Reverend Williams, could you lead us in prayer?

---Prayer

Thank you, Reverend Williams. Please be seated. Mr. Clerk, would you ascertain if her Honour the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories is prepared to address this Assembly.

---Playing of O' Canada

Item 3, Ministers' statements.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that I will deliver the Budget Address on Wednesday, March 17, 2004. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Item 3, Ministers' statements. Minister of Justice, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good afternoon. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce that the Department of Justice has completed negotiations for a two-year agreement that will see the GNWT receiving $1.24 million to increase the number of aboriginal RCMP officers in the Northwest Territories.

This funding, from the Government of Canada's First Nations policing program, announced last October, will support a number of projects, including: a recruitment strategy to encourage aboriginal individuals to consider joining the RCMP; an access program to help applicants meet RCMP entrance requirements; a community consultation on policing in the Northwest Territories; and, changes to the formula for funding existing aboriginal RCMP officer positions.

Mr. Speaker, the recruitment strategy and access program will ensure that aboriginal candidates have the encouragement and support they need to succeed in becoming RCMP officers. In return, the Northwest Territories will have a police force that reflects and responds to the cultural diversity of our communities. The community consultation project will help both the Department of Justice and the RCMP understand and meet the policing needs of our communities.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank officials from the aboriginal policing directorate for working with Department of Justice officials to bring this funding to the Northwest Territories. For many years, the Department of Justice has worked to help the federal government understand the unique challenges facing policing in the North. The successful negotiation of this funding shows that with hard work, the GNWT and the federal government can successfully address the unique needs of the Northwest Territories.

These projects will change policing in the Northwest Territories. By increasing the number of aboriginal officers, our police force, the RCMP, will be one that reflects and responds to the needs of our communities.

Mr. Speaker, I look forward to working with our partners, RCMP "G" Division and federal officials, over the next two years and beyond to meet the unique policing needs of our communities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Item 3, Ministers' statements. Item 4, Members' statements. Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, each Member elected to this Assembly first and foremost has the particular interests of their communities and region at heart. The North is very diverse and often so are the issues of priority to our constituencies. It is important for all of us to listen, learn and understand the pan-territorial big picture and the commonality of needs related to the delivery of government programs and services. This can be accomplished, to some extent, as we listen to each other in the Assembly and in committee meetings. But it's also valuable, whenever possible, for Members and Ministers to travel in the North and see first-hand the challenges and opportunities in other regions. It may be particularly important for Ministers to familiarize themselves with our people and their issues.

To that point, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Premier for his initial visit to Hay River, accompanied by Minister Zoe, as my colleague for Hay River North and I met with the mayor and council and were briefed on issues of significance to the social and economic development of Hay River. The Premier also subsequently spoke at the annual Hay River Chamber of Commerce banquet on the topic of fueling our future.

I would also like to thank Minister McLeod for his attendance in Hay River to meet with the Hay River Seniors' Society and their support board, to hear first-hand their thoughts on how the needs of seniors, regarding housing, could be best met.

Last, but certainly not least, I would like to thank Minister Bell for his visit to Hay River, which included discussions with Patterson Enterprises regarding the sustainable harvest of timber; with representatives of the Great Slave Lake fishermen to hear the challenges that their industry is facing; and with the Territorial Farmer's Association executive to better understand their ambitions relating to the potential of agriculture in the North. He also met with two local companies, Northern Transportation and Kings Manufacturing, that are interested in pursuing opportunities to expand their capacity in the manufacturing sector.

I hope that these types of visits will continue. They are very valuable to all of us as we strive to collectively represent the interests and aspirations of all of our constituents. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Item 4, Members' statements. Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. March is Aboriginal Languages Month. In celebration of that fact, I would like to speak today on the importance of language and culture in providing a definition of who you are as a person. Mr. Speaker, I ask also just to have initiatives towards language and culture in the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, as an aboriginal person, I can say that I've applied and understand the heart of the language and have close ties to the land and the laws of the Sahtu; they clearly define who I am as a person. These laws were taught to me by my elders and when you know who you are and where you're from and the history of your people, you have received a great gift. Mr. Speaker, when you have pride in your language and pride in your culture, you can have pride in everything that you do.

You can succeed on all levels when you know who you are, where you come from and where you're going.

The Northwest Territories, Mr. Speaker, is a vast land with many languages and cultures. Some have been here for thousands of years and some languages and cultures are newly arrived. Whatever your language, whatever your culture, celebrate it, cherish it and seek to understand it. It will keep you strong in times of trouble and free your spirit in times of joy. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Item 4, Members' statements. The Member for Nunakput, Mr. Pokiak.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My statement is with regard to recognition of Nunakput athletes at the Arctic Winter Games in Fort McMurray, Alberta.

Today, I rise to recognize a number of young athletes from my riding of Nunakput who were representing the NWT in Arctic sports and basketball at the recent Arctic Winter Games held in Fort McMurray, Alberta. These young athletes came from the small communities of Sachs Harbour, Paulatuk, Holman and Tuktoyaktuk. I am confident that each athlete represented the NWT professionally, competitively and with sportsmanship.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to name the following young athletes who participated in this event.

In Arctic sports, from Holman, Victoria Akhiatak, Dale Kigiyok, Bryon Okheena, Heather Okheena and Gary Okheena; from Paulatuk, Jonathan Dillon; from Sachs Harbour, Chelsey Elanik and Christine Esau; from Tuktoyaktuk, Kristy Anderson, Matthew Anikina, Craig Gruben and Steven Kotokak.

In basketball, Randal Emaghok from Tuktoyaktuk. Honourable mention should go to Logan Gruben from Tuktoyaktuk as an alternate in basketball. Thank you to Corrine Carpenter for chaperoning and Edgar Kotokak for coaching these fine athletes.

Mr. Speaker, many of these young athletes had never before competed in such a highly-recognized sports venue. Without the support of MACA, Sports and Recreation and Sport North, these young athletes would not have been able to compete. I would like to encourage Sports and Recreation, the Department of MACA and Sport North to continue to support all young athletes for future competition in events such as the Arctic Winter Games. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Members' statements. Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I'd like to speak about the alarming rates of crime being committed in the capital city of Yellowknife. Just today, the local media is reporting the latest statistics from the Yellowknife RCMP which shows that in comparison to the first quarter of last year, the number of personal offences, including assaults, were up from 158 cases to 213. This is an increase of 35 percent. The combined offences, including property theft and others, jumped from 1.251 cases to 1,737; a whopping 28 percent increase from 2002.

Mr. Speaker, this comes on the heels of a very disturbing story in the local newspaper just yesterday, where it was reported that a very dangerous predatory youth sex offender was released on parole without sufficient safeguards, with tragic consequences. Not long after being released on parole, this youth offender found and attacked two young victims. They were sexually assaulted at knifepoint while doing the most ordinary thing during broad daylight: walking home from school, and one so very near her home.

Mr. Speaker, I have no idea what actions the Minister is considering or what mechanisms he could put in to improve the situation. I'd like to know and I will be pursuing what steps he's prepared to take to reduce the crime rates in the city and what added protection the government is proposing to make our community much safer.

Mr. Speaker, I do believe, as Minister of Justice and Solicitor General, that this should be on top of his mind and we, as the legislature, also have an obligation to take decisive and aggressive action to address the issue. I would like to reiterate that I will be pursuing this issue in the coming days and weeks. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Item 4, Members' statements. The Member for Inuvik-Twin Lakes, Mr. Allen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Throughout the course of the 14th and 15th Legislative Assemblies, the Legislative Assembly and Cabinet have been working diligently on devolution, resource revenue sharing and new fiscal arrangements with the federal government. This has been an exhaustive exercise and could be classified as futile in effort.

On many occasions, we have heard the Premier make public statements to this effect. In a quote from the National Post on February 2nd he states, "This thing has been going on far too long. From a territorial and constituency perspective, I don't believe anyone in the NWT would disagree with that fact..."

Mr. Speaker, I'm not going to criticize the efforts of this government, rather, I would like to offer encouragement to take a more ambitious approach to achieving province-like powers, with the ultimate goal of achieving provincehood. Mr. Speaker, in speaking clearly on defining a process for dealing with issues related to the idea of achieving provincehood, we have to take a look at history. A history lesson happened only 100 short years ago south of our border, to Saskatchewan and Alberta who became provinces in 1905.

Excerpts taken from their entry into provincehood are very similar to ours in this modern day. If I can quote these similarities, Mr. Speaker, they are as follows:

"For a government which possesses almost all the powers and responsibilities of a province in its own right, but which did not have the financial resources to act, the situation began to become difficult. The territories could not borrow money, could not obtain revenues from public lands, as an example."

Final quote, Mr. Speaker:

"It seems that only granting of provincial status would fulfill the politicians' request."

Mr. Speaker, I did not include the full text, but the essence of my message to the 15th Assembly today is to move towards provincehood since we are a responsible government. Mr. Speaker, what we need to do is request the Premier develop a bill of intent which would outline the steps that would be taken to secure support for province formation and include a draft of a bill for federal legislation so that it would not be found ultra vires outside of territorial jurisdiction.

Mr. Speaker, we, as a territory, have experienced the very same constitutional problems that Alberta and Saskatchewan experienced out of the Northwest Territories Act, 1875. My constituents in Inuvik Twin Lakes now seek a full commitment from this Assembly to begin the process of achieving provincehood and we see this as a good way to start. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Item 4, Members' statements. The Member for Great Slave, Mr. Braden.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know from personal experience that running a small business can be a very rewarding and a very satisfying occupation. It can also be very challenging and very risky. In the Northwest Territories, if you're running a small business -- especially in the service sector -- I don't think you can be blamed if you're feeling just a little under siege these days.

Mr. Speaker, at the end of last year, this Assembly increased the minimum wage in the Northwest Territories from $6.50 to $8.25; almost a 30 percent increase. Housing shortages, especially in the Yellowknife area, Mr. Speaker, have made finding employees, especially in the service sector, a real challenge.

Now, Mr. Speaker, we're advised that the Workers' Compensation Board is set to impose another round of increases on the coverage for workers. Four years ago, as I'm to understand, we had the lowest assessment rate in Canada at $1 per $100 of insurable earnings. Then by 2003 that skyrocketed -- those are the words of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, Mr. Speaker -- to $1.65. Now we're looking at an average assessment rate for 2004 that's going to be $2.39, an increase of 2.5 times in four years. The impact of this on one fast food restaurant in Yellowknife looks like this: Last year, they paid $4,000; this year it's going to be $6,747. The assessment rate in his sector is going from $1.30 per $100 to $1.90; a 46 percent increase.

Mr. Speaker, the impact of wages and housing and Workers' Compensation Board premiums all have their own merits, but the cumulative effect, the combined effect, even in a booming economy such as we have in Yellowknife, is one that's putting the small business sector under pressure. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business said in a survey last year that 58 percent of NWT businesses who responded said that this government's understanding of entrepreneurship was poor. I think we may have another demonstration of that coming up with these Workers' Compensation Board increases. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Item 4, Members' statements. The Member for Hay River North, Mr. Delorey.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to be back in this wonderful Chamber with yourself and the rest of my colleagues as we embark on what promises to be a very busy and interesting session. At this time, Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize the accomplishments of the 25 athletes and one coach from Hay River who represented us extremely well at the Arctic Winter Games held from February 28th to March 6th in Fort McMurray, Alberta.

Mr. Speaker, I would especially like to recognize those athletes from my riding of Hay River North. They are: Trista Nault in basketball; AJ Norberg in snowshoe biathlon; Marc Leblanc and Matthew Davies in cross-country skiing; Jared Monkman in curling; Meagan Cook in female hockey; Corey Coady in midget hockey; and, Michelle Cook in women's volleyball.

Mr. Speaker, the NWT contingent of athletes fared very well at the Arctic Winter Games, garnering a total of 104 medals. I would also like to bestow special recognition on Pat Bobinski, the coach of the snowshoe biathlon team, who has been an extremely dedicated coach to numerous Hay River athletes over the years. Pat has coached all ranks of athletes from beginners to nationally-ranked athletes. In addition, he donates literally hundreds of hours each year to sports and is a prime example of what volunteering can do for sports and the community.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, I would like to offer my sincere congratulations to all the Team NWT athletes. I would also like to encourage all of our youth to set their sights on the Arctic Winter Games so they may recognize the benefits of an active lifestyle. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Item 4, Members' statements. The Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.