me that I do have a good, clear, solid message and solid support from the Members in this House as we go forward to have discussions with the Prime Minister and some of the Ministers in Ottawa. I have had discussions with the aboriginal leaders, as well, and I have to respect their autonomy and their priorities, but I can tell you from a conference call I had a couple of weeks ago that I am confident that the majority of the leaders understand what it is we are doing and why we were doing it and do support our actions.

Mr. Speaker, I have to say that they may be at different points in terms of settling aboriginal claims or self-government discussions. I recognize that what they're doing may not always be exactly the same as ours and they have the right to make independent decisions, but I am comfortable with the support we got at the last Circle of Northern Leaders and the support I've heard since. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the last government, the federal Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs, the Honourable Robert Nault, committed to a process which encompassed the GNWT, the aboriginal governments and the federal government. The federal government subsequently hired David Peterson as a negotiator on behalf of the federal government, to which we were disappointed later to hear that he couldn't talk money but he could talk devolution. That was a process that was in place. I think we made progress. Now we have a different Minister. What is the process now in place to continue that dialogue amongst northerners and government to government? Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Premier, Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, the Member is correct; we had a process in the last government and that process is continuing. I have talked to the Minister of DIAND, Minister Scott, about the Aboriginal Summit, about the Intergovernmental Forum, and he has confirmed to me that he wants to continue with those same discussions. The previous Minister of DIAND did appoint David Peterson to negotiate devolution, but he didn't give them a mandate to negotiate resource revenue sharing. That mandate stayed with Finance Canada.

I am frustrated with Finance Canada because it's been since the fall of 2003 that we gave them our position and we have never been able to sit down with them since. I'm also disappointed that DIAND and Finance Canada don't seem to be able to get together and present one position as a government rather than two different positions as two federal departments. Those are issues that I've raised with the Prime Minister and I'll continue to raise with him. I believe that if he really wants to see success with the northern strategy and see success with some of the major economic opportunities, he is going to have to find a way of getting those federal departments to sit down and speak with one voice. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Your final supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, again referring to the positive signals that the Premier refers to, the referencing of the Throne speech, the appointment of our federal MP as the Minister of Northern Development, the appointment of Anne McLellan as the chair of a special committee of parliamentarians on the pipeline, when the Premier goes to Ottawa this time, would he endeavour to have a commitment from people like Anne McLellan, our MP and other people who sit on that committee, to come to the Northwest Territories? I know it's a signal he speaks of, but we have literally not met with or seen these people since their appointment. Would he commit to getting them here, bring them back to the North? Let's talk to them. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Premier, Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, I also agree that if we're going to have a northern strategy then we have to have the people who are involved in the northern strategy come to the North and have meetings here, sit down with us as a Caucus and sit down with other northern leaders. I did speak to our MP, the Minister of Northern Development, today and we did have some general discussion about when she might be available to come to the North. I did not ask her specifically about some of the other Ministers, Minister Scott or Minister Efford, but I know that she is working on some agendas and she has told me that as soon as she can confirm some dates then she would like to come and meet with us, along with some of the other main federal Ministers who are involved on this file. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Before I go on, I'd just like to remind all Members of the time we have for question period. We took 10 minutes for one set of questions and I now have a long list here. I know it's an important issue, but we want to be cognizant of the time. Item 7, oral questions. The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions today are for the Premier. Back in March when I brought up the issue of a permanent trust fund being established in the Northwest Territories to benefit all Northerners, the Premier stated at that time that he would have a discussion with Ottawa and with the Prime Minister in terms of the establishment of that trust fund. I'm just wondering, Mr. Speaker, if that conversation has taken place and maybe the Premier could let us know how that went. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The honourable Premier, Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, as recently as this morning I raised that issue with our MP and only to float the idea with her that we have to have some benefit from resources. I've also talked to the Prime Minister about that, as well, saying look, one of our mines is half way through its life. We still haven't done anything here. So yes, I have raised that. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I know my colleague mentioned the fact that the Premier is on the verge of going to Ottawa next week, I do believe, and I'm just wondering if he can indeed bring up the issue of the trust fund again with the Prime Minister. I see the establishment of this trust fund as being beneficial to both the aboriginal leaders and governments in the Northwest Territories and our government, Mr. Speaker, because it should happen. We need to get that done. I'm just wondering if the government has any idea of what types of revenues we're losing on a daily, monthly and yearly basis, even on the Norman Wells pipeline into northern Alberta. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The honourable Premier, Mr. Handley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I will raise that issue. I am leaving for Ottawa tomorrow morning. I have a meeting on...Sorry; I'm leaving on Saturday morning. Correction. I have a meeting with the Prime Minister, with Minister Blondin-Andrew, Minister Scott and others at 11:00 on Sunday to begin the discussions and I will raise this issue again for sure. Mr. Speaker, I don't have an up-to-date number on resource revenues that we're losing right now, but I can tell you that in the 2002-03 public accounts showed that DIAND's Northern Affairs program collected $38.7 million in mining and oil and gas royalties and that was before prices had gone up and there's been an increase in mining activity and an increase in oil activity since. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Item 7, oral questions. The honourable for Nunakput, Mr. Pokiak.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, the Honourable Charles Dent. As I indicated in my Member's statement regarding the $15 million available under the ASEP Program, there are two facilities that can be used in Tuktoyaktuk as a satellite Aurora College training. Mr. Speaker, I did have a chance to speak with the campus director in Inuvik earlier this month and she did show a lot of interest with regard to a satellite office in Tuk. My question to the Minister is will the Minister explore whether these funds may be allocated to training people in local communities in the Beaufort-Delta region in preparation for pipeline development? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. The Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, the Honourable Charles Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I know I've talked to the college too about the facilities in Tuk and told them about the Member's interest in seeing those facilities used for training purposes. So I am sure the college is taking a look at whether or not that provides an opportunity. The funding that is part of the Aboriginal Skills Employment Partnership Program will be administered by the committee that has been set up to oversee that sort of funding, but I will make sure that the Education, Culture and Employment representative on the committee keeps the opportunities in mind for regional training that could be offered. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mr. Pokiak.

Thank you very much. It's good to see that he will go ahead and follow along with your education individual there. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister guarantee for sure that Tuk has been utilized as...(inaudible)...years ago? An example is Dome Petroleum's base. They had what they called Tuk Tech and they operated out of the two camps during the Dome days, which worked out very well. So will the Minister again guarantee that he will be able to work hard with his department to have some satellite training outside of Inuvik? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Department of Education, Culture and Employment invests about $1.1 million on its own annually to train people in regional settings to assist them to find jobs in the oil and gas field. That will continue and that does take place throughout the region, including communities like Tuk. The ASEP funding is intended to serve all of the regions in which oil and gas is found and in which people may find employment. So there is certainly an intention to make sure training takes place on a regional basis. I can assure the Member that there will be regional training offered both by the Government of the Northwest Territories through ECE programs and through the money that is available through the federal government and partners and ECE, that being through ASEP. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mr. Pokiak. Item 7, oral questions. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Villeneuve.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'll direct my question to the Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, the Honourable Brendan Bell. I know that the action plan for the Protected Areas Strategy has been developed by the NWT Protected Areas Strategy Secretariat since 2002 when it was first initiated. I know that there have been negotiations on some cost-sharing agreements with the federal government and other aboriginal organizations to the tune of $17 million for the Protected Areas Strategy. I wanted to ask the Minister if any cost-sharing agreement has been reached and, if not, when can we see an agreement put in place? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. The Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is an initiative that we've been working on for some time now and we do currently fund some of the work that the secretariat is doing, but the bigger piece of work that we're looking to fund is in the neighbourhood of $1.5 million over five years. We've been expecting that the federal government would come forward with their money. The NGOs have already indicated that they've got the money ready to go and we impacted the three partners in the PAS. We still don't have a firm signal and firm commitment from the federal government as to their contribution. I think at this point we've decided that we may not, in fact, be able to wait for that and we're going to have to go forward. So I am putting some work to go in front of our Financial Management Board to seek this funding to continue to support the PAS. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Minister for that response. Something of this nature I guess in a Protected Areas Strategy, you're debt ratio to the end cross-referenced with the Mackenzie gas project. You know, something like this has to be in place before a project of this magnitude breaks ground and I want to commend the department for contributing $1.5 million over the next five years. But the estimated cost over the five years in the summary of the PSAC action plan is $17.745 million and I just want to ask the Minister if he's approached NGOs or producing groups, for instance, to come up with any funding or being involved in this cost-sharing agreement? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Mr. Bell.