Good afternoon, colleagues. It's nice to see some of you are all refreshed and awake after that get-active walk we had today. Item 2, Ministers' statements. The honourable Minister of Justice, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to update the House on the implementation of the Protection Against Family Violence Act.

This important legislation will come into force on April 1st. It provides a new choice for people who are experiencing family violence. Family members can get an emergency protection order any time of the day or night in only a few hours. This gives people help right away without having to go to court. The emergency protection order is granted by a designated justice and if the abusive person breaches the order, the police can help.

A judge will review the order within three days to make sure it is appropriate. If the judge has questions about the order, he or she might ask the people involved to come to a hearing to tell their sides of the story. An emergency protection order can last up to 90 days and if the person still needs protection, they can hire a lawyer and go to court to ask for a protection order which lasts longer.

The department's first priority is to train RCMP officers and family violence counsellors at Alison McAteer House since they will be assisting people with applications. This training will take place March 7th and 8th. In April, the department's family violence coordinator will begin visiting communities to train key referral sources such as social workers, nurses and people who work for community organizations like shelters.

Advertising for this new choice will begin on April 1st, the day it becomes available. There will be newspaper, radio and TV ads, booklets info-cards and posters. As well, people who are trained as community helpers will have small signs on their desks to indicate that they can help people who are suffering from abuse. The signs will say "Let's Talk" and will have the same images as the posters and other printed materials.

This has been a collaborative process between Justice, Health and Social Services, the RCMP, local social workers and non-government organizations like the YWCA and the Native Women's Association. I'm looking forward to seeing the results of their hard work. I know that together, we can make our communities safer for people suffering from family violence in any of its forms. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Item 2, Ministers' statements. The honourable Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Bell.

Mr. Speaker, the Legislative Assembly's vision for a diversified economy includes a traditional economy capable of creating and maintaining a livelihood and healthy lifestyle for those residents who choose to participate in it.

Today I would like to highlight some of the significant achievements made to support this important economic sector during the past year.

Last year, the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development implemented revisions to the Fur Marketing Program. Elements of this program include:

• • a guaranteed advance for all fur harvested by trappers in the NWT;
• • a prime fur bonus payable to the trapper if fur is sold at auction for a value equal to or greater than the advance; and
• • a grubstake program for eligible trappers at the start of each season to defray a portion of start-up costs.

---Applause

The advances are based upon market estimates for fur prices at auction. Last year, 80 percent of the fur sold through this program resulted in bonus payments to trappers.

This means trappers are bringing in prime pelts that have been properly handled to meet auction requirements. It also shows that prices set under this program accurately reflect market conditions.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to report that the program combined with sale proceeds generated $1.2 million for trappers in the Northwest Territories.

---Applause

This is an increase of almost $250,000 over previous years.

All indications point to another good year for trappers. Market conditions are excellent with prices stabilizing or increasing, especially for sealskins, marten, beaver and lynx where demand is exceeding supply. This trend is expected to continue with the growth of demand in the Asia Pacific market.

We continue to support our trappers with annual trapper workshops each fall to demonstrate new techniques and technology in the fur trade. This month, Mr. Speaker, a special series of workshops on wolf pelt handling techniques is being held in four communities. These workshops will help trappers obtain higher prices for wolf pelts sent to auction. Roger Catling and Miranda Cassaway of Fort Reliance are leading the workshops. These two individuals are recognized by fur auction houses for their consistent supply of high quality wolf pelts.

Trapper training and land life skills programs are being offered in each region this winter for new trappers and young people, both in and outside the school systems. These programs assist in the transfer of skills and encourage young people to consider trapping as a viable seasonal career choice.

Mr. Speaker, this government recognizes the important contributions our harvesters make to their communities and traditional cultures. We want to ensure their special skills and knowledge are passed onto future generations so they can continue the role of caretakers and monitors of our land and wildlife. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Item 2, Ministers' statements. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this past weekend I attended the Canada Northwest Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Partnership, FASD, meeting of northern and western Ministers in Victoria.

The partnership, established in 1998, is comprised of B.C., the three prairie provinces and the three territories. It represents an alliance of jurisdictions working towards the development and promotion of an inter-provincial/territorial approach to prevention, intervention, care and support of individuals affected by FASD.

The partnership has identified four specific areas of strategic focus:

• • research and evaluation
• • government leadership
• • community capacity
• • federal relations

Mr. Speaker, we know that FASD is 100 percent preventable. Therefore, it is critical that awareness and prevention activities continue to be developed and pursued, and individuals be given the support they need to make healthy choices.

Last fall, the partnership established a research network to coordinate research and development, specifically in the four western provinces and three territories. The intention is to compile evidence-based information that will guide progressive, inclusive policy, ultimately better the lives of individuals and families affected by the disorder.

What this means for the NWT is that we will be able to influence and have access to FASD research that is relevant to the NWT, taking into account northern, rural and aboriginal perspectives.

This past weekend was the inaugural meeting of the board of directors for the research network. The board is comprised of 15 members, including leading FASD and health care experts from each of the jurisdictions. Dr. Sterling Clarren, an internationally recognized expert in FASD, has been hired to lead the network as the CEO and scientific director.

As the network begins its work, it will be visiting each jurisdiction in the coming months to assess the public's priorities with respect to FASD.

At the same time as we are meeting, there was a major FASD conference being held, including participants from across Canada. I had an opportunity to sit in for part of the proceedings, including a presentation by a Cree judge from Saskatchewan who talked passionately about her experience in seeing daily in her court, the impacts of FASD on people's lives. It was a stark reminder that we must all work together to better understand and address this disorder, as it has far-reaching implications, including impacts on the justice system, education system, housing and homelessness.

Mr. Speaker, FASD affects about nine in every 1,000 children born in Canada each year and is the result of permanent brain damage. The work of the partnership will contribute to the prevention of FASD and to better the lives of individuals affected by this disorder. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it has been over a week now since I last spoke about the unfair treatment of Fort Simpson as a tax-based community. The village has been losing out on formula financing and now stands to lose out on the new deal for community governments because it has been wrongly lumped in with larger municipalities who have the ability to raise substantial property taxes. This is not a governance issue, Mr. Speaker; it's a funding issue. When it comes to funding, it makes more sense for Fort Simpson to be treated like a hamlet.

Mr. Speaker, the Minister spoke about this being a problem that only goes back a few years, but I can assure him that Fort Simpson has struggled with its financial viability off and on for decades, ever since it became a

tax-based community. The GNWT's corporate memory may have failed, but long-time residents of Fort Simpson remember the history well. This is an old issue and it's time it was resolved. There is just no way that 130 ratepayers can be expected to keep a village running. A $40 million tax base is never going to be adequate and the 10-year projections are that it is not going to grow all that much. Everyone knows this. Otherwise, why aren't Tuktoyaktuk and Rae-Edzo municipal taxing authorities? Those are the communities Fort Simpson should be compared to, not Hay River, Inuvik, Norman Wells, Fort Smith and Yellowknife.

Mr. Speaker, I understand that the Minister is now reviewing the report his department commissioned to look into the village's funding. I hope his review will soon be over and would urge him to keep this at the top of his priority list so that we can see some movement on this in the near future.

There has been a lot of talk on this for a long time and the time for talking is over. I look forward to his actions. Mahsi cho.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have been told that it's difficult for people to understand what has transpired in Hay River with respect to Justice and corrections facilities. So today I want to provide a brief summary of why I find it necessary to challenge the Minister of Justice and the information he's providing with respect to these proposed closures.

In an effort to address budget reduction targets in departments, the Department of Justice proposed savings by the closure of the Dene K'onia Young Offenders Facility and the closure of the remand unit at the South Mackenzie Correctional Centre and the closure of the Hay River court registries. The planned closure of the court registries in Inuvik has since been reversed.

The Dene K'onia Young Offenders Facility employees 12 full-time and 10 casual employees. The stated savings to the government is $1.5 million. It accommodated open custody young offenders from anywhere in the territory. At any given time, those in care might have been from Yellowknife, the Delta or the South Slave and it has operated at near capacity. Since the completion of the North Slave Correctional Centre and the adjoining young offenders facility, it was decided that it would be cheaper to accommodate open custody young offenders in Yellowknife; thus, the planned closure in Hay River. The young offenders service was in Hay River long before the North Slave facility was built for $50 million, but now that is good justification to save $1.5 million. Do the math on that one, Mr. Speaker.

I have numerous issues with this plan, but let me clarify just a couple of those reasons. The Minister has repeatedly stated that it's less expensive to operate in Yellowknife. Since the Minister asserts that the $1.5 million saved is a net savings, my question was how much does it cost to take care of those same eight young offenders in Yellowknife. I think that's a reasonable question. The impacts of closing Dene K'onia to Hay River and the employees are very significant. Therefore, it's my responsibility to challenge and question the Minister and it's his job to defend his decisions. It's not good enough to say he doesn't know how many youth are in the facility and it is certainly not good enough to garner support and buy-in by stating misleading numbers such as 22 staff caring for one or two kids.

The same principles apply to information about the closure of the remand unit in Hay River. If it's based purely on economics, as the Minister stated, then I want to know the numbers and data that went into those economics. Again, I find it hard to accept that the net savings is $400,000 per year.

When I asked how that number was arrived at in relation to transport, Mr. Speaker, I would like to 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, Mrs. Groenewegen. You may conclude your statement.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. Again, I find it hard to accept that the net savings is $400,000 per year. When I have asked how that number was arrived at in relation to transportation costs, the deployment of RCMP to escort prisoners and the cost of providing the service in Yellowknife, I have not gotten those answers. I have been waiting since question period on Friday to get statistics about utilization numbers and those numbers still haven't been provided.

If these closures were carefully analyzed prior to these decisions being made, then those numbers should be readily available. So, Mr. Speaker, it's a cop-out on the part of the Minister to tell the media yesterday that my statements in this House are because I am unhappy and angry with the cuts in my constituency.

That goes without saying and it's beside the point, Mr. Speaker. The point is I want answers to reasonable questions and it's my job to ask them. Unless we have entered a new era of unaccountable and non-transparent government, it's his job to answer those questions. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

----Applause

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Braden.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. One of the prime responsibilities that we have as the Legislative Assembly and Cabinet of the Northwest Territories is to ensure that the boards and agencies and commissions that we establish are there for the continuance of good governance and good practice. Over the years, Mr. Speaker, this government has established well over 100 different agencies, boards and commissions and they affect many, many different walks of life. The

appointments that are made to these organizations are at the discretion of the Ministers in their various portfolios.

One of the most critical groups that we have in our mandate to continue good governance is the Workers' Compensation Board. There are a few different levels of appointments involved in here and, Mr. Speaker, it has come to my attention that an appointment that was recently made to the Appeals Tribunal of the Workers' Compensation Board was not done appropriately. A vacancy occurred in terms of representing a labour representative on the Appeals Tribunal, Mr. Speaker, but the Minister chose, in this case, to not follow the input of labour organizations in the Northwest Territories, a condition which is stipulated in the act. My understanding, Mr. Speaker, is that a private businessperson from the Northwest Territories was appointed to this very critical post.

Mr. Speaker, integrity and trust in these agencies is absolutely essential to the conduct, as I have stated, of our mandate to ensure that governance continues along the highest levels. In this case, Mr. Speaker, it appears to be the failure of our government to adhere to those principles. This is not a situation I believe we should tolerate and it should be challenged. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I had the opportunity to attend the Social Programs committee meeting and take in a presentation of the Crack Busters program that is offered in the city of Yellowknife. It was a very informative meeting and I would like to thank the committee for hosting the meeting and the Salvation Army and the Tree of Peace addictions counsellors, as well as the men enrolled in the Crack Busters program, for taking the time to talk to us about the program and the insidious nature of crack cocaine.

Mr. Speaker, at this meeting, I learned that crack cocaine is not like the other drugs that we have had to deal with in the Northwest Territories up to this point. Unlike other drugs that have a physical addiction, crack cocaine is a psychological addiction. It works on your mind. It's all you think about and you just want to find that first high you got the first time you tried it. You can try it once and get hooked. Guess what, Mr. Speaker? The drug dealers love that. They love it so much, they would give out free samples because they know you will be back to buy more. They know you will sell everything you own, you will destroy your marriage, and you will steal from your friend's family or your workplace to buy some.

Back in November, I attended a meeting with 200 people who came out to talk on the drug problem in Inuvik. When the talk turned to drug dealers, all I can say, Mr. Speaker, is that with the mood of the crowd it's a good thing that no one brought a rope. The Crack Busters program has been running in Yellowknife since last September. It appears to be a success. The Tree of Peace and the Salvation Army are to be commended for their support and championing of this program.

The people who have taken the program are to be commended for recognizing their problem and taking action. I wish them good luck in conquering their addiction.

What I find interesting, Mr. Speaker, is that this program is up and running with no support from the government or its agencies. It shows that a community can find its own solution to a problem.

I strongly encourage the government and the health and social services authorities to look at the Crack Busters program. It may not fit their present policies, but it certainly fits into the government's vision of people taking responsibility for their own lives.

In closing, I will be bringing back information to Inuvik on the Crack Busters program, to see if it can be adapted to our needs in the Delta. Make no mistake, Mr. Speaker, the drug dealers will only be about 20 minutes behind the pipeline workers.

Mr. McLeod, your time for your Member's statement has expired.

I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement, Mr. Speaker.

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