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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, all too often I hear stories from my constituents about government contracts for work in the Sahtu being awarded to companies outside of the region, and about local people being turned down for government jobs. All too often, Mr. Speaker, I hear excuses from government, like they did not meet the educational requirements, did not meet our standards. These excuses tell me that the GNWT is not living up to the spirit of the Sahtu Land Claim Agreement and, in particular, the economic measures chapter.

There are many capable people and businesses in the Sahtu, and there are no excuses for them not to be getting government jobs and contracts. If the GNWT is really convinced that the Sahtu people and businesses are not up to their standards, Mr. Speaker, then what is the government doing to change this? The economic measures chapter mentions a lot of things that should be happening: training, assistance to develop commercially-viable businesses, encouragement of the employment of the Sahtu people, including employment in public services and public agencies. It also says the government shall -- shall, Mr. Speaker -- review job qualifications and recruitment procedures to remove any corporate requirements in respect of cultural factors, experiences and education. All these are written in the Sahtu Land Claim Agreement. For me and for the people of the Sahtu region, we like to think that means that they're as good as written in stone.

Mr. Speaker, the Sahtu Land Claim Agreement was signed in 1993. The government had 11 years to figure out how to live up to it's economic measures obligations. It is time this happened. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today because I am very concerned about the world oil prices and how they can effect and cause crises elsewhere in the world. Mr. Speaker, years ago we could not assume what happened somewhere else would have an effect locally. One hundred years ago, you know, the perspective on the world was much different; 50 years ago it was much different; and even this summer oil prices were much different and we never would have thought that they would have a link.

Mr. Speaker, today what happens in Iraq and Venezuela has an effect in the Northwest Territories, not just Canada. Mr. Speaker, I am getting at the fact that the reality has changed. We are not just a global economy, but we are a global community and we need to look at those issues. Mr. Speaker, I am concerned about the quagmire that we are heading into because of our reliance on non-renewable resources and the fact is, it is a fact of today.

Mr. Speaker, I am concerned about how we, as a government, are dealing with this situation. Are we monitoring this crisis, or are we going to wait until the bills show up and just act as a reactive process? Mr. Speaker, I would like to see this government be proactive. What are we doing about these problems? What are we doing to reduce our usage? Are we looking at dialling back those heat registers? Are we looking at turning off the lights at the end of the day?

Mr. Speaker, we need to take proactive choices and they need to be implemented now. Mr. Speaker, I would like to see this House someday, in the near future that is, set up a policy where we reduce every area by five percent based on consumption, not on the end bill, but clearly consumption. We need to change the attitude, and with the crises out there as it is, it's insane.

Mr. Speaker, at lunchtime I went to a website to find out the current crude oil price. It's $50.80 per barrel. The 52-week high was $55.67. Mr. Speaker, this summer I believe the 52-week low was $28.26. Realities have changed and we have to get on board with the changes that are happening. Mr. Speaker, I need to see drastic action and I hope our government will be taking drastic

action through a policy to work towards solving this issue. We need an action plan based on consumption.

Mr. Speaker, I will be closing in seconds, but I want to emphasize I don't want to see March madness for oil bills, Mr. Speaker. I don't have a crystal ball or magic eight ball to tell me what to do or what not do on this problem, or else if I did I would have invested in oil this summer. Mr. Speaker, I foresee a lot of special warrants coming forward in the spring, I see a lot coming in the new year. Later this afternoon I will have questions for the appropriate Minister at that time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Item 4, reports of standing and special committees. Item 5, returns to oral questions. Item 6, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize a friend of this House and my partner at Tim Horton's and still my very favourite MLA, Mr. Tony Whitford. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Laughter

---Applause

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Indeed, welcome to the Assembly, Mr. Whitford. Item 6, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize some people who are in the gallery for the Northern Teachers' Council. Amanda Mallon is president of the NWT Teachers' Association.

---Applause

Mr. Dave Roebuck is the executive director of the NWTTA.

---Applause

Mr. Ian Oostindie is president of the Yukon Teachers' Association.

---Applause

I understand he is also the Premier's brother-in-law.

---Applause

Dennis Rankin, the executive director of the Yukon Teachers' Association, is with us.

---Applause

Lou Budgell from the Nunavut Teachers' Association is in the gallery.

---Applause

Jimmy Jacquard, who is vice-president of the Nunavut Teachers' Association. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Indeed, welcome to the Assembly. Item 6, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, I, too, wish to acknowledge Mr. Whitford. From my understanding, Mr. Whitford has an extra smile on today and I believe he got a special phone call, so I think this Assembly needs to recognize Mr. Whitford. He will explain the phone call later to all Members, but I have a feeling we will be seeing a lot more of him. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Item 6, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Premier, Mr. Handley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am pleased, as well, to recognize my brother-in-law from the Yukon and welcome him here. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Item 6, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Item 7, oral questions. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier today in my Member's statement I spoke about the economic measures chapter of the Sahtu Land Claim Agreement and how businesses and people in the Sahtu do not feel that this territorial government is living up to its obligations under this chapter. It's very disappointing for my people to see the government taking 11 years to work on this chapter here. My question is to the Premier. Would the Premier be willing to meet with the Sahtu people to hear about their concerns and disagreement about the economic measures chapter and to work with them to develop an implementation plan? Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am certainly willing and, in fact, eager to meet with the people in the Sahtu to talk about the implementation plan which was just recently negotiated. I did want to go there a while ago, but the weather prevented it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Premier knows that I also tried to get into that region

to meet with the Sahtu people. How soon would the Premier be able to contact the Sahtu officials to set up a date and a meeting with them? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, my information is that the three parties -- the Sahtu, GNWT and Government of Canada -- are planning on meeting November 16th to 18th in Inuvik and I'm not sure why Inuvik was chosen, but that is where the scheduled meeting is, I believe. I intend to be there, if at all possible. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Premier assure me that there will be a process set up for coordination amongst the departments that will have a role to play in implementing the economic measures chapter? For example, Aboriginal Affairs, RWED, Education, Culture and Employment, Public Works and Services, and FMBS. Thank you.

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