If I had a billion dollars, I wouldn't forget the arts and crafts. Artists need raw materials and supplies and they need them fast because in Yellowknife tourism is getting to critical mass.

If I had a billion dollars, I'd support the trappers and their traditional lifestyle by buying everyone a fur coat, and that really isn't cruel. I'm not just thinking about the Sahtu, I'd buy for all the MLAs and their communities.

---Applause

If I had a billion dollars, I'd give Nahanni a real gym.

---Applause

Cause they don't have one yet, and Granny needs to dunk basketballs too.

---Laughter

And Dene K'onia staff would stay in Hay River and feed their children too. If I had a billion dollars, I'd build new courthouses in all the NWT communities.

---Laughter

Mr. Speaker, if I had a billion dollars, we'd all be rich. Mahsi.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Your Speaker is certainly glad that this could be the last day.

---Laughter

Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Premier, Mr. Handley.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Thebacha, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, starting today in Fort Smith we will also be launching our annual carnival, the Wood Buffalo Frolics, and they'll be starting off with a feast tonight. I'll be home tomorrow to take part in the festivities over the weekend.

As Minister McLeod mentioned, the weekend after next we're having the first Northern Games in Fort Smith. I'd like to thank the Minister for his leadership on that issue but, most of all, like every community, I'd like to recognize the many volunteers that work tirelessly to make these events possible, that raise the quality of life for all of us and to give us activities that we would never have if we didn't have their services. So I invite everyone to come to the first NWT Games next weekend and all of you with your carnivals, have nothing but fun and today was obviously the best Member's statement day of the session.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Item 3, Members' statements. Item 4, reports of standing and special committees. Item 5, returns to oral questions. The honourable Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. McLeod.

Mr. Speaker, I have a return to oral question asked by Mr. Zoe on February 18, 2005, regarding the establishment of the Council of Sport and Recreation Partners.

Mr. Speaker, during the October 2004 session, I tabled the implementation schedule for the establishment of the Northwest Territories Council of Sport and Recreation Partners. I am pleased to report that the implementation process is proceeding as scheduled, and I expect that the council will hold its first annual general meeting in April 2005.

Further, I am pleased to report that all sport and recreation partners are fully involved in this process, and have contributed significantly to the successful steps taken to date.

The Member for North Slave also asked how the proceeds of the Western Canada Lottery Program will assist the council.

Mr. Speaker, in 2004, the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, in cooperation with Sport North and the Department of Justice, completed a review of the Western Canada Lottery Act regulations. These regulations dictate how the Lottery Program must be conducted.

Mr. Speaker, once the Northwest Territories Council of Sport and Recreation Partners is established, it will implement a process of cooperative budget development, which will result in more resources being allocated to programs and less to administrative overlap or duplication among the various partners. The council will also be responsible for making recommendations on the allocation of the proceeds of the Western Canada Lottery Program. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Item 5, returns to oral questions. The honourable Minister responsible for the Workers' Compensation Board, Mr. Krutko.

Mr. Speaker, I have a return to oral question asked by Mr. Braden on Monday, February 28, 2005, regarding the Workers' Compensation Board Appeals Tribunal.

How many cases are before the Appeals Tribunal today and what is the average turnover or turnaround in waiting times for those appeals?

The Appeals Tribunal currently has 23 cases before them. The average turnaround time has been 200 working days. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Item 5, returns to oral questions. Item 6, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Minister of Justice, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I noted earlier today in my statement, we've been celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories. To mark the occasion, there's been a conference in town from the 8th through today, and with us today in the gallery we have 20 judges who have been participating in the conference. I'd like to introduce them. We have Justice Ted Richard from the Northwest Territories.

---Applause

We have Justice John Vertes from the Northwest Territories.

---Applause

We have Justice Virginia Schuler from the Northwest Territories.

---Applause

From Nunavut we have Justice Beverly Browne...

---Applause

...and Justice Rob Kilpatrick...

---Applause

...and Justice Earl Johnson.

---Applause

From the Yukon we have Justice Ron Veale...

---Applause

...and Justice Leigh Gower.

---Applause

With us also is Justice C. Scott Brooker from Alberta.

---Applause

Justice Wallace Darichuk from Manitoba.

---Applause

Justice Howard Irving from Alberta.

---Applause

Justice Arthur Lutz from Alberta.

---Applause

Justice Ernest Marshall from Alberta.

---Applause

Justice John O'Flynn from Ontario.

---Applause

Justice Rejean Paul from Quebec.

---Applause

Justice Peter Power from Alberta.

---Applause

Justice Joanne Veit from Alberta.

---Applause

Justice Randall Wong from B.C.

---Applause

Justice Mary Moreau from Alberta...

---Applause

...and Justice Vital Ouellette from Alberta.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Item 6, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Braden.

Mr. Speaker, I, too, would like to welcome all of the judges, especially a friend from my days in the Yukon, Justice Ron Veale. Mr. Speaker, I would also like to recognize a constituent, an injured worker and a great advocate on behalf of injured workers, Mr. John Huffman.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Item 6, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As a Member of this House and a very proud non-practicing member of the bar, may I take this opportunity also to welcome all of the justices and I have appeared before some of them and I dream about appearing before them in my other times. I'd like to just welcome all the justices. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Item 6, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Pokiak.