Good afternoon, colleagues. I trust you all had an enjoyable weekend. Welcome back for another week of work. Item 2, Ministers' statements. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the week of March 6th to 12th is National Social Work Week in the NWT. This year's theme is Social Work: Fairness and Wellness. I would like to take a moment to recognize the valuable work of approximately 80 social workers across the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, having worked in the social services field, I know how important these people are to the northern communities. Social workers help individuals, families, groups and communities find ways to make positive choices and changes in their lives.

Social workers are strong capable people who often work in crisis situations. Mr. Speaker, our social workers are part of our primary community care team who work together to ensure those who are most vulnerable members of society are helped and protected.

Social work does not provide a quick fix solution. Support is carried out over months and even years. Support is provided to seniors, people with disabilities, people who are hospitalized, people who have problems with addictions, mental health support, child protection, victims of violence and to the general community.

Mr. Speaker, I recently had an opportunity to meet with Esther Doucette, who is the president of the Association of Social Workers in northern Canada. They are also looking at safer working conditions and promoting the profession. I look forward to working with the association on these issues and others.

Social work is demanding yet also very rewarding. To see someone move from a crisis in their lives to making healthy and positive social choices for themselves and their family is wonderful. I would encourage young people to consider the social work courses available at Aurora College.

I would like to ask Members of this House to join me in applauding the efforts and work that NWT social workers do on a daily basis to improve the lives of children, families, adults and communities in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Item 2, Ministers' statements. The honourable Deputy Premier, Mr. Roland.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise Members that the Honourable Joe Handley will be absent from the House today to speak at the Arctic Gas Symposium in Calgary. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, let me again, on behalf of my constituents, both inside and outside the system of the community of Hay River and the South Slave region, express concisely why I am asking the Department of Justice, corrections, to leave the operations of the South Mackenzie Correctional Centre as is with respect to staffing our remand unit.

This change in mandate for SMCC will not net the savings projected for the upcoming fiscal year. It will immediately affect nine casual corrections officer positions and ultimately affect 5.5 permanent positions. As for the Audit Bureau findings, "There was a lack of rigor and in-depth analysis to support the projected savings of $400,000" and furthermore with respect to travel and escorting services, the report says, "the estimated incremental cost of $18,000 was not supported by any historical data. Our review indicated that "there are too many variables and too little information to form a reasonable estimate. While there will likely be additional costs, they will have to be identified at a later point."

Mr. Speaker, I would rather know these costs and projections sooner than later; before we make operational changes, not after. Mr. Speaker, I don't think it's any coincidence that an additional 5.5 PYs were recommended as the result of a human resources and operations review in 1997, after the tragedy of a suicide in SMCC cells. The report recommended that the six-bed remand unit be manned 24/7, 365 days a year, even though this unit will continue to accommodate inmates on administrative and disciplinary isolation and those waiting on medical clearance on intake. Even though it has been utilized at the rate of 100 percent over the past year for remand inmates and even though everyone, except the

Department of Justice, is projecting an increase in crime related to resource development, the direction of this department is to reduce the current supervision in this area of the facility.

The department thinks that they can assess risk with a high level of accuracy. I don't agree, especially since we are going to be seeing more transient people we'll know less about in the future.

What I am requesting is fairly simple. I would like the government to respond favourably to the recommendation of the Standing Committee on Social Programs to reinstate the funding for SMCC for the remand unit. If you need more reasons than the recommendation itself, leave things status quo until the Department of Justice has had the opportunity to apply a more rigorous and in-depth analysis to the costs of the changes being proposed. The Premier has publicly stated that we are not broke, our fiscal picture has improved, so let's keep justice services close to the people they serve...

Mrs. Groenewegen, your time for your Member's statement has expired.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement. Thank you.

The Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude her statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. You may conclude your statement, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. As I said, the Premier has publicly stated that we are not broke and our fiscal situation has improved, so let's keep the justice services close to the people they serve and let's affirm our government's support for the regions and say no to the centralization of programs and services. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. The Government of the Northwest Territories established the affirmative action policy in 1989 to "achieve equality and employment and career development for qualified, suitable and eligible target group persons." The principles of affirmative action have long been recognized, Mr. Speaker, as a legitimate, indeed, responsible thing as they balance their workforce among the people they serve or rely on for their business.

Here in the NWT, our policy is met with mixed results and many Members, over time, have addressed the policy shortfalls. The Minister responsible has pledged it is about to undergo a major review to modernize it and to bring in methods that will help us do a better job.

Today I bring to the Assembly an aspect of this policy that warrants a very high priority. I specifically refer to two categories requiring that people who have not lived half their lives in the NWT cannot have equal opportunity of employment in our government.

Let me set the context, Mr. Speaker. A constituent, now middle-aged, came to the NWT when she was in her early twenties. She found that she had to wait until she was twice that age, in her mid-forties, before our government would give her equal opportunity for a job. Mr. Speaker, each of us has only one lifetime. In Canada, we can choose to live where we want and where we think we can make a contribution. It does not seem right that our government should deny anyone the chance to work for us on the grounds of where they were born or how old they are.

Yet, our Human Rights Act, passed in this Assembly in the year 2002, protects this affirmative action policy, Mr. Speaker, because it was in place of the coming into force of the Human Rights Act. Mr. Speaker, in any such important policy, it's crucial that we consider who we are protecting and why. This must form the foundation of any workable affirmative action policy and we must do so having in mind the fundamental rights that are also set out in our own Human Rights Act. Were it not for the grandfathering of the old affirmative action policy, Mr. Speaker, it would almost undoubtedly be in contravention of the Human Rights Act. Therefore, we must ensure that this policy is now consistent with the important values, spirit and intent of our Human Rights Act. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to speak today about an issue that I previously brought up in this House on numerous occasions. Mr. Speaker, the issue is the new Mackenzie Valley pipeline office, which is to be located in Hay River. Last May, a supplementary appropriation of $850,000 came forward for the start-up of this much needed office. Today is March 7th; nine months later and still no office. The government, in my mind, is lacking some foresight, leadership and seems to be letting bureaucracy get in the way of finally opening up this office.

As Regular Members, we have still not heard specifically which positions, government-wide, are dedicated to the pipeline project. To me, Mr. Speaker, it seems like they are asleep at the switch. This office should have been opened two years ago. Here we are, scrambling around, trying to piece together an effective office. This project, and its importance to the territory, cannot and should not be comprised by the slow pace of government. It is an $8 million project and I have to wonder if we are doing enough as a government to address this.

Getting back to the supplementary appropriation for $850,000 that was approved last May, Regular Members who approved that supplementary appropriation were under the impression that the office would be opened and the bulk of the $850,000 would go towards salaries. Here we are, again today, with no office and if the department did not have the positions, what was the $850,000 spent on?

I have some obvious concerns about how information is currently being shared amongst departments with regard to the pipeline development and its potential impact on communities throughout the Northwest Territories. Where is the government-wide coordination amongst departments to see this project along? Coordination was a catch phrase one year ago while Members were here and, as politicians, we addressed that concern immediately with the formation of a joint committee on the Mackenzie Valley pipeline. However, the coordination from a bureaucratic level is still light years behind where it needs to be. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I want to discuss the aboveground pool program in the Northwest Territories and make some comments about the swimming pool in Fort Simpson and the poor condition it is in. Mr. Speaker, a new recreational facility such as an aboveground swimming pool could contribute to the overall health of the community. Entire families could enjoy what a swimming pool has to offer, be it from swimming lessons, competitive sports or leisurely activities. Mr. Speaker, I couldn't have said it any better myself. If these words sound familiar, it is because they should, especially to the Minister of MACA who, when he sat on this side of the fence in the 14th Assembly, said these words about the need for a new pool, except, of course, he was arguing the case for Fort Providence.

The only difference now is he has a new pool and we don't.

---Laughter

Mr. Speaker, you can understand me when I say that I expect the Minister of MACA to have a lot of sympathy for me when I say Fort Simpson needs a new pool too. All kidding aside, Mr. Speaker, the pool in Fort Simpson is in about the same shape as the pool in Fort Providence was. It's only three feet deep, has paint chips falling in it and all the wood is rotting. In my own words, Mr. Speaker, I realize that tax-based communities are supposed to pay for their own infrastructure, but let's be honest here. How is a town of just over 1,000 supposed to pay for a new pool out of their property taxes when they already have such a huge infrastructure deficit? It's just not going to happen.

Mr. Speaker, it is time this government recognized the fact that communities in Nahendeh are long overdue for some new recreational facilities. Mahsi cho.

---Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today my Member's statement will be used to acknowledge the Children's Wish Foundation and the great job they are doing to fulfil dreams of children throughout our North.

Mr. Speaker, this organization provides children with the chance to experience something special in their lives while they are bravely dealing with serious illnesses and life-threatening diseases. Mr. Speaker, this organization has been fulfilling dreams for young Canadians since 1983 and directly for young northerners since 1987.

The Alberta/NWT chapter of this organization has an office here in Yellowknife and it is administered by Teri Arychuk. This charity started as a personal quest with Mrs. Arychuk and her family's struggle. Her son was diagnosed with AML Leukemia cancer. However, today, eight years later, he is cancer free and doing great.

Mr. Speaker, Flight of Dreams has more than just taken off. At this past year's event, the charity raised nearly $80,000. The money raised will help approximately seven dreams to be fulfilled this year in the North. To date, nearly 30 dreams have been fulfilled in the NWT because of the strides and the dedication of our community.

The Flight of Dreams, as the organization is known here in the NWT, is committed to a vision of providing children with the opportunity to fulfil their wishes, from experiencing foreign locations, meeting celebrity role models or something as simple as visiting a distant family member. The Flight of Dreams is only able to fulfill its mission through the charity of local people and companies. This event wouldn't be possible, Mr. Speaker, without the great support of Great Slave Helicopters and the donation of their hangar each year leading up to this charitable event. They remove every piece of their equipment and helicopters so the hangar can be cleaned up and dressed up for the charity ball.

The work of Flight for Dreams provides joy and happiness of a fulfilled wish of a child and also to a child's family. Mr. Speaker, I don't have to go on at length of the effects a child, the parents, the siblings, and all family members are forced to go through when affected by such terrible burdens. These dreams help lift the weight of this burden. These dreams help provide a happy and unique experience during a trying and painful time and allow the pain to go easier.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would like to congratulate the individual donors...

Your time for your Member's statement has expired. Mr. Hawkins.