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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to talk today about the strategic plan of this government presented by the honourable Premier, Mr. Handley, on May 26th. In previous sessions, I presented the issue of legal aid as one of my highest priorities. I

repeatedly mentioned there are constituents of mine who have waited over six months to receive assistance. I believe that this period is too long to expect families in crisis to wait. I am pleased that the government agrees with my position. Mr. Handley announced that, during the presentation of the strategic plan, and I quote, "We will be seeking supplementary funding during the current session to open a separate legal aid clinic dedicated to family law." The government's position on legal aid, the steps that are being taken to lessen the waiting time to receive assistance, as well as their commitment for a fall implementation is, in my opinion, very commendable.

Mr. Speaker, I further would like to note that I will formally put this government on notice that for the next little while I will not be pounding my fist on the legislature's table, because I truly have seen positive action to deal with this crisis. So, Mr. Speaker, I will be off dealing with other burning bushes.

---Laughter

We will see what comes from there. Finally, Mr. Speaker, I will say that I truly and humbly look forward to working with the Minister of Justice because he truly is a Minister who will work with Regular Members on any legal aid progress.

Thank you, colleagues, for showing your support of that Minister, I am sure. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I just want to thank the government for taking the initiative of creating this legal aid clinic. I could truly believe that there will be a new functional legal aid clinic that would bring much needed program and progress for our community. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today, I would like to address the situation that occurred recently to a single mom in Hay River, one that causes me a great deal of concern and raises many questions around maintenance enforcement. Mr. Speaker, the lady I refer to is a single mom with three children to support who has gone through the courts for some time for financial help. She is currently not receiving anything in the way of maintenance enforcement payments, as the father of the children is in arrears with maintenance enforcement.

Recently, Mr. Speaker, the sheriff's office commenced a seizure of some of the dad's goods in order to pay down some of the maintenance arrears. The mom was told that she should be provided with the proceeds from the sale of the goods. Here comes the kicker, Mr. Speaker. The goods were sold at auction. After all was said and done, the single mom with the three kids realized nothing by way of monies from the sale. Mr. Speaker, I was informed that it is standard practice for the sheriff's office to charge a fee for seizing the goods and for storage of such goods. This is why the single mom did not receive any of the money from the auction. Mr. Speaker, to my way of thinking, the sheriff is an employee of this government. As such, any work he carries out in the performance of his duties should be just the cost of doing business. That should not be borne on the backs of single moms. Mr. Speaker, I would think that surely we, as a government, can come up with another solution to address single moms who are struggling to make ends meet. They should not be doubly burdened as a result of actions from this government. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Item 3, Members' statements. Member for Great Slave, Mr. Braden.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. This past weekend, about 60 dedicated sports volunteers from many communities gathered in Yellowknife for the annual meeting of the Sport North Federation and its partner organizations from various regions and sectors in the territory. They represent some 25 sporting organizations that bring the views and interests of thousands of northerners to the table, Mr. Speaker. These people range from youngsters just getting started in organized competitive sport, to elite athletes who could be carrying Canada's flag in the future world Olympics.

Sport North is also the body that organizes and manages the NWT's participation in the Arctic Winter Games. They raise funds for this through the generosity of many corporate sponsors and the proceeds of the Western Canadian Lottery, as the licensed agent on behalf of this government. It is important to recognize the partnership that our government has with the Sport North Federation, Mr. Speaker, and not only for the Arctic Winter Games, but many other programs and services.

The organization is a tremendous example of our volunteers. The world of sport and recreation here in the NWT would be nothing without the hundreds of deeply committed coaches, officials and workers who give freely of their days and weeks, Mr. Speaker, every year in the communities. This is a volunteer body that is an incredibly important constituency to us all. It is one that we could never afford to replace. I believe that we are putting these people and their volunteer commitment at risk, Mr. Speaker. A major concern to them is the revamping of the sport and recreation system through the proposed new Sport and Recreation Council.

I want to compliment the Premier, Mr. Speaker, who, having just taken on the duties of Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, appeared before the annual general meeting this weekend. I think he was the first Minister, let alone Premier, to do that in the last three or four years, and he's to be complimented. But he heard very clearly that the sport volunteers just don't understand the problem that the government is trying to fix with this new governing body. They believe the government is imposing an answer to a problem which has yet to be clearly defined and substantiated. They ask whether a new organization will impose new costs and how their role as volunteers will be affected with the delivery of sport programming across the North. Above all, Mr. Speaker, they seek a degree of recognition and respect that at least matches their dedication to sport and healthy living in the North. Thank you.

---Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to speak today on the way the mental health and addictions program is being rolled out in communities. Mr. Speaker, this is a program that I have supported and I believe it's a very good thing that the government has allocated new money and more money to put resources in this area. I believe, also, Mr. Speaker, that it is important that we do it in a way that meets the needs of our local communities and at the same time maximizes the local employment opportunities wherever possible.

Mr. Speaker, the information I have is that the GNWT contribution agreement that's been rolled out requires that the people who are hired for these positions have to have a minimum of Bachelor of Arts and Social Sciences with three years of relevant counselling experience or a diploma in Psychiatric Nursing with three years of relevant experience. Mr. Speaker, I totally appreciate and understand that we need to have people qualified for their jobs, whatever they may be, but we should also note that in this case these qualifications that the contribution agreement is asking for would most certainly exclude anybody who's in the community who might be interested in this job. Anybody who has these qualifications, I would submit to you, is already employed or, unless the new money being offered is very high, they're not going to be willing to transfer.

Mr. Speaker, I think it's important that whenever we roll out programs and put more resources we need to build capacity that goes with those resources. What I'm really concerned with is that there are currently no training programs in the department or within our school system that would be able to bring the people that we already have available who can qualify for this training program so they can be trained rather than setting up job requirements that we know to be either beyond, or we just don't have people to fill these jobs in communities. We have full employment or something close to full employment, and I can tell you that a psychiatric nurse with psychiatric training is hard to come by, even at Stanton Territorial Hospital.

So, Mr. Speaker, I would urge this government and the Minister of Health and Social Services to revisit the way in which he is introducing this program and rolling out this program because in the end, if there's no buy-in from the communities with respect to this program and they feel that they can't have their local people working on it, it is not going to result in success. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Item 3, Members' statements. The Member for Nunakput, Mr. Pokiak.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to congratulate constituents in my Nunakput riding. Congratulations to the athletes who attended the Super Soccer tournament here in Yellowknife, which was held from April 29th to May 4, 2004. Kim Deniger, a member of the RCMP, was the coach and took seven students with her. They are: Zane and Jonathan Kuneyuna, Anthony Alanak, Nathan Okheena, Nathan Pogotak, Logan Memogana, and Zackery Kunana.

Mr. Speaker, with this being their first time attending this tournament they did not win any of the games, but I'm proud to say they did receive an outstanding trophy. I would like to recognize their sponsor, who helped them raise $10,000 for the expenses to join in this event. They are Devon, ConocoPhillips, First Air, Helen Kalvak Elihakvik School, the Hamlet of Holman, the Holman District Education Authority, Inuvialuit Development Corporation, the local church and the community volunteers who helped at bake sales.

Mr. Speaker, there are two students from Mangilaluk School in Tuktoyaktuk who I wish to acknowledge. They are Shaeli Pokiak and Chelsey Jacobson. They won in their division and went to the regional science fair in Inuvik where they were selected to be participants in the national science fair in St. John's, Newfoundland. Ms. Betty Elias, the Grade 6 teacher from Mangilaluk School, was the chaperone for female students who attended the science fair.

Mr. Speaker, I would also like to congratulate these constituents from my Nunakput riding who graduated from Aurora College: Gloria Nasogaluak from Tuktoyaktuk and Donald Kuptana, Jr., who now resides in Inuvik, who graduated with a diploma from the recreational leaders program; Lilly Alanak from Holman and Vikki Gruben from Tuktoyaktuk, who graduated from the Holman community support worker program; and Marlene Wolki from Paulatuk, who received her certificate in office administration. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I just want to reiterate some of the concerns I raised during last week's session. These concerns are with denying persons with developmental disabilities in Edmonton, Alberta, who were receiving care and are now not receiving financial support from this government. Mr. Speaker, this is NWT Disability Awareness Week 2004 with the theme being, "Remember to Include Everyone - We All Benefit." That being said, Mr. Speaker, I'd like to say that it seems that this government has not included everyone and that the nine clients and their families that we did not include are definitely not benefiting from some of the decisions and actions that have been unfolding over the past two months with respect to their well-being and proper care by this government.

Mr. Speaker, these clients are still in the same institution, as they refuse to be relocated and it worries me why this government can only state that they're pretty much on their own now that they refuse to relocate. I do not understand how this government can say that they will help by having on-call services available to these clients should they want to receive support from this government.

Mr. Speaker, let us not forget that these people have developmental disabilities, and a help line does not seem like a good alternative to what I would term as abandonment by the government and Department of Health and Social Services with regard to their proper care and support received by the institution which has stated that they will continue to care for these people with developmental disabilities regardless of GNWT funding arrangements which are being terminated because of unsubstantiated allegations and accusations which seem to be plaguing this House of late.

Mr. Speaker, I will be asking the Minister of Health and Social Services more questions about this important issue later on today. Mahsi.

---Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to take this opportunity to recognize our good friend and former Speaker of this House, Mr. Tony Whitford. I just wanted to let him know that it's good to see him here and I miss him very much, too. Not disrespecting the current incumbent from Kam Lake.

---Laughter

Mr. Speaker, I'd also like to recognize Mr. Lougheed. I believe we all miss him. I've watched him as I was growing up and I admire him very much. I welcome him to the North. Thank you.

---Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to recognize my partner, Cheryl; my support. I miss you and I love you.

---Laughter

Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know Mr. Lougheed has left, but I'd also like to recognize him. And Mr. Whitford, a constituent of mine and former Speaker of the House; welcome, sir. Also, Mr. Alfred Moses who helped coordinate the Quit and Win Contest in the Inuvik region. Welcome, Alfred, to the Legislative Assembly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. At this time I'd like to recognize my constituent assistant's parents. Although they're not constituents of mine, they hail from Capreol, Ontario, and they're here in the Northwest Territories visiting my assistant. Their names are Gerry and Mary Lynn Sorel. Formally, I have to say that I'm not supposed to mention that Julie forgot to pick up them up at the airport, so nobody tell her I said that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Laughter

---Applause

Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to recognize the executive director of the NWT Status of Women Council in the gallery today, Ms. Barbara Saunders.

---Applause