Item 2, Ministers' statements. Mr. Handley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. During the Committee of the Whole's review of the 2004-05 main estimates it was recommended that the GNWT publicly respond to the Auditor General's Report on Land Claims Implementation.

The Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs has completed a comprehensive review of the Auditor General's report and the observations and recommendations contained within it.

The main points of the Auditor General's report are: (1) Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development must manage federal responsibilities in a way that achieves results; (2) there needs to be a focus by the federal government on fulfilling the spirit and intent of the land claim agreements; and (3) there must be a more effective process for resolving disputes arising from the implementation of land claim agreements.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to report that since the release of the Auditor General's report, significant efforts have been made to address various recommendations.

In response to the first point, DIAND is designing a new federal obligations reporting system of land claims implementation. DIAND has also restructured and streamlined the federal Steering Committee on Self-Government and Comprehensive Claims as part of the federal performance management framework. DIAND has committed to working with this committee to ensure that implementation issues are brought to the attention of senior officials in federal departments.

DIAND and the GNWT have also agreed to work with the Gwich'in, Sahtu and Inuvialuit implementation committees to overhaul the annual reporting process, making the annual reports more results-based. The Auditor General's office has volunteered to assist the implementation committees in designing annual reports that provide a more accurate and realistic account of progress for implementation activities and obligations.

Mr. Speaker, at recent Gwich'in and Sahtu implementation committee meetings, Canada proposed that a workshop with the Auditor General's office be held in the fall to design a new annual report format. The Government of the Northwest Territories is supportive of the fall workshop, and looks forward to participating in designing methods to improve the annual reports. The Gwich'in see the proposed workshop as favourable, and the Sahtu have stated that they will advise the GNWT and Canada of their support for this workshop.

Our government has suggested, Mr. Speaker, that the parties prepare ahead of time a list of questions, subjects and relevant concerns on annual reports to bring to the proposed fall workshop.

Mr. Speaker, although DIAND maintains the position that implementation success is defined by fulfilling specific obligations, the GNWT will continue to work with the Gwich'in, Sahtu and Inuvialuit to promote the spirit and intent of the land claim agreements.

The Auditor General's final point is that the various mechanisms for managing the land claim agreements are not effective in resolving disputes.

Mr. Speaker, worth noting is that the Auditor General's report acknowledges that instances of disagreement are outweighed by areas of agreement. In fact, there are only a handful of issues that have not been successfully resolved by the respective implementation committees.

It should also be noted that the Inuvialuit Arbitration Board has been used effectively in resolving outstanding Inuvialuit implementation disputes. In an effort to strengthen the dispute resolution process under the Gwich'in Land Claim Agreement, the GNWT supported a formal mediation process to assist in resolving implementation disputes. This process has been incorporated into the new implementation plan which was signed on November 14, 2003.

Mr. Speaker, the GNWT continues to be committed to honouring the spirit and intent of the Gwich'in, Sahtu and Inuvialuit land claim agreements. The GNWT, working with the Gwich'in, Sahtu, Inuvialuit and Canada, will continue to promote the effective implementation of land claim activities and obligations. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Item 2, Ministers' statements. Minister Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to advise Members that the diamond capital of North America is hosting a national diamond round table this week.

As many of you know, more than 100 delegates, representing the diamond industry, government and other stakeholders, are meeting in Yellowknife for two days this week to put the final touches on reports that play an integral part in the development of a national diamond strategy.

As Members are aware, Canada's provincial and territorial Premiers have unanimously agreed to develop a national diamond strategy to ensure that this country can effectively benefit from all aspects of the diamond industry. It will be Canada's blueprint for building a major diamond industry from the Arctic to the Atlantic to the Pacific.

Mr. Speaker, the diamond industry is a special industry which has developed and evolved over centuries. It has met challenges both large and small, and has continued to maintain its unique characteristics and style. Mr. Speaker, as with any global industry, it will continue to evolve in order to face the challenges of this new millennium.

In the Northwest Territories we are taking steps to assist and encourage the development of a viable and sustainable diamond industry. We are being proactive in promoting and encouraging investment by the private sector to develop the industry. We are being cooperative in our approach; working with the private sector to address the issues and constraints that a new industry is bound to face.

Mr. Speaker, we recognize there will be ups and downs, as well as challenges we cannot yet foresee. However, I believe that if we stay the course we will realize our vision for the diamond industry in the Northwest Territories.

This government's vision going forward is that the Northwest Territories will become North America's diamond centre. In the coming years, more than 15 percent of the world's rough diamonds by value will be mined here. There will be sorting and selling facilities. Polished diamonds will be produced from a number of processing facilities. Our jewellery will combine northern and aboriginal designs and themes with our own diamonds and gold. We will be recognized as a centre of excellence for diamond training and knowledge. Tourists will visit North America's diamond centre to learn about diamonds and to purchase them. Government-certified polished diamonds and northern jewellery will be recognized in North America and around the world as unique, high-quality products. Diamond companies will be a valued part of the Northwest Territories, providing benefits and opportunities to ensure the sustainable development of our resources.

While on a global scale, Mr. Speaker, our four diamond manufacturing facilities barely make an impact now, they are extremely significant for northerners and Canada. We are now adding value to our raw resources before exporting them. We are working to ensure that the NWT and Canada obtains as much benefit as possible from the extraction and development of our natural resources.

Mr. Speaker, Canada and the NWT can be leaders in the global diamond industry. Our residents can become significant participants in all stages of this industry, from exploration to retail sales of diamond jewellery, but only if we work together to ensure substantial training, employment, business and investment opportunities in all stages from exploration to retail sales of diamond jewellery are available for all Canadians.

I am confident the efforts of the delegates at the national diamond round table will help Canada realize this goal. I look forward to seeing the results of their efforts reflected in the national diamond strategy later this summer. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Item 2, Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. Member for North Slave, Mr. Zoe.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address an incident concerning my personal conduct that occurred at the Royal Canadian Legion Yellowknife Branch on the evening of May 15, 2004. On the evening in question, I was involved in a verbal altercation with a number of members of the Legion. During that incident I made an inappropriate statement concerning fellow Legion members that I deeply regret.

Mr. Speaker, I take full responsibility for my conduct on the evening in question. Shortly after the incident occurred, I apologized in writing and in person to the management and the members of the Royal Canadian Legion. I very much appreciate their acceptance of my apology.

Today, Mr. Speaker, I want to apologize publicly to the Members of this assembly, to my constituents and to the people of the Northwest Territories. I fully accept the high standards of personal conduct that the Premier has set for members of Cabinet, and that all Members have set for this entire assembly. I want to assure all Members today that this type of incident will not be repeated. Thank you.

---Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the work of the Legislative Assembly is unique. Relatively few people will have the experience of representing the interests of others in this capacity. It is work that can be little known or sometimes understood by the average person who may not need to engage the support or services of their MLA. For this reason I believe that it is very important to find creative ways of providing awareness and engaging our constituents in what we do. One way of doing this is through programs that reach out to the curiosity and eager minds of young people. We have several avenues to achieve that goal and I would like to speak about some of them today.

One example, Mr. Speaker, is our paging program, whereby young people from our respective constituencies have the opportunity to travel to Yellowknife and work in the Legislative Assembly. They see the operation of the assembly and the work of the Members from a unique perspective. There is financial support from the assembly for Members to bring Pages every year.

Another example is the Youth Parliament program. The 5th Annual Youth Parliament was recently convened in these Chambers, and I had the pleasure of observing the work of these young people as they raised and debated issues, made statements and asked questions, and I am sure that this is an experience that they will always remember. This did require the dedication and support of many staff members in the Clerk's office and the administrative staff.

Another example is the work we do as Members in the schools, whether it is job shadowing or visiting classrooms, as I did in Hay River last week to talk about and answer questions about the role of an MLA and the Legislative Assembly.

Another opportunity which exists is that of bringing young people to this assembly, and I am very pleased that the three grade 6 classes from Hay River are here in the visitors' gallery today. These 50 students, their teachers and some of their parents took a bus from Hay River, assisted by the generous support of the Hay River Elk's club. They have had an opportunity to see the sights of Yellowknife. Earlier today they met with the Premier and the Speaker -- and I thank the Premier and the Speaker for taking that time today in your busy schedule -- and now they are having a chance to observe firsthand the work of MLAs in this Chamber. I believe that this experience is very valuable. It has given them a close view of a democratic parliamentary process which, at the very least, is a learning experience and might even spark their interest in community and public leadership in the future.

I want to thank my assistant Wendy Morgan, and Deb Mageean, the assistant of my colleague from Hay River North, for their role in assisting with the logistics of this visit. This is the second year that this annual trek has been undertaken, and we would be happy to share our experience with other Members who would like to do something similar to this. Thank you very much.

---Applause

I would like to welcome you to the Legislative Assembly. Item 3, Members' statements. Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. (English not provided)

Mr. Speaker, today I would like to speak to you about a growing problem with housing in our communities in the Nahendeh riding, and that's the mould problem. Recently I have been contacted by a number of my constituents who are suffering from the presence of mould in their homes, especially in the communities of Fort Simpson and Fort Liard. This is not just a northern issue; it is currently recognized as a national problem. The report on the issue is expected to be released by the federal government in July.

Mr. Speaker, mould is primarily a health issue. The presence of mould produces allergens, irritants and, in some cases, potentially toxic substances. Allergic reactions to mould are common. Mould can also cause asthma attacks in people with asthma, and young children seem to be particularly affected.

While all houses have potential for mould problems, the situation only becomes critical when compounded by moisture in the house. It is difficult to say how widespread the problem is at the present time, however, we can expect the problem to get worse in time as houses deteriorate with age. But the problem is not just a question of the age of the home, in certain cases the problem stems from shoddy construction practices and even design. In at least one case I'm aware of, the presence of mould has been attributed to construction of the house in the off-season under wet conditions. I am concerned that some of these problems could have been avoided by carrying out proper inspections of work done by contractors. I believe that we may be looking at the tip of a very nice, large iceberg here. This problem exists with homes in my riding and must also be present in other territorial communities.

Mr. Speaker, this is a problem that I will be addressing in earnest in the future. Solutions are required both in the short term and in the long term. I would like to advise the Minister responsible that I will be seeking answers from him during question period. Mahsi cho.

---Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to shed some light on a matter that has been increasing dramatically in Canada and one that we as a government can take steps to improve. Mr. Speaker, the issue that I refer to is the growing trend of identity theft in Canada.

Identity theft has become one of the fastest growing crimes in both Canada and the United States. Mr. Speaker, the statistics are staggering. In Canada alone, the Phone Busters national call centre received 7,629 identity theft complaints in 2002, which resulted in a reported total loss to people of more than $8.5 million. In the first quarter of 2003, there were 2,250 complaints resulting in total losses of $5.3 million.

Mr. Speaker, one of the ways that thieves get a hold of your identity is to take your driver's licence, credit cards or other major pieces of identification that you may possess. Mr. Speaker, it was recently brought to my attention that the way that our driver's licences are processed in the Northwest Territories makes it very simple for a thief to assume your identity once they are in possession of your licence.

Mr. Speaker, the very fact of plasticizing our driver's licence makes it very simple for a thief to peel back the plastic and insert their photo on your licence. It is so simple that once a thief has your driver's licence, they are able to obtain numerous other pieces of identification and will allow a new identity. Mr. Speaker, I question why the Department of Transportation is still allowing this archaic practice of plasticizing driver's licences to be continued in light of the rapid increase in identity theft.

Mr. Speaker, it is my understanding that the credit card format is used for driver's licences in almost every other jurisdiction in Canada. Many jurisdictions also have a bar code on their licences that does not allow further tampering of driver's licences. I would think that surely it is time for the Northwest Territories to get on board with this practice also. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will be using my Member's statement today to allow this House and the public to become aware of some ongoing concerns that I have with the Department of Justice and the Yellowknife Correctional Centre.

The Minister is well aware of my concerns, but I feel I have to bring this to the attention of the Assembly to get some action on it. In February, I received a petition signed by over 100 inmates incarcerated at the Yellowknife Correctional Centre. They cited some serious deficiencies with the delivery of health services at the centre. Upon receipt of this petition, I drafted a letter to the Minister asking for swift action to their concerns and that he keep me apprised of what was happening. I did receive a letter from the Minister stating that they would look into this problem in the near future. On April 21st, I learned through an outside source that, as a result of the petition, a service audit was commissioned by his department. The service audit was to be conducted by an outside professional from Correction Services Canada and the departmental corrections investigator.

The audit has taken place, and I will have some questions for the Minister about that at the appropriate time. I am concerned that I was not informed of this audit taking place. Because my name appears in the conveyance order for this audit, I should have been informed that it was happening and not have to find out through other sources.

Mr. Speaker, the concerns about the delivery of health services at the centre are coupled with many other issues at the Yellowknife Correctional Centre. The staff morale continues to suffer, even though most had hoped the change of scenery in the new building would help. My concern is for the safety of the staff and of the inmates at the centre. Under the current circumstances, it may be just a matter of time before a serious incident takes place. I will have questions about this at the appropriate time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Item 3, Members' statements. Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, summer is here at last. The summer brings many enjoyable things: warmer weather, longer days, summer holidays, time out on the land with the family. Unfortunately, the summer season also has a downside: terrible dust in the Sahtu communities. It is not the first time that this problem in the communities has been raised in the House.

It was a real concern for some of the Members during the 14th Assembly, and for good reason. Dust is a serious health concern. No one is immune to the negative effects of breathing dust. Mr. Speaker, the elders in our communities suffer the most. I receive many telephone calls from the constituents in Tulita asking me if I can do something to improve the situation. The majority of them are elders. In 2003, the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs and Transportation began work on chipsealing main streets in the non-taxed-based communities. I applaud the department for the work they have done so far. Chipsealing really makes a difference in the quality of life in the communities in the summer.

In March of this year, the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs sent a letter to all Members informing us of this government's implementation schedule for chipsealing on main streets in the non-taxed-based communities. I am very disappointed, however, to note that in Tulita this is not scheduled to begin until 2007, at which time the road begins to assess a design process. At this rate, it will be 2010 before the elders in Tulita can breathe easier during the summer months.

Mr. Speaker, the dust situation in Tulita is a present problem that has to be dealt with immediately. Twenty years ago, there were only four or five vehicles in these communities. However, highway access has changed this. Now, over 60 vehicles come up and down the roads easily and daily in the streets of Tulita, raising dust and severely interfering with the health of some of the elders of communities who live close to the roads. I do not want to tell the elders of Tulita that they must suffer another six years or more before something will be done to alleviate the dust problem. I will have questions for the Minister later on. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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

Item 3, Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to talk to you about an issue of lifeguard services at the Fred Henne Territorial Park this upcoming summer. I should truly say the lack thereof of services. The Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development has said that they will no longer contract with the City of Yellowknife to provide lifeguarding services so there will be no lifeguards this summer at the Long Lake beach.

Mr. Speaker, as I see it, Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development has misinterpreted their contract with the City of Yellowknife, which I will table later this afternoon. Firstly, the terms of this agreement in section 6 of this contract, it says to consider this ongoing, unless cancelled by either party in writing by January 1st of each year. To my knowledge, this has not happened by either party. This agreement states that Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development is responsible to the City of Yellowknife for supplementing the cost of lifeguarding services to the tune of $12,500. Mr. Speaker, I would be remiss if I did not point out that that was an equally shared partnership between the City of Yellowknife and the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, and one further point to say is the cost significantly rose since the original agreement was struck.

Mr. Speaker, secondly, I would further like to go on and report that, in the May 14th Yellowknifer, the main reason Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development does not want to fulfill their agreement with the City of Yellowknife and provide lifeguarding services is because they do not want to assume the liability that occurs at this territorial park. Mr. Speaker, section 4.7 of this contractual agreement between the City of Yellowknife and the GNWT states, "shall indemnify and save harmless the Commissioner and the GNWT from any losses, costs, claims, charges, suits, actions or judgment made, brought or recovered against the Commissioner of the NWT or resulting from any negligent acts or omissions by the City of Yellowknife or its employees in connection with this service."

Mr. Speaker, I, therefore, say, given that liability need not be an issue for cancelling the lifeguarding services at Long Lake, given that in every area of our lives the GNWT encourages us to be safe, they educate us about dangers of smoking and not to drink and drive, to wear helmets on bicycles...Mr. Speaker, may I seek unanimous consent to continue and finish my Member's statement?

The Member is seeking unanimous consent. Are there any nays? There are no nays. You have unanimous consent to conclude your statement.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. The GNWT encourages us to be safe by educating us of the dangers of smoking and not to drink and drive, to wear helmets when riding bicycles. I cannot understand why the GNWT would cancel the service that keeps everyone safe at this beach. I cannot understand that they are not willing to pay their fair share of costs through a partnership for this service. Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time, I will be asking the Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development about this decision to no longer provide lifeguarding services at the Long Lake beach through this contract located in a territorial park in this city. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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