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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to be back with yourself and all of my colleagues in this wonderful House as we commence another session of this, the 15th Legislative Assembly. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to focus on a couple of events that will be occurring in Hay River in the very near future.

Mr. Speaker, this weekend I will be returning home to Hay River to volunteer at the 20th Annual Knights of Columbus Lobster Fest. This event has long proven to be a premier social event of the year in Hay River. This is a major fundraiser for the Hay River Knights of Columbus organization, of which I have had the pleasure to serve for the past 22 years. This event is an excellent example of what can be accomplished through volunteering. Mr. Speaker, this event brings together some 16 or so businesses, some 60 to 70 individual volunteers, many of whom don't belong to the Knights of Columbus, as well as the 600 plus individuals who come out and support this event.

Mr. Speaker, I am very proud of this event, as I had a major role to play in getting it all started 20 years ago, and I have worked and volunteered at this event every year since. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to report that this event has raised over $300,000, all of which has gone back into the community, and mostly to youth organizations.

Mr. Speaker, on June 26th the graduation ceremonies for Diamond Jenness Secondary School will take place in Hay River. This is the largest graduating class to date. Some 45 students will graduate. My sincere congratulations go out to all of the graduates, and I look forward to attending their ceremonies. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I know that many of the graduates will be celebrating their accomplishments, and so they should. However, Mr. Speaker, I would like to encourage all the students to do so in a responsible manner that will not put their lives or the lives of the fellow graduates at risk. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as a legislator, I believe in the principle that the performance of a government is measured by how well we take care of the most vulnerable in our society. One of the most vulnerable I believe are our seniors, Mr. Speaker, and I

am glad to see two distinguished seniors, Ed Jeske and Esther Braden, in the gallery.

Mr. Speaker, I must tell you that our seniors need the help of this government to deal with the housing crisis. In Yellowknife in particular, Mr. Speaker, our housing market is on a runaway train. The lack of supply to meet overwhelming demands has the prices skyrocketing with no end in sight. We are seeing a situation where people are buying houses at higher prices than the listed price. This is making it hard even for the young with steady incomes and jobs, but it is really making it impossible for our senior citizens on fixed incomes. Even those seniors, Mr. Speaker, who have houses paid for and have no mortgages are having a hard time covering the high cost of fuel, power, water and taxes, which all have been rising. Those without adequate income or affordable housing are really in dire straits. They are lining up for limited spaces in low-cost units, but these line-ups are very long, and they are not moving very fast or getting any shorter. I believe a group of seniors that are really suffering are those with a small income, but incomes too high to qualify for income support or social housing, but not enough to buy or maintain their own housing. They are completely being left on the sideline and ignored.

Mr. Speaker, it is high time that this government act on the principle of elevating the quality of life for the most vulnerable, and to also act on the knowledge that the seniors are the fastest growing population in the Northwest Territories. We have to have a plan in place to figure out how to address the unique needs of seniors. We need to have independent housing units that are affordable that meet the physical and financial needs of our growing population of seniors.

Mr. Speaker, I believe it is a very good thing that many of our senior citizens are choosing to retire in the North. Mr. Speaker, may I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement?

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. Mr. Speaker, I believe it is a very good thing that more and more senior citizens, especially in Yellowknife, are choosing to retire in the North. I believe that they add to the wholeness of our society, and make us more complete. Next week following the session is Senior Citizens' Week, and I am going to put the Minister responsible for Seniors, Minister Miltenberger, on notice, and Cabinet, that I am going to make the senior issues -- and there are many of them -- a sort of a theme topic for me to pursue during this short session. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First I just want to say hello to all the Members of this Assembly, to the people in the gallery and to all my constituents. It is a pleasure to return to Yellowknife to this Third Session of the 15th Legislative Assembly, and it is a welcoming sight to see all the Members returning to the session in good health. I sincerely hope that this remains the same in the future.

Mr. Speaker, since the last session in March 2004, many new developments have taken place, not only in the Tu Nedhe region, but also in the NWT and in Canada. With many new developments in the Tu Nedhe region, such as the signing of the Snap Lake project, socioeconomic and environmental agreements, the municipal co-management signing agreement, and also ongoing discussions on future hydro developments along with some improvements in forestry, housing and social sectors of my constituency. I would like to state that I look forward to working more diligently with all the Members of this 15th Assembly to move forward and realize some of the goals that will be laid out in the government's strategic plan, and making some of these new developments beneficial to all the residents of Tu Nedhe.

Mr. Speaker, although the future does seem brighter from a government standpoint, I cannot stress the need for this government to continue its commitment to resolve many outstanding issues of my constituents in areas of income support, student financial assistance, seniors health issues, and a review of the rent scale and WCB, just to name a few.

Mr. Speaker, I feel that this government is going to realize that any progress towards achieving a small degree of the 15th Legislative Assembly's vision of self-reliant individuals and families, and healthy communities we have to start from the grassroots and work our way up, because if we want to retain and improve the public's confidence in our government like what the Calgary Flames are doing, grassroots is where we need to start. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Item 3, Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Premier. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, I'd like to recognize a number of people. First of all my wife, Theresa, who is here; Barb Saunders, the executive director for the Council of Status of Women, my faithful constituent; the major for the Salvation Army, Karen Hoeft; and also, I don't know if he's left, but Chief Peter Liske was here as well. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I brought with me my summer student, constituency assistant from Fort Simpson, Ms. Tiffany Pedersen. I would just like to recognize her today. Mahsi cho.

---Applause

Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to recognize Dennis Marchiori, who is the Human Rights Act implementation coordinator, and also I am hoping my colleagues will join me in giving a warm welcome to Therese Boullard, who is the new director of Human Rights for the Northwest Territories. They have a lot of work to do. We know that we're opening an office very soon and we wish them all the best. Thank you.

---Applause

Welcome to the Legislative Assembly. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Braden.

Mr. Speaker, my colleague, Ms. Lee, has already recognized persons in the gallery, some seniors here, and I would too. My mother, Esther, and her good friend and neighbour, Ed Jeske, and Ms. Barb Hood, the executive director of the NWT Seniors' Society. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Welcome to the Legislative Assembly. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Villeneuve.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I am not sure if he's still here, but I would to recognize the chief of the Lutselk'e Dene Band, Chief Archie Catholique. He was here earlier, I don't know if he's behind me or what, but if he is, welcome.

---Applause

Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Hawkins.

Minister of Transportation, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, our department, along with all North American jurisdictions, is participating with the Canadian Council on Motor Transport Administrators and also the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators to develop new acceptable standards. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, Mr. Minister, for your answer. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister tell us what the process and timelines will be for the approval and implementation of a new national standard for drivers' licences? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.