Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation.

1. Given that the NWT Housing Corporation has been actively engaged in negotiations with the federal government and that the ATCO/Novel housing project in Calgary, Alberta, when would the Minister provide the detailed plan on the entire project for public input and discussion?
2. What is the budget breakdown of this project in terms of who is paying for what: How much is the federal government paying; how much is the territorial government paying; and how much is ATCO paying? How is the territorial government going to fund its portion of the project, and what impact would this have on other NWT Housing Corporation projects?
3. Have the NWT Construction Association, NWT Chamber of Commerce, or NWT Association of Communities and aboriginal governments been given such a public plan for discussion with their constituents? If not, when will they be provided this information?
4. How does the ATCO/Novel housing project plan include involvement of northern builders and suppliers, not only in how to take part in the ATCO/Novel housing project, but on other options that would be available for the $220 million plus housing project?
5. What other options have been considered on how to spend the $220 million plus housing investment and meet the social housing needs of the North, other than going with the ATCO/Novel housing project, and what cost-benefit analysis has been done?
6. How does this ATCO Novel plan include training opportunities for northern labour in northern communities, in what communities, in what regions, how many people, and how?
7. How does this plan include meaningful partnerships with other departments and agencies such as Aurora College, the departments of Industry, Tourism and Investment, and Transportation with the construction
8. and building industries of the North? Please explain their roles in detail.
9. What work has been done with municipal governments and aboriginal governments to ensure a cooperative partnership regarding land development? Is there an inventory or plan on how the government will have 1,400 lots on which to place those mobile units?
10. Has there been any survey or means for input from the potential tenants to gauge the interest or support for this mega project?
11. How much money would it cost the proponents of the pipeline project or ATCO/Novel housing, whichever is responsible, to pay for the removal of the campsite trailers if they had to move them after use and they were not turned into Novel housing units?
12. The Minister indicated in this House that he expects to move 100 mobile units a year. Given that estimate, it will take at least 14 years to move 1,400 units. In the interim, where would these units be stored, secured, and protected from the elements and potential vandalism?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Item 7, written questions. Item 8, returns to written questions. Item 9, replies to opening address. Item 10, petitions. Item 11, reports of standing and special committees. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, your Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight is pleased to provide its Report on the Review of the Information and Privacy Commissioner's Annual Report 2003-2004 and commends it to the House.

Report on the Review of the Information and Privacy Commissioner's Annual Report 2003-2004

Background

The NWT's Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, ATIPP, came into force on December 31, 1996. The purpose of the act is to make public bodies more accountable and to protect personal privacy by giving the public a right of access, with limited exceptions, to records held by the GNWT and related public bodies, and by preventing the unauthorized collection, use or disclosure of personal information by the GNWT and related public bodies. The act also gives individuals the right to see and make corrections to information about themselves.

The Information and Privacy Commissioner is an independent officer of the Legislative Assembly and is required, under section 68 of the act, to prepare and submit an annual report. Ms. Elaine Keenan-Bengts was reappointed as the NWT's Information and Privacy Commissioner in the May-June 2005 session, for another five-year term.

Several amendments to the act came into force April 1, 2004, including new powers for the Commissioner to investigate and make recommendations on privacy complaints. Many of these amendments were made in response to recommendations the Commissioner made in previous annual reports. Additional amendments to the act have passed third reading and are ready for assent by the Commissioner of the NWT.

General Comments

The Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight held a public meeting with Ms. Keenan-Bengts on June 29, 2005, to review her 2003-2004 annual report.

The committee was pleased to note that in her opening comments, the Commissioner commented on the positive trend toward openness and transparency among government departments since the act came into force over eight years ago. The Commissioner emphasized the importance of cultivating a culture of openness within GNWT agencies and noted that most departments are moving slowly, but surely, toward this. She stressed the crucial role that bureaucrats play in portraying openness, accountability and garnering the trust of the public vis-...-vis government.

Mr. Speaker, that concludes the introductory portion of the committee's report on the review of the Information and Privacy Commissioner's 2003-2004 Annual Report. Therefore, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, that Committee Report 4-15(4) be received by the Assembly and ordered in Committee of the Whole for consideration. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The motion is on the floor. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Question is being called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Committee Report 4-15(4) will be moved into Committee of the Whole.

Item 11, reports of standing and special committees. Item 12, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 13, tabling of documents. The honourable Premier, Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document entitled GNWT Strategic Plan - 2005 Progress Report.

I would also like to table the following document entitled GNWT Strategic Plan - 2005 Compendium of NWT-Wide Measures. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Item 13, tabling of documents. The honourable Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following documents entitled Review the Condominium Act of the Northwest Territories: A Consultation Paper. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Item 13, tabling of documents. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. At this time, I'd like to table three letters, one dated April 27, 2005, from the vice-president of Aurora World; a second letter, dated May 9th, to Minister Bell, from me; and a third letter, May 24th, a letter to me from the Conflict of Interest Commissioner, Mr. Ted Hughes. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Item 13, tabling of documents. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Braden.

...dated October 23, 2005, circulated to all MLAs. The letter brings to the Assembly's attention the shortage of audiologists. The second document, Mr. Speaker, is a newspaper commentary by Dawn Doig, an audiologist here in the Northwest Territories, dated February 8, 2002. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Item 13, tabling of documents. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to table four documents, and I would like to state that all these were sent to me, so I have proprietary rights on them. Mr. Speaker, it's a letter from Minister Dent to Ms. Aimee Clark, dated October 18, 2005, regarding closure of the Rainbow Childcare and Development Centre; a letter dated October 19th from Kathleen Purchase, campus director of Aurora College, to Aimee Clark, regarding the closure of the day care centre; a copy of an e-mail from Aimee Clark from Kathleen Purchase, responding to this letter, dated October 20th, and an e-mail from Minister Miltenberger to Aimee Clark, dated October 25, 2005. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Item 13, tabling of documents. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table two documents: one from Our Land of the Snows Mission, Mr. Bern Will Brown, and also a letter to me from Margaret Brown, president of the Colville Lake Co-op, on the recycling program.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Item 13, tabling of documents. Pursuant to section 23 of the Official Languages Act, I wish to table the annual report of the Languages Commissioner for the Northwest Territories, for the fiscal year 2004-2005.

Pursuant to section 68 of the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act, I wish to table the 2004-2005 annual report of the Northwest Territories Information and Privacy Commissioner.

I wish to thank both Commissioners for their patience in waiting for the reports to be tabled today. Welcome to the House.

---Applause

Item 13, tabling of documents. Item 14, notices of motion. The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Thursday, October 27, 2007, I will move the following motion: I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River South, that notwithstanding Rule 4, when this House adjourns on Thursday, October 27, 2005, it shall be adjourned until Wednesday, February 1, 2006; And further, that any time prior to February 1, 2006, if the Speaker is satisfied, after consultation with the Executive Council and Members of the Legislative Assembly, that the public interest requires that the House should meet at an earlier time during the adjournment, the Speaker may give notice, and thereupon the House shall meet at the time stated in such notice and shall transact its business as it has been duly adjourned for that time.