Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This past September, for the first time ever, the Legislative Assembly took the budget process to the public. We encountered many ideas, thoughts and concerns from residents around the territory. For one full week, half of the Regular Members on this side of the House went north, while the other half went south to visit communities there. We also had two full days of discussions here in Yellowknife. From the feedback we received, this type of public involvement was long overdue. I will certainly be looking for ways going forward that we can find other ways that the government can open up the budgeting process. We need to allow more public presence in the lead-up to our budget discussions that ultimately end up here on the floor of this House. I don't really understand the necessity, Mr. Speaker, to keep all of the good work in the business plan review process behind closed doors. As a public government, we have to be more transparent and open about how we do business.

The pre-budget consultation exercise was a step in the right direction. Now we have to examine how we can increase our exposure, and the scrutiny that comes along with it, to the public that we serve.

Our budget process and committee structure does not normally allow for any type of public participation. Now that we have the door slightly ajar with the pre-budget consultations, we have to look at ways to let the public in on the business plan reviews. The public deserves, and has to have the opportunity, to see MLAs doing committee work. This will do two things, Mr. Speaker. First, it will increase public trust and lead to a more open and accountable government. Secondly, it will ensure Members take a more active and involved role in committee work. Ultimately, what you would achieve is better government. Isn't that why we are all here today? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Pokiak.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I rise to raise an issue about education that has been a great

concern to Tuktoyaktuk and Paulatuk. Mangilaluk School in Tuktoyaktuk was built in the 1990s to accommodate kindergarten to Grade 9. However, it was renovated to accommodate students to Grade 12. Today, Mr. Speaker, the Tuktoyaktuk District Education Authority is concerned that the present setup does not work in having students from K to 9 in one school setup. Many of the students utilize their hallways and share the same bathroom. Mr. Speaker, it is difficult during recess, because of what they have in IA, young students seeing the older students smoking cigarettes. Mangilaluk School does not have a resource centre; for example, a library. Many of the resource materials are stored in the room. This should not be tolerated because resource materials play an important part in education. When will Mangilaluk School have a library so that the students can find the necessary materials to complete their projects? Mr. Speaker, this year, the home economics room was turned into a classroom. Why? Because of shortage of space for appropriate classrooms.

Mr. Speaker, in Paulatuk, the Angik School was to have a Grade 11 extension this year. The Beaufort-Delta Divisional Education Council approved the extension this year. However, it was brought to my attention that the Grade 11 extension of Paulatuk was cancelled. Why?

Mr. Speaker, education throughout the Northwest Territories is important for our students. Without the classrooms and resources, we are failing our most important people: our students. In closing, Mr. Speaker, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment needs to address the needs of our students. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Like my colleague before me, Mrs. Groenewegen, I am going to continue to talk about NGOs on the pre-budget consultation. Since I became a Member two years ago, I have had regular and ongoing contact with a number of our NGOs out there, like the NWT Seniors' Society, that deliver programs on behalf of the Government of the Northwest Territories to residents in Yellowknife, as well.

Again, one of the most pressing concerns that I heard from them is the ongoing funding problems. Every year these organizations are waiting in limbo for the government or one of the health and social services authorities to confirm that they will be funded at the same level of the last fiscal year for the new one. It is time that this government drops the rhetoric and starts going through and doing some meaningful work that helps these agencies.

In the face of funding uncertainty, these organizations are unable to provide assurance to their employees that they will be, in fact, employed, once the government money does show up. Consequently, NGOs regularly lose employees who have to leave because of the uncertainty that this unstable position creates. That is not good for a family. That makes job security impossible. No one can get a mortgage without knowing that they will have a job next year. How does a person really start a true family working towards their future? The undue stress is not right. The red tape must end today.

Mr. Speaker, organizations again like the NWT Seniors' Society, and, of course, as well as many others, have a fantastic track record in delivering services to the people of the NWT. So I ask myself, how many years do these organizations have to demonstrate themselves to finally get the respect they truly deserve? Mr. Speaker, they should not have to spend inordinate amounts of time each year filling out administrative request after administrative request when they have truly a solid track record of providing great services at a great value. So again I say, if the government is listening, the red tape needs to end. We need to find ways to help these NGOs.

In 2002, the Social Agenda, a draft for the people of the NWT, recommended multi-year funding. We have got stone feet on this issue again. Every year, costs go up and the GNWT raises its rates. Authorities get more funding. Labour rates get covered, costs, et cetera, but NGOs continue to get the same amount of funding year to year.

Mr. Speaker, I will have questions later for the Minister of Health and Social Services, but I have to stress, we talk about pipelines and devolution. Let's make multi-year funding a hallmark of this Assembly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Item 3, Member's statements. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, I, too, wish to speak to this House about our pre-budget consultation process that we began in August and September of this year. I was very happy to be part of a process that allows more input from our people into how we plan and spend our budget as a government, and also on how we can improve the delivery of our programs and services.

What I heard, Mr. Speaker, in each community that I travelled to, was accessibility and affordability of our living costs that reoccur over and over. I was also very pleased that the community of Wrigley took the time and effort to drive to Fort Simpson to make a presentation and have their say in how they would like their government to be spending their money.

My most memorable time, Mr. Speaker, was in Trout Lake, when Mr. Joe Punch went out of his way to ensure that we were taken care of.

---Applause

This is all he and our people ever ask of us, is that we take care of them and their needs. I look forward to ensure that this happens, Mr. Speaker. I want to make sure that the needs of our community and our people will be heard at each and every stage of our budget and capital planning process. Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would also like to comment on the pre-budget tour. I have to start off by saying a big warm hello to elder Joe Punch of Trout Lake...

---Applause

...our member from Nahendeh kind of took that line, but I really want to thank Joe Punch for being with us every second that we were there. He even took us into his home. We had an opportunity to get access to some of their cranberries. It really was a nice time. I want to say hello to elder Punch.

I have to tell you that this really was an experience that was highly informative, meaningful and heartwarming. I am glad we made a decision to do this and, now that we have started it, we have to continue to do it. Most importantly, we need to make sure that we act on the advice, suggestions and directions given to us by the people of the NWT, in the nine communities that we visited and many more to come.

Mr. Speaker, there is so much to say and do about what we saw and what we heard, but let me just point out two things. The first one is how impressed I was with the fact that Chief Dennis Deneron of Trout Lake has a whole community hooked up with wireless Internet. He is a young and dynamic leader who is very proud of using technology to build on the strength, and to use it to preserve and enhance traditional knowledge, including the fact that he has satellite chips on animals that roam around his community. He actually keeps track of them with the latest technology. Who knew that one of the smallest communities like Trout Lake is more wired than this fancy building that we work in, and so much more advanced than some of the technological dinosaurs that I have to work with in this building?

---Laughter

But we will talk about that later.

Mr. Speaker, I cannot complete my statement without telling you of the everlasting image I have of the children of Lutselk'e and how this government and all of us have failed in looking after the future of these precious children. Mr. Speaker, we were given a presentation from the day care manager. We had the opportunity to visit those facilities the next morning. Basically, these children have no day care home of their own. They go to the community hall in the morning. They have to set up everything from scratch. 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. You may conclude your statement, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just want to say that these children really have no home to go to for their day care program. They are in this big community hall. They have to set up everything and take everything down at the end of the day. They are supposed to be controlled in how to behave. It is just not possible to be done in a place like this. When there are events for adults, they are the first ones to be kicked out. What kind of message are we sending to the children, and what importance are we putting on them? Mr. Speaker, coincidentally, there is much talk about our day care program. There is a lot of work to be done. I believe it is about time that this government addresses this issue head on. I will be pursuing that further during question period. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Item 3, Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, I am very proud to recognize five members of the RCMP with us today who were instrumental in Project Gunship that we saw last week. They are: Superintendent Rick Roy, who is the officer in charge of criminal operations for 'G' division.

---Applause

Also, Inspector Jim Cunningham, Project Gunship team leader.

---Applause

Sergeant Mike Payne of the Yellowknife detachment.

---Applause

Also, I want to recognize Larry O'Brien...

---Applause

...and Tom Wasiuta, who were two key investigators in the project.

---Applause

On behalf of the entire Northwest Territories, I want to make sure that we show our appreciation and recognize these five members of the force. I think we all have a better understanding of exactly how dangerous this line of work can be. Thank you very much, gentlemen.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Inuvik, Twin Lakes, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize my son, Ryan, and my wife, Judy, who are visiting from Inuvik. Mr. Speaker, six of the Pages in here today are from Inuvik. We have Kaylin Horassi, Angela Donley, Jessica Wilson, Alaska Edwards, Alyssa Ross, Hayley Rogers, and my constituency assistant and their chaperone, Meeka Kisoun. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Pokiak.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize the most important person in my life, my wife, Lucille Pokiak, up in the gallery,...

---Applause

...for the past 26 years and counting. I should also mention that she has worked for the Tuktoyaktuk Housing Association for over 18 years, and that she is presently the chair of the district education authority. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, wish to show my appreciation to the RCMP, and I recognize them in their efforts, but I will start with my constituent first. Of course, in no particular order, Superintendent Rick Roy, Inspector Jim Cunningham, Corporal Larry O'Brien, Corporal Tom Wasiuta, and Sergeant Mike Payne. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Monfwi, Mr. Lafferty.

(Translation) Mr. Speaker, I would like to say welcome to Lucille Pokiak, who is originally from the community of Rae. At this time, I would like to say thank you to Mrs. Pokiak, originally from the community of Rae.

Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.