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

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I was seeking clarity into the situation of why someone would receive $72,000. Is our goal as a Housing Corporation, is the government trying to make sure that they only pay a $200 a month mortgage? I don't know. Those are the kinds of questions that I was asking the Minister.

The program is based, if you read their web site, on a sliding scale. What is that sliding scale? A lot of the applicants that I have spoken to who have received money don't even know how much they are getting until the day the cheque is cut, at the end of the process. Mr. Speaker, what I am asking for is some clarity. We need some clear-cut charts; we need some graphs; we need some statistics; we need some openness, honesty and transparency on this.

By the way, five or six people out of these 14 people received over $50,000 in assistance from the Housing Corporation. Again, this is sort of out of touch and, like I stated, as my friend says, that ain't right.

Mr. Speaker, later today I will be asking for clarity; absolute clarity from the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to speak today about a vital piece of our tourism product here in the Northwest Territories. Built in 1979 and named after the Prince of Wales, our Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre is an absolute cornerstone of the tourism products that we have to offer. On the eve of what is looking like a very busy summer season, I am very concerned and alarmed that the centre sits in the state that it sits today.

As a young man I used to work at the centre and I have always held the centre in the highest regard. I have a great deal of respect and admiration for all of the staff that work at that centre. My concern is that I don't believe we are giving the centre the resources to conclude the renovations currently underway. We have booked $8.5 million for renovations and it seems to be never ending, Mr. Speaker.

It has been difficult on staff and it is difficult on the visitors. I can understand and appreciate the difficulties in having renovations taking place and the fact that not all of the exhibits and galleries can be open to the public. However, not unlike any other citizen of this city, when I get relatives in town to visit, the first place I want to show them is our world-class museum.

A few weeks ago I took my uncle to visit the museum. I was shocked that not only were the north and south main galleries closed, but also the aviation gallery was locked and being used as a storage area. I started thinking about just how many other people were being denied seeing all the fabulous artefacts and displays that were in these galleries. Why would we shut down three galleries at a time? Of course, I know it is going to be better when it is all done; but why is it taking so long?

With the completion of Highway No. 3 getting close to being done, we will see an increase in road traffic this summer and also Yellowknife is gearing up to play host in July to the Assembly of First Nations national assembly which will bring thousands of visitors to our city. If the museum is in the same state today as it was when I was there a few weeks ago, something has to be done.

In addition to the galleries being shut down, the carpet in the main public areas is in serious need of replacement. I will ask the Minister some questions about the renovations and what the plans are for the facility going forward at the appropriate time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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

Mr. Speaker, mahsi cho. (English not provided)

...wide variety of services throughout the summer, critical to tourism, recreation and youth activities through a partnership with the GNWT Youth Employment Program.

Throughout the last three years, the village has received enough partnership funding for nine to 11 summer student positions, ranging from staff for the community pool, tourism information centre and many other summer youth activities.

This year the village will only be able to hire one person with the assistance of the Education, Culture and Employment Youth Employment Program. This program also gave the youth experience, skills, responsibilities and the ability to save money for academics in the fall. The confidence that the youth received from these employment programs is invaluable to the development of themselves and the communities.

Many constituents have asked me during my most recent community tour, why the sudden and drastic cuts. The Youth Employment Program under the Wage Subsidy Program has been virtually removed from the base funding. This program was very well used in the community of Fort Simpson, by the village and many other businesses. The program is not intended as a yearly funding source for organizations to deliver programs, ECE responded. If this is the case, the communities have a difference in understanding. ECE did not give adequate notice to the communities so the applicants could prepare accordingly and in time. Today, many communities are in the position to cancel summer youth employment targets. If the community governments were not faced with the increasing costs and decreasing revenue, they may have the capacity to continue with the programs. The reality is that they do not.

Mr. Speaker, it is appropriate that we have a gallery full of students and our government should do our best for them as they are our future. Mahsi cho.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to express my disappointment in how my beloved city of Yellowknife is being advertised around the country as a city so insecure in its identity as to feel the need to celebrate a heterosexual day.

---Laughter

Mr. Speaker, as one council member put it so succinctly, I find this to be extremely frivolous and vexatious and a real mockery of the day of celebration hard fought and won by one of the most marginalized and victimized people in our society. Mr. Speaker, I believe no matter where people stand on the issue of gay rights, most reasonable and sensitive people will not condone an elected body actively advocating and practising discrimination and bigotry.

Mr. Speaker, in case this is not patently obvious to everyone, every day is a heterosexual day in this country and every part of the world. Heterosexual teenagers do not get murdered and beaten up for their sexual identity. Heterosexual spouses are not refused a visit to the bedside of a dying life mate because of their sexual identity. Heterosexual people are not denied the rights to the properties and wealth of their deceased spouse because of their identity. There are no aboriginal heterosexual youth who are forced to move into bigger communities because of their sexual identity.

Mr. Speaker, there are very serious and compelling reasons for us to mark the days like Gay Pride Day, International Day for the Elimination of Discrimination on March 21st, or National Aboriginal Day on June 21st. Wouldn't it be totally ridiculous if someone suggested that we declare every day of the year other than June 21st non-aboriginal day?

Mr. Speaker, I have suggested many times before that an elected leader should act as an elected leader and fight for the basic human rights of everyone, because as someone born and raised as a girl in a developing country, and a person of a visible minority community in Canada, I know a thing or two about being discriminated against. When I was young, like the students sitting in the gallery, I remember saying to myself that if I ever became successful and got somewhere in life, I would speak out for those people who are being oppressed by the majority and who are not able to defend themselves.

Mr. Speaker, none of us should have a monopoly on basic human rights and Charter rights we hold dear. Whenever we see someone do that...

Ms. Lee, your time for your Member's statement has expired.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. May I 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. Ms. Lee, you may continue your statement.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would just like to conclude by saying that none of us should have a monopoly on basic human rights and Charter rights we hold so dear. Whenever we see someone do that, especially an elected body, good people and especially the leader should stand up and say that should not be tolerated. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, 30 years ago, Thomas Berger put a 10-year moratorium on the pipeline in order to allow land claims to be settled and to allow northern communities to prepare for the construction. Twenty years have passed since that moratorium ended and most of us, like northern businesses, have been busy preparing and trying to build capacity in order to capitalize on the pipeline.

Unfortunately, some of us, even 20 years later, are still not ready, Mr. Speaker. For instance, one group is holding the future of the pipeline hostage while they try to negotiate their land claim settlement. This group already has two pipelines from their settlement areas going south. We didn't try and hold them up in their development because it would not have been fair. Now I think we deserve the same respect. We need a champion, Mr. Speaker, to get this pipeline going. Mr. Handley, Nellie Cournoyea, and Fred Carmichael are all trying to champion the cause in order to get the benefits of the pipeline to the people of the NWT, but they can only do so much.

Mr. Speaker, I am not here to criticize or point fingers, but we have too many people with their own agendas who are going to jeopardize the project. Mr. Speaker, we have a representative in Ottawa elected by the people of the NWT. Why aren't they fighting for the settlement of the claim so this project can move forward? We need the federal government to do what is best for the residents of the NWT. I want to see this project go ahead. I want to see the youth benefiting from all of the opportunities that will be there. I want to see the NWT get their fair share of the revenues.

Mr. Speaker, for the sake of all the young people across the North, let us not waste any more valuable time. We can't afford to wait another 20 years. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Item 3, Members' statements. Item 4, reports of standing and special committees. Item 5, returns to oral questions. Item 6, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With the indulgence of my colleagues here, I want to recognize at least half of the visitors in the gallery here. Mr. Delorey is going to recognize the other half. I know it is a large group, but thank you. Their parents are going to watch this tonight on APTN, so when I call your name, jump up quick so the camera can scan you because we have a lot of names to get here.

The parent volunteers who are here today with us are: Lori Lafferty, Kandace Jameson, Beth Green, Shannon Buckley, Dawna O'Brien, Dale Hoose, Brenda Hall, Max Rodway, Leslie Lobb, Gayle Croucher, Barb Aitken, Steve Anderson, and Jean Hachey. I will introduce Mr. Walker's class: Fraser Anderson, Heather Atkins, Michelle Babiuk, Blake Banfield, Amanda Beaulieu, Jacquelyn Buckley, Edward Crane, Alana Croucher, Scotty Heron, Lise Larocque, Jesse McCordic, Desiree Parker, Elaine Roach, Gwen Ruttle, Tory Sabourin, and Jordan Smith. Welcome to the Legislative Assembly.

---Applause

We also have Grade 6 teachers and assistants from PA school: Karen Wall, Chris Walker, Bob White, Pauline Morrison, and Joannie Lafferty. In Ms. Wall's class: Sean Aitken, Kirk Alcos, Hilary Aldridge, Melinda Arcand, Adrian Beaulieu, Arthur Cameron, Erin Campbell, Kaitlin Cayen, Sasha Cayen, Brittany Dumas, Kelsey Kimble, Kyle Mabbitt, Jasmine Marshall, Morgan Penney, Olivia Sperry, Ben Squirrel, Dannelle Stalmack, Ursula Unka; and Mr. White's class: Justin Boutilier, Richelle Daniels, Shane Duncan, Lauren Gilbert, Sean Gilbert, Lucas Hachey, Trudy Hiebert, Brett Jameson, Brittnee Lafferty, Justin Lafferty, Adam Lakusta, and Darryl Larocque.

Also, we have some parents and volunteers: Joseph Lirette, Hailey Lyon, Sherman Magtiby, Angel Martel, J.J. McKinney, Mikaela Muller, Frankie Ranger, and Johnny Ryan Zoe. Welcome to the Legislative Assembly. I hope you've had a very enjoyable and informative tour. I hope you enjoy the rest of your tour and have safe trips home.

---Applause

Item 6, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a few people I'd like to recognize; first is Richard Edjericon. Richard is a former chief of the Yellowknives Dene and candidate-elect for the Conservative Party in the Western Arctic riding. Welcome, Richard.

---Applause

With Richard is Mr. Gerry Cheezie. Gerry is the manager of the Yellowknives Dene housing. Welcome, Gerry.

---Applause

Also, Mr. Speaker, I'd like to recognize Ms. Amanda Mallon who is the president of the Northwest Territories Teachers' Association. Welcome.

---Applause

Item 6, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Handley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It gives me a great deal of pleasure to recognize my constituent, Major Karen Hoeft, as we all know a very passionate advocate for the homeless, the poor and I think generally all people that have personal challenges in their lives. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Handley. 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 the youngsters and their parents and teachers from Hay River and hope that Yellowknife's hospitality stands up to the test. Like my colleague from Kam Lake, I'd like to recognize the president of the NWT Teachers' Association, Amanda Mallon. Welcome.

---Applause