Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. At this time, I would like to, on behalf of the Assembly, offer our condolences to Speaker Delorey and his family. He has travelled with his wife to Nova Scotia. His wife's sister had passed away, so they are gone to attend a funeral. I will be sitting in as the Speaker in the proceedings here until Speaker Delorey returns.

Also today I want to draw your attention to the fact that we will have simultaneous translation in the languages of Chipewyan and in Innuinaqtun. This will be rebroadcast on APTN on Monday. Orders of the day, item 2, Ministers' statements. The honourable Premier, Mr. Handley.

Madam Speaker, I would like to provide Members with an update on the establishment of the Council of the Federation Panel on Fiscal Imbalance.

Earlier today, the panel was formally announced by current chair of the Council of the Federation Premier Dalton McGuinty.

This panel is an initiative lead by all Canadian Premiers. Its purpose is to examine the vertical and horizontal fiscal balances among federal, provincial and territorial governments in Canada and to make recommendations on how fiscal imbalances should be addressed.

If I may, Madam Speaker, when we speak of vertical fiscal imbalance, that refers to the gap between revenue sources and spending responsibilities of different orders of government. Horizontal imbalance, Madam Speaker, refers to the differences and abilities by provinces and territories to raise revenues to meet the needs of their citizens.

All Members are aware of the federal Panel on Equalization and Territorial Formula Financing currently underway that is considering allocating fixed amounts between provinces through the equalization formula, and between territories through territorial formula funding. For example, for 2005-06, the fixed amount for allocation between the three territories is $2 billion.

The Council of the Federation panel is taking a broader view. Many provincial and territorial jurisdictions are running deficits while the federal government is running huge surpluses. It is the position of provinces and

territories that this situation indicates a fundamental imbalance.

The Northwest Territories provides a classic example of fiscal imbalance. The NWT has responsibilities for mitigating the impacts of development, yet does not have the associated resource revenues.

As noted in my sessional statement earlier this week, it appears the federal government is taking some steps to address this imbalance. This is the result of the continued efforts of many northerners to get our message out to the national audience. The Council of the Federation panel is another important forum northerners will have to get our message out nationally.

I am pleased to advise Members that the North will have a choice on this important panel. Mr. John Todd has been selected as one of its five members. This panel will be dealing with complex issues and all members have a great deal of technical expertise. Mr. Todd's experience as a past Minister of Finance for the Northwest Territories and his familiarity with the territorial formula financing agreement and the unique challenges associated with northern development will serve the panel well. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Premier Handley. Item 2, Ministers' statements. The honourable Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. McLeod.

Madam Speaker, this past March I was pleased to join with the Premier, the Minister of Health and Social Services and the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment to launch the Get Active NWT Community Challenge.

This campaign, which runs during April, May and June, is a friendly challenge to Northwest Territories residents to register the time they spend being physically active for a chance to win a $5,000 grant to support their community recreation program.

We are now past the mid-way point of this campaign, and I am extremely pleased to report that more than 6,000 residents have registered for the Get Active Challenge. This represents over 14 percent of the population in the Northwest Territories who have made the commitment to be physically active.

Madam Speaker, we have observed some outstanding efforts by communities and individuals during the campaign and I would like to take a moment to recognize a few:

• • Enterprise and Wrigley have each registered 100 percent of their residents;
• • Fort Providence has an 86 percent participation rate; and,
• • Deline and Fort Good Hope have participation rates of 68 percent and 57 percent respectively.

Individuals also reported an inspiring amount of physical activity in April:

• • In Rae Edzo, students at the Chief Jimmy Bruneau School logged over an incredible 13,300 hours;
• • In Wha Ti, an elder logged over 50 hours; and,
• • Throughout the Northwest Territories, several individuals logged between 60 and 80 hours.

Madam Speaker, as impressive as these numbers are, we also know that there are many individuals who maintain a healthy lifestyle all year long. It is important to acknowledge community residents who maintain an active lifestyle through a traditional way of life. There are many people who hunt and fish to feed their families, or heat their homes by collecting and burning firewood. Many residents take part in community feasts and drum dances. These are all forms of physical activity and deserve recognition.

Madam Speaker, I would also like to acknowledge the Northwest Territories Recreation and Parks Association. This organization has formally joined the Get Active NWT Community Challenge, and is promoting active living through their membership and to communities through healthy living workshops.

We value the support of non-government organizations like the Northwest Territories Recreation and Parks Association in our goal to promote and support healthy lifestyle choices.

Madam Speaker, there are five weeks left in the Get Active Challenge. I encourage every resident of the Northwest Territories to get involved and I look forward to even greater participation when we renew the challenge in 2006. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Item 2, Ministers' statements. The honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Dent.

One of the central goals of the Department of Education, Culture and Employment is the development of a skilled northern workforce. Today I would like to provide you with a picture of the work currently underway to build the NWT labour force.

Career planning begins at the elementary level in our schools. Throughout their elementary and secondary schooling, students learn about different careers. In high school, students are required to take career and technology studies courses that teach them about specific careers. As well, students must complete a career program plan. During recent years, the career planning process has been given a greater emphasis within schools and ECE is working with education boards to encourage increased family involvement. With the variety of choices available in school courses and career options, it has become more important than ever to ensure students are assisted to develop a clear career map for their future, and that their parents are involved in the planning process.

Over the next three years, we will be developing a new pathway to graduation. This will happen through courses that provide students with the basic academic skills leading to trades, occupations, and an improved ability to enter the workforce through additional courses in science and English.

The Schools North Apprenticeship Program, or SNAP, is a secondary school program designed to give students an opportunity to become registered apprentices while they are still in school. Working on an employer's jobsite, students earn secondary school credits through career and technology studies as well as time credits towards journey certification, and they are also paid for their work. We have seen a real commitment to SNAP on the part of the business community, high school, parents and students in Hay River. This commitment and high levels of participation has contributed greatly to the success of SNAP in Hay River.

Schools continue to work with Industry Canada and Skills Canada to promote trades and occupations through skills clubs and competitions. Our students have been very successful in this area and have received medals in national competitions. Chris Fournier, an NWT student, will even go on to represent Canada at the international skills competition in Helsinki this year.

Some school boards are providing innovative and exciting options for exploring trades. In the Beaufort-Delta, a mobile unit brings trades awareness and hands-on opportunities directly to the schools. In the South Slave, a Trades Training Pilot Program has been developed through a partnership between the South Slave Divisional Board of Education, Aurora College, and the NWT Housing Corporation. This program will expose students in Lutselk'e, Fort Resolution and the Hay River Reserve to hands-on trades training and information in areas that include cooking, heavy equipment mechanics, welding, plumbing and carpentry. The partnership with the Housing Corporation has resulted in four small social housing units being completed.

The department is piloting the Trades Helper Program this year. It will be available to high school students and youth at risk, and will teach them about worksites, time management, how to identify tools and understand safety programs, and will prepare them for a job assisting tradespeople.

Of course, skills development does not end with the K to 12 system, and there are a wide variety of activities to assist northern adults in this area. Convocation at Aurora College campuses across the NWT featured many northern students who first entered their chosen field of study through access programs that use the Adult Literacy and Basic Education Program. Students who may have started with low literacy skills now hold diplomas.

Aurora College continues to enhance programs to ensure that northerners have the right skills for our changing

labour market. We know there is more need for northern professionals in the fields of education, health and social services; the college has developed options to attract northerners to fill these positions. The college now offers Bachelor of Education and Bachelor of Science in Nursing. I am pleased to report there are over 100 students enrolled in the nursing programs.

The government has increased investment in the Apprenticeship Program this year in a direct effort to increase the number of northerners pursuing journey certification. Department officials are working to increase the number of apprentices in the system beyond the 306 currently registered.

We have an increasing focus on preparing northerners to participate in mining, oil and gas exploration and pipeline development and operations. Education, Culture and Employment has invested in partnerships with aboriginal organizations, industry and the federal government through the two aboriginal skills and employment partnership programs covering mining and oil and gas. The two agreements fully engage all parties and particularly self-government bodies in labour market development initiatives.

As the Premier mentioned in his sessional statement, at the recent Western Premiers meeting, there was significant focus on labour market shortages in the North and West. An important focus of these discussions was about finding ways to address the low participation rates of aboriginal peoples in the labour force.

Western Premiers have agreed to work jointly on a strategy to deal with critical labour shortages in western and northern Canada, including working with employers and labour groups to identify best practices for the training and development of workers. Premiers will also bring western and northern aboriginal leaders together this summer to develop and implement a western Canadian aboriginal training strategy.

While we have a lot to celebrate and lots of activity, there is still a real shortage of skilled labour in the NWT and in fact across the country. This shortage presents challenges to our northern businesses and to our territory as a whole as we strive to realize benefits from our booming resource economy. This government remains committed to developing a strong northern workforce and will work in partnership with education authorities, Aurora College, business and industry to achieve our common goal.

To meet the increasing skilled labour demands of the mining industry, departmental officials are currently working with the Mine Training Society to create, at the two operating diamond mines, new apprenticeship positions. The society, in partnership with Aurora College, the North Slave Metis Alliance, Diavik Diamonds and ECE have recently announced a Mineral Processing Program to commence with 16 participants in June. This follows the funding of underground miner training with BHP Billiton and Kete Whii/Procon which will train 24 miners per year. As well, a Mine Training Society office administration co-op program partnering Aurora College and the three diamond mines is planned to commence in September for 10 to 15 students.

Focussing on successful initiatives like these, we will continue to build on our successes and work with our partners to develop a strong, qualified northern workforce. Thank you.

---Applause

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. It's pretty ironic listening to the Minister of Education's statement today. I will start off today saying I would like to speak about my concerns with Education, Culture and Employment's Apprenticeship Training Program. A constituent of mine has been trying to get their journeyman certificate in plumbing but, unfortunately, all their attempts have been thwarted and not aided by this program at all.

Madam Speaker, the Minister has said, and I quote, "For our people to get the most out of the diamond mines, oil and gas development and other projects, they need to have the training to do the work. The jobs surrounding these projects require highly skilled labour and we need to have certified northern journeypersons ready to fill them."

Madam Speaker, I would like to tell you a story of one of my constituents, and I have heard this story from other people as well, about a man who was trying to become one of those northern journeymen. My constituent needed to take a trades entrance exam. It took five months of calling the apprenticeship training office to successfully schedule an exam time, because it was nearly impossible to get in touch with anyone at the office. Every time they did manage to get hold of anyone, the 12 allotted seats for the exam were all full.

Madam Speaker, at no time did anyone even so much as offer to put him on a waiting list and contact him when a seat was available. When he finally was able to take the exam, only three out of the 12 available seats were filled. There is more, Madam Speaker. Anyone out of high school for a few years will need to brush up on their math and science in preparation for their entrance exams. While the apprenticeship training office wouldn't or couldn't offer any assistance in locating tutors or study sessions to help prepare for the entrance exam, my constituent had to contact every educational institution we have and finally he had to revert to placing an ad in the local newspaper before he could find a tutor.

After completing all of the above, my constituent couldn't get into the first year training course because it was too full. He had to take the course down south. He had to make all of the arrangements by himself. When he tried to access the second year training at the Thebacha Campus, they had no knowledge that he had the first year of training and that he now needed the second year.

Madam Speaker, then the second year of training was cancelled at the last minute with no reason for the cancellation ever being given to my constituent. Madam Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I do not want to see any apprentices held back because of some desire to support Thebacha Campus, at the apprentice's expense.

Madam Speaker, there is no logic in forcing apprentices to wait sometimes 10 to 12 months in order to receive training. Delaying an apprentice's training for this long means falling a year behind in your training and maintaining the same lower wage for yet another year.

Madam Speaker, I will be asking the Minister of Education some questions about his department's organization of the Apprenticeship Training Program and his commitment to producing certified northern journeymen. Thank you.

---Applause

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Recently I met with workers at the Inuvik Transition House, which is a women's shelter in Inuvik. I have to tell you, Madam Speaker, I was very disappointed at how this government and its agencies treat an organization like the Inuvik Transition House which provides a valuable service to the community. Every year the Transition House must fight with the Inuvik Regional Health and Social Services Authority to negotiate a contract and secure funding for the next year. Every year the delays and frustrations surrounding the renewal of the contract cause stress and anxiety for the staff of the Inuvik Transition House.

In fact, Madam Speaker, just to keep the centre up and running, the Inuvik Transition House Society has to hold bingos on a regular basis to secure the necessary funding. The issue of finding adequate funding has become such a burden to the staff of the Inuvik Transition House that a staff member recently resigned because she could no longer handle the stress. The Inuvik Transition House unfortunately handles referrals from the outlying communities of the Beaufort-Delta. It has not received an increase in its contract or base funding for the last five years. Yet I know, Madam Speaker, that the Inuvik Regional Health and Social Services Board has gotten an increase of approximately $40,000 from the Department of Health and Social Services for delivery of the program during the same time frame. This does not seem fair to me.

During our AOC retreat in Tuktoyaktuk, we toured the transition house there also. They face the same problems as Inuvik, with inadequate and unsure funding sources. I am sure that the other women's shelters throughout the NWT would tell me the same thing.

In closing, Madam Speaker, I would like to say that I believe that women's shelters and transition houses are an essential public service and deserve to be funded as such. The people who work in these facilities are exposed to situations on a daily basis, dealing with the fallout from family violence that causes enough stress in their lives. As a government we should not be contributing to these stress levels. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

---Applause

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, as you are well aware, between the February and March budget session until we reconvened this week, all Members in this House had a chance to travel widely to many communities in the North. I have particularly appreciated traveling to Tuktoyaktuk, Inuvik, Fort McPherson, and just yesterday to Fort Liard with the Premier and some of the Members to meet and talk to the Deh Cho leaders.

Madam Speaker, in these gatherings, I always learn a lot. As I was reflecting on this last night, I noticed an obvious common theme. I would like today to advocate this government to legislate a minimum level of service for all 33 communities.

---Applause

Madam Speaker, that should include at least two nurses, two RCMP officers, a librarian and a school counsellor among those that are not currently available.

Madam Speaker, I also believe there should be at least one indoor gym and community centre...

...for people to gather and meet, like granny from Nahanni.

Madam Speaker, I know there are a lot more things that we could add to this list, but for me I would like to just make it clear that it is absolutely unacceptable that in the year of 2005, in one of the most prosperous countries in the world and in an area with one of the most heated economies within this county of Canada, our residents lack these most basic services.

Madam Speaker, it is absolutely unjustifiable in a budget of over $1 billion where any given Minister can sign a cheque for $200,000 to $300,000 for a conference here and a conference there and a study this, study that, that we have communities without these services.

Madam Speaker, I believe fundamentally that strong communities are good for the NWT and strong communities are strong for the capital city of Yellowknife. I also know that the current Minister of Finance was a very strong and articulate advocate for zero-based budgeting when he used to sit next to me on this side of the House. I look forward to pursuing this matter further in the days to come.

In closing, Madam Speaker, may I just send special greetings to all the people in Tuktoyaktuk, Fort McPherson and Fort Liard who always tell me that they always watch us on TV. Hello to all. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Villeneuve.

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, this being the important year to honour the veterans of Canada and also the 60th anniversary of Victory in Europe, I feel it is important and appropriate to mention all of the NWT veterans who have served our country and that we all owe our gratitude and thankfulness that we can all hear and actively and openly participate in our government operations and management without oppression or any fear of prosecution or darkness.

Madam Speaker, the veterans that we owe our gratitude for this basic human right are:

• • from Fort Smith, Archie Bevington, Edward Sproule, Edward Powder and Theresa Miltenberger;
• • from Inuvik, Marcel Lacert and Art Carriere;
• • from Yellowknife, Jack Adderley, Dusty Miller, Ethel Wilson, Catherine Lovell, Gordon Carter, Dorothy Carter, Brock Parsons, Jan Stirling, Bishop John Sperry, Robert Spence who has since passed on, and Ruth Ann MacEachern-Spence;
• • from Hay River, Ken Hunt, Steve Kovatch, Jerry Eyford, Ross Ullathorne who has since passed on, Frank Hirst, John Lowe, Barney MacNeil and Bert Stephenson;
• • from Norman Wells, Emile Delbrouck;
• • from Fort Resolution, my most respected veteran, my dad, James Villeneuve.

We must not forget our aboriginal peacekeepers: Tom Eagle, Timothy O'Loan, and Neil Pascal.

Madam Speaker, these are the NWT veterans we should all honour and always remember and ensure that our youth are made aware of their contributions and sacrifices that they have made for us all throughout the past century.

Madam Speaker, in summary let me just quote the words of the poet John McCrae who wrote of a soldier's sense of duty to the fallen, "We will onward till we win or fall, we will keep the faith for which they died." Mahsi, Madam Speaker.

---Applause

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

Thank you, Madam Speaker. More than a decade ago when diamonds were discovered in the Barren Lands hundreds of kilometres to the north and east of Yellowknife, we were anticipating a great new chapter in the development, the stability and the prosperity of the North Slave region in the Northwest Territories. Indeed, a lot of that has been manifested with the opening of the BHP and the Diavik mines, and we celebrate De Beers' decision to move ahead on Snap Lake. There are a number of other prospects that could also become part of this new chapter in the North and indeed in Canada.

Madam Speaker, our expectations of this sector helping to grow our communities on a sustained basis were looked at very carefully and very seriously in socioeconomic agreements that have been signed. These set out targets for workforce development, for business opportunities and indeed we see the signs of that.

But, Madam Speaker, our faith in that and our expectations received quite a setback with Diavik's announcement a few weeks ago that it was going to extend free travel not just from northern communities to the worksite, but from Edmonton. This really causes the communities here to look at just what can we continue to expect from the future of diamond mining as part of really a sustained and prosperous economy. What Diavik has done is certainly within the realm of the socioeconomic agreement; this is not a criticism against that company. They have a very large operation to continue to have to feed and they need workers. This is their difficulty. As the Minister told us in his statement, all of western and northern Canada has a deficit. Madam Speaker, I would like to seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. The Member for Great Slave is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Mr. Braden, you may conclude your statement.