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

The Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. You may conclude your statement, Mr. Ramsay.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, I am wondering why the WCB is so intent on having this waterfront address. The last time I looked, employer premiums were increasing, and injured workers were still feeling that the process and the bureaucracy were treating them badly and poorly. How can the WCB justify the building of this waterfront castle? They even stated that they will maintain public walking trails within the vicinity of this new building, and all of this on the back of the injured worker and the employers paying ever-increasing premiums. Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Premier at the appropriate time. Thank you.

---Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There are some loud rumours out there that say Imperial Oil is seriously considering pulling out of the oil and gas project. The rumour mill says that, despite the potential $500 million that the federal government has put on the table, Imperial still contends that the demands from the access and benefit agreement negotiations are still too high. Imperial Oil has not budged an inch, and they are not prepared to offer any more to the claimant groups, from what I have heard. If something is not done soon, in my opinion, the current plans to establish a pipeline in the NWT will be in serious jeopardy, and put into a holding pattern for the next 30 years.

My concern is that this Government of the Northwest Territories has invested serious dollars into preparing for the pipeline. Almost every department has created at least one position in pipeline readiness and some of that in several positions. At last count, in the March budget, there were approximately 30 positions across the Territories devoted entirely or partially to the pipeline. This government has invested considerable people hours from the existing staff to investing heavily in the $1 million office in Hay River. MACA has doled out over $1 million of funding to communities to help deal with expected impacts of the pipeline, not to mention the money that has gone towards negotiations and pipeline agreements.

If this pipeline comes, Mr. Speaker, all of this money will have been considered well invested. If this pipeline does not come, this money will have gone down the drain. This government has already stated that without the pipeline, we will find ourselves in a serious financial situation.

So, Mr. Speaker, in closing, I am very concerned what will happen to the significant investment in establishing numerous positions and spending a lot of money on getting ready for a pipeline that is simply just a pipe dream. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I had a good statement and some questions, but

then I just realized that the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment wasn't here, so I will have to save those until Friday. I was trying to come up with a topic that I have been hearing a lot about in my time in Inuvik. One of the main complaints I had from Inuvik, and people that drive it, is the condition of the Dempster Highway.

I have been hearing many complaints from people about the highway, and having the opportunity to travel that highway since 1984, this is the worst that I have ever seen it. It is worse than a goat trail. Many experienced drivers have told me that they travel this highway all the time. This is the worst they have ever seen it, because of the condition.

There have been a few accidents on the highway because of the condition of the road. I read with some interest the article that was in the paper regarding 12 kilometres left to pave on Highway No. 3. We would like to have 12 kilometres of dust control on the Dempster.

---Laughter

---Applause

We would like to have 12 kilometres without barrel-sized potholes, and 12 kilometres where we can put it on cruise control.

---Laughter

Mr. Speaker, with all the traffic that is going to be on this highway within the next couple of years with the pipeline -- and there is going to be pipeline -- this government has to improve the condition of the road. There is some work going on it right now, but that work, Mr. Speaker, as far as I am concerned, is not enough. There is going to be more work that needs to be done on this highway. We have to keep these highways safe for all residents of the NWT, not just Highway No. 3. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. I would caution Members from making reference to Members who are absent from the House. Item 3, Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to recognize a constituent of mine, and chairman of the WCB, Mr. Denny Rodgers. We welcome him to the Assembly. His daughter is one of our Pages today.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it gives me pleasure to introduce and recognize somebody in the gallery, my constituency assistant, Dan, from Inuvik; Brenda Dillon; as well as also recognizing Mr. McLeod's constituency assistant, Meeka Kisoun.

---Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize one of my sisters here in the gallery, Mrs. Molly Nogasak. With her is her daughter, Priscilla Nogasak. I would also like to recognize Mrs. Brenda Dillon, CA for Mr. Roland. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize someone who has already been recognized, but in doing so, I may have to let out a personal secret, or whatever.

In 1978, when I came to Canada and spoke no English whatsoever, my first best friend who taught me English was from Newfoundland, and her name was Rhonda Rodgers. Denny Rodgers is Rhonda Rodgers' little brother who was in grade school. Now he is here as a chair of WCB, and his daughter here is paging. That really makes you think about how life runs its course as it should. It is a great pleasure for me to recognize Mr. Rodgers in the gallery. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. If we have missed anybody in the gallery today, welcome to the gallery. Welcome to the Legislative Assembly. It is always nice to have an audience here. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for the Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my Member's statement, I talked about the housing situation in the Sahtu. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services on the facility in Deline. There is an elders' long-term care facility that is not being utilized, as Mrs. Groenewegen has indicated in her statement, to the fullest extent. This situation has gone on for a number of years. My constituents are asking for a resolution. Can the Minister of Health and Social Services inform this Assembly of the current status of the long-term care facility in Deline, and of any plans the department has for maximizing its utilization? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.