Item 2, Ministers' statements. Mr. Handley.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Speaker, as part of the Government of the Northwest Territories' commitment to open and transparent government, I am pleased to announce that the government will be preparing ministerial travel reports on a quarterly basis beginning with the first quarter of 2004.

---Applause

Ministerial travel reports will cover travel that Ministers undertake as part of their specific responsibilities as Cabinet Ministers and home travel. The reports will also include the following information: the date and purpose of travel, the destination and method of travel, the portfolio responsibility under which the travel occurred and the cost of the travel.

Mr. Speaker, as soon as the ministerial travel report for the 1st quarter of 2004 is finalized, we will provide this report to the Members of the Legislative Assembly and post the report on the Government on the Northwest Territories web site. The report will also be tabled in the Legislative Assembly during the May sitting.

Mr. Speaker, we believe the provision of this information in a timely and regular manner is another step in enhancing transparency and accountability in government. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Item 2, Ministers' statements. Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Zoe.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure today to update Members on the success of the community initiatives program.

The community initiatives program, which was established in spring 2003, exists to support non-tax-based communities to develop programs that address community priorities in the areas of families and youth, healthy lifestyles and safety education. The program was established to respond to the recommendations of the Special Joint Committee on Non-Tax-Based Community Affairs during the 14th Legislative Assembly.

The program makes funding available to communities to develop recreation programs and facilities, establish youth centres, or increase access to these programs for special needs groups such as seniors or people with disabilities. It encourages communities to build partnerships by giving higher priority to projects that lever funding from other sources.

Mr. Speaker, community proposals are rated in accordance with criteria set out in the contribution policy. Priority is given to projects which promote active living, which establish a new program in the community and which include matching funding from community governments in other sources. Proposals are reviewed to ensure they have a good chance of success. Communities can use this funding for new initiatives or to top up funding from other sources. In-kind services are considered as part of a community's contribution to a project.

There are some limitations on this funding. The total contribution to any community cannot exceed $100,000 in a fiscal year, and no project can receive more than $200,000 in total funding. Only one project will be funded in a community per year.

Mr. Speaker, my department officials work closely with communities to monitor the progress of each funded project. If a community is unable to spend its funding, or it there is funding uncommitted by October of each fiscal year, the budget is reassigned to another community or region to ensure that program funds are maximized.

For the new fiscal year, communities have also been advised that priority will be given to projects that were begun but not completed in 2003-2004, and to projects that were approved in 2003-04 but not started due to circumstances beyond community control, such as missing barge shipments.

I am pleased to report that under this program, 22 communities received funding in 2003-04 for a wide range of projects. Projects such as the Hay River Reserve's walking trails, Wrigley's outdoor skating rink and multipurpose court and Fort Good Hope's campsite development for their summer day program have become a reality as a result of the community initiatives program. Other communities have built baseball diamonds, playgrounds and golf courses. Some have improved above ground pool programs and others have begun developing youth centres. Some of these projects are multi-year projects, which will continue in the new fiscal year.

Mr. Speaker, the community initiatives program have allowed Municipal and Community Affairs to support our

smaller communities in order to address their priorities in the areas of physical activity and healthy living. I believe that these types of projects will support residents of all ages to improve their personal health and the well being of our communities. Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Item 2, Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment made a statement in recognition of Aboriginal Languages Month. He spoke about the valued role of language in maintaining our culture and the importance for a successful life, a belief we both share. He spoke about the value of aboriginal language identity and giving a strong foundation for self-determination and self-government.

Mr. Speaker, the Minister assured the residents of the Northwest Territories that he was committed to the ongoing support of aboriginal languages in our communities. What I would like to speak about today is the need for government to continue to support and strengthen initiatives like the language nest programs.

Language nest programs provide opportunities for young children to spend time with their elders where they are exposed to aboriginal language through storytelling and at times when the mind is most ready to learn the language. Through this program, young kids gain a strong foundation in aboriginal languages. I have heard many great things about this program from so many people in my constituency. Mr. Speaker, other Members have said the same thing about the nests in their ridings.

This program seems to be effective across the Territories. In this House, I was encouraged by the strong support of these initiatives by the Minister and many Members on this side of the floor. I believe we can work together to work this out. The work done by the last Assembly in reviewing the Official Languages Act was good, Mr. Speaker; a lot of important initiatives have come out of it. I believe if this government can locate funds to create another bureaucratic body, it can find money for the children. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Item 3, Members' statements. The Member for Hay River North, Mr. Delorey.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with an issue that was brought to my attention by some of my constituents and may ultimately affect the youth of our territory. The issue I refer to, Mr. Speaker, is the apparent lack of northerners being hired at our diamond mines.

Mr. Speaker, I read a glowing news release from Diavik Mine on February 3rd that stated that they had exceeded the commitment they had made to this government, that there would be 66 percent northern hires at the mine. The news release stated that 74 percent of the mine employees were northern residents. I have a hard time with this figure, Mr. Speaker, as I heard from our local Hay River residents of the problems that they are encountering being hired at the mine.

I hear stories, Mr. Speaker, of local Hay River residents who were employed during the initial construction phase of the mines and then laid off and were not able to obtain further work at the mines once they went into production. These are long-time northerners coming to me, Mr. Speaker. Now let me make it clear that I am referring to both BHP and Diavik.

I am also aware of the argument that the mines subcontract out a lot of the hiring of employees to various northern firms and therein may lie the problem. Whatever is causing the problem, there are far too many stories of plane loads of workers coming directly from the South to work at the mines and then flying directly south again.

My question is who is checking up on these northern firms to determine that they are meeting the targets. Who confirms that the people hired for work at the mines are really northern residents? What checks and balances are in place?

Mr. Speaker, I am also concerned about the apparent lack of apprenticeship programs at the mines. I believe the mine should be looking at more programs designed specifically to entice our young people to remain in the North and seek gainful employment. I question what is being done in the non-impact communities to lure young people to come back and work at the diamond mines. These young people are northerners as well, Mr. Speaker. I believe we need to ask these tough questions for the sake of our children, Mr. Speaker, and the next generation of true northerners. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Item 3, Members' statements. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, Mr. Allen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In today's economic environment, the heading in any major newspaper could read "Land-based Economy in Conflict with Commerce-based Economy." Mr. Speaker, during the last few days, a workshop was held at the Northern United Place between members of the non-government organizations, industry representatives, renewable resource councils, hunters' and trappers' committees and other vested interest groups.

Mr. Speaker, I was informed that much of the work done is not about alcohol and drugs as much as about grief. It's about the loss of a culture which few Canadians are aware of. The work of this group, as I am to understand, is about how we begin to manage the shift, making the transition from a land-based economy into a commerce-based one.

Mr. Speaker, undoubtedly there are many expectations from communities for this government to support this shift in economics, education, culture and employment-driven

policy. One major expectation we've seen from our observations is that everyone must work in the diamond or oil and gas industry, Mr. Speaker. These expectations will never be met, Mr. Speaker. Why would it not? Mr. Speaker, we know only too well that people must prepare years in advance before they become proficient in any trade or occupation and, in our case, being political masters in our own land.

Mr. Speaker, in my consultations, people who work in the communities have expressed that we need to educate ourselves on how industry and government work. The people need to know what kind of benefits a pipeline deal offers in the context of socioeconomic agreements and land-access agreements.

Mr. Speaker, it is very difficult to fit into a two-and-a-half-minute statement all the variables that need to be considered in the overall shift in our economic growth. What I want to state very early is the work of these groups is highly recognized and appreciated in my riding. Therefore, I want to see this government make a concerted effort to support a land-based economy until such time as individuals, Northwest Territorians, make the full transition into a commerce-based economy.

I want to wish the participants of these workshops a continued success in their work and endeavours. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Item 3, Members' statements. Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to use my Member's statement today to speak to the issue of our capacity as a government to meet the health needs of our residents. One area of issue which has been referred to recently is our ability to effectively convince the federal government of the deficiencies in the areas under which they have a specific obligation to First Nations people in the Northwest Territories. Another ongoing challenge we are faced with is the practice of the federal government to distribute new funding on a per capita basis which is always detrimental given our small population and the unique challenges of the remote nature of many of our communities. Add to this the ongoing forced growth and expenditures due to health care professional shortages, new technology, pharmaceuticals and the ever-expanding availability of new treatments and procedures in medical science and we have a very pressing challenge to ensure that our people receive health services on par with any other Canadian citizen.

We are also particularly challenged given what the Minister has referred to as northerners' disproportionate penchant for smoking, abusing drugs and alcohol, eating too much and exercising too little, but we must press on. The provision of quality health services for our residents is a top priority of most northerners as it relates to their quality of life. That is why I want to see some serious effort being expended. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't hear another very disappointing report of my constituents being failed by the health care system. We cannot afford to be complacent with this. We have shortages in Hay River that are going to jeopardize the well-being of our citizens and our ability to retain our health care providers. I want to see some decisive and tangible movement on this problem sooner than later. Mr. Speaker, who is in charge? I would characterize the situation in Hay River as approaching crisis and will have questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services on these matters later today in question period. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Item 3, Members' statements. Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would just like to take this opportunity to comment on the power and responsibility I feel I have as a Regular Member of this Assembly and to make a point that if we are to conduct ourselves as part of a consensus government, we must be able to exercise our power and responsibility to the fullest extent possible, especially when we are dealing with something as fundamental as setting a budget for the whole fiscal year coming before us.

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate that we are operating under some constraints -- not only due to the deficit situation, but also due to the reduced time frames that we have had to work with as a result of the last general election -- but I don't think that these constraints should necessarily reduce our power.

In the last Assembly, I sat through four budget sessions where the orientation of the government seemed to be spend, spend, spend, because the good times were coming and we raised taxes. Mr. Speaker, I tell you I opposed the tax initiatives and out-of-control spending and I know the current Minister of Finance was right there with me. Now, the orientation in this Assembly seems to be cut, cut, cut, and still we raise taxes.

Mr. Speaker, in both situations, I am having a problem with the fact that we have to take the whole package the government offers -- take it or leave it -- and I don't think that's right. I think if we have a consensus government we should have the ability to review what's presented to us, to have a say on where we stand on each item. It shouldn't mean that if we accept one, we accept the whole package or that if we reject one, that we're rejecting the whole thing. If we, on this side of the House, have a recommendation that has a strong consensus, I really believe the government has an obligation and responsibility to listen to us and not say, you can't ask for this...

Mr. Speaker, I ask for unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude her statement. Are there any nays? You have unanimous consent to conclude your statement.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe Regular Members of this House are doing a very thorough job of providing input, and I don't want there to be any misconception on the part of the government that this is

just an exercise and, at the end of the day, they are going to get the whole package approved. Mr. Speaker, if that is the case, we might as well pack up and go home because we already had a reduced budget cycle and the government has thousands of employees that review and set priorities. I do believe the Ministers and Cabinet could do a better job in listening to the advice being provided by this side of the House. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Item 3, Members' statements. Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.

Mr. Speaker, mahsi cho. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to address the village of Fort Simpson and how it plans to revert back to hamlet status as a result of MACA's community formula funding projections. Mr. Speaker, Fort Simpson was considered a hamlet until it reverted to village status in 1973. Fort Simpson is the only village of this status in the Northwest Territories and the main source of revenue is taxation. Fort Simpson thought it was making the right decision to revert to a village, only to find out the growth in population, and taxable infrastructure has been minimal over the past 30 years. The village has worked very hard to operate on the revenue generated from taxation and from the GNWT community funding and, as a result, expenses were decreased and user fees increased.

While it is appreciated that there were extraordinary circumstances that the GNWT did help out with, now is the time for repayment now, when the impact of the expected budget reductions will cause the village of Fort Simpson to either cancel some well-needed renovations or double the taxes of the people of Fort Simpson in order to maintain their present revenue. The village definitely does not want to raise the taxes and burden the people of Fort Simpson any further. The mayor and council are convinced, as a result of the budget reductions, that there is no other alternative but to revert back to hamlet. They see that the benefits far outweigh those of being a village. They feel that they would rather do it now rather than later than to use the expected study that the GNWT is very willing pay for. Mr. Speaker, I will be asking the Minister of MACA questions relating to this matter at the appropriate time. Mahsi cho.

---Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I will use my Member's statement to emphasize the same concerns raised by another Member today. I would like to read a letter I received from a resident, and I quote, "On Monday and Wednesday of this week, March 22nd and 24th, people have been turned away from the medical clinic in Hay River without any outpatient services available; there was no outpatient care available in the hospital as well. People can't get adequate medical attention there either." They are literally told by the staff at the medical clinic that, "There is a medical crisis at the hospital and we can't help you." So those who would need to see a doctor now have no options. Why? Because there are no outpatient services at the hospital.

If the staff at the hospital deem that you're not considered an emergency, they too send you home. So what is an emergency? Why can't people just get adequate care before something turns into a life-threatening event? Why can't the hospital hire any more doctors or RNs to see patients in Hay River? Is this not the Hub of the North? It is my understanding that there are many people from Fort Providence, Kakisa, Enterprise and Fort Resolution, as well as individuals from Fort Smith, who access the health care services in Hay River. Will these individuals who are in dire need to see doctors have to go all the way to High Level or over to Yellowknife?

This is outrageous. Who will help these people? Will the government or the hospital foot the bill for travel costs for these people? I say this because those individuals travel from their home communities to receive treatment but are told they can't be helped. Those individuals, some of whom had to hire others to drive them to Hay River, now can't do anything but wait; some for hours, some for days. Something needs to be done immediately. God forbid an accident occurs on the highway or something and because there is no one available to work, someone might die. Is this right? I don't believe so. I expect an investigation on this very important matter. In an ideal world, more doctors would be hired right away, locums perhaps. Do something. People are suffering and it isn't fair to them.

Mr. Speaker, I feel that this letter clearly demonstrates that there is a critical situation that medical professionals, patients and people in the South Slave region are caught in. I urge this government to expedite the current measures underway to alleviate these concerns of our constituents. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Item 3, Members' statements. Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to use my Member's statement today to comment on our relationship with Ottawa. Having been a Member in this Assembly for four months, it is becoming increasingly evident that we have some huge financial hurdles to overcome if we are ever to get a firm grip on running an effective government here in the Northwest Territories.

The arrangement that we have in place today, Mr. Speaker, is something that has to be remedied. The fact that for every dollar we raise in taxation revenue, we must give 80 cents of it back to Ottawa is insane. The colonial mentality and the way Ottawa treats us as a territory has got to improve. Year after year, government after government, the same sad story continues to be told: We have to get a better deal from Ottawa. Not just in our financial arrangement, Mr. Speaker, but with devolution and resource revenue sharing. This has been a persistent problem for years.

Why haven't we made progress on these important issues? Mr. Speaker, I believe that the common denominator is the Liberal government in Ottawa and the henchmen from DIAND. They are, in my opinion, the single biggest obstacle to our government and the way we govern and conduct our business. Perhaps it is time, Mr. Speaker, that we develop some new approaches to dealing with Ottawa. It may be time to develop another business coalition or lobby to again remind them that we are here.

I certainly am not saying a Conservative or NDP government in Ottawa would treat us any differently. They may. Mr. Speaker, the liberal government is certainly not helping us. They continue to ignore us in our desire to have more control over our finances, resources and future. We need to stem the colonial attitude and approach Ottawa has toward us. We have a new Premier, a new government, and, if I can say, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Handley does bear a slight resemblance to Mahatma Gandhi.

---Laughter

In a search for answers, Mr. Speaker, maybe he can get some good sandals and lead us on a walk to Ottawa. Thank you.

---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. Mr. Hawkins.