Good morning, colleagues. Orders of the day. Ministers' statements. The honourable Premier, Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise Members that the Honourable Michael Miltenberger will be absent from the House today and tomorrow to attend the Joint Review Panel in Inuvik. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Ministers' statements. Members' statements. The honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, recently in Inuvik there was another meeting held on the effects of crack cocaine. This is the second such meeting within the past 18 months and people up there are still getting frustrated with the onslaught of drugs into the community. Many people seem to think that with all the money coming into town from the pipeline, the use of drugs will increase.

We've always had problems, Mr. Speaker, with drugs in the communities. We've always had some sort of social problems. One of the biggest problems, I still believe, is the amount of alcohol that is abused in the Northwest Territories.

When I sit, Mr. Speaker, and listen to a parent agonizing over the decision their child is making on crack, that bothers me and the lack of options for treatment. We have to send them south for treatment in a lot of cases.

In Alberta, Mr. Speaker, there is a program that is run close by the mountains for kids who are addicted to drugs. It's a three-month program. They go out on the land for three months and a lot of these kids don't want to leave once they are doing this program. Why can't we have such a program as this, Mr. Speaker? With all the money we seem to spend in sending kids south for treatment, we should be able to build our own ranch. Some people say it's hard to earn a living off the land and I tend to agree with that with the way things are going; it is getting tougher. But I firmly believe, Mr. Speaker, by being out on the land you can learn how to live.

Mr. Speaker, let's give residents of the Northwest Territories an opportunity to heal on their own land instead of sending them south. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Members' statements. The honourable Member for Monfwi, Mr. Lafferty.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First of all, I would like to say something. Last week, I visited my four communities with a leadership meeting. Ever since August 4th, since the leadership has come into place, I have not met with them. It is very important for all different levels of government to work together and to consult each other. Although we are meeting here in the February session, they are fully aware of this, but they felt that my presence at their meeting was important since I am their elected MLA. So that is why I attended their gathering.

It's very difficult to be travelling to these isolated communities. I am their representative and sometimes it's very difficult to travel to these communities. Sometimes I feel it's easy for the MLAs of Yellowknife to consult with their people right here in Yellowknife.

Mr. Speaker, the gathering of the Tlicho people is very important and they were really thankful for me to attend their meeting because they had not had this kind of consultation for a long time. I consulted with the leadership and also the elders and even the youth came up to us individually to thank us for attending their meeting to listen to them for their concerns. They have many concerns they would like to bring up to the government and they have given me a lot of concerns that I have to look into. There are many decisions that are being made within the government that affects the communities, so these are the concerns that have gone to me. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for listening.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Members' statements. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Villeneuve.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Today I just want to recognize some of my constituents from Tu Nedhe who will be attending the 2006 Arctic Winter Games in Kenai, Alaska, from March 5th to the 11th. They are Demien Kailek, who will be participating in the NWT Dene Games in the junior male category; Amber Mandeville, who will be participating in Team NWT badminton junior female category; Glen Collins, who will be participating in Team NWT badminton junior male; Deserae Jonasson,

who will be participating in the Arctic sports junior female category; and, last but not least, Darryl Marlowe, who will be participating in Team NWT volleyball junior male category.

Mr. Speaker, I would just like to take this opportunity to wish the very best of luck and good luck to all my constituents and all the fine NWT athletes in their pursuit for athletic excellence and sportsmanship. It was very encouraging to see representation from our small communities in an international sporting event such as the Arctic Winter Games and give these individuals an opportunity to showcase their talent, dedication and hard work. I will definitely be cheering Team NWT on in their quest for gold. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Members' statements. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My theme today is let's get prepared. Recently, I have been talking to people about crystal meth and the common concern about it. Is this government prepared? Judging by our track record with resources and facilities for other substances that are already in our communities, I can be confident in saying that, no, we are not. Will this government be proactive and immediately address these issues, so I can be confident in saying that, no, we are not? Will this government be proactive and immediately address these issues so I can say with some confidence that, yes, they are, and, yes, we are ready to deal with this?

The Yukon territory has recently taken one small and significant step by initiating a campaign addressing the issues around the introduction of crystal meth and the use of other addictive substances. They are to be commended because this campaign will develop and raise awareness. Looking around our territories, in our communities, there are many needs. There is lack of homelessness and safe houses, inadequate detox facilities, and our communities are having meetings like the ones in Inuvik that gives us a clear indication that there is much more that is needed. Study after study, meeting after meeting, has shown that, as our economy gets better, so will our attraction to hard drugs. Young people are going to Yellowknife in alarming numbers for addicted related reasons, whether they are going to get counselling or going to a place where it is easier to get drugs. This growing centralization trend must be addressed by this government through a creative and effective proactive campaign.

The major problem with crystal meth is that it can be made by fairly simple products, such as cold and allergy medications, easily available in our drug stores. In some jurisdictions, such as Ontario, many locations such as grocery stores will no longer be selling some of these products and having others behind the pharmacist counters. These are the little things that the government could implement while it is still not too late. I have tried my best to also walk the walk and do my share in raising awareness and a "say no" strategy for our youth. I recently shared a DVD with schools on this issue, Mr. Speaker. Mahsi cho.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Members' statements. The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Pokiak.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On Friday, February 10, 2006, the winter Olympics officially began in Torino, Italy. Recently, Mr. Speaker, Sharon and Shirley Firth were recognized for their involvement in the sport of cross-country skiing. The two twins have represented Canada over a number of Olympics in the 1970s.

At this time, Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize Mr. Rex Cockney of Tuktoyaktuk. Mr. Cockney also represented Canada Olympics in the 1970s and has received a number of medals in the Olympics. Mr. Cockney was an avid cross-country skier. I am proud to say that I have seen Mr. Cockney's collection of medals in his home.

Mr. Cockney not only represented Canada as a cross-country skier, Mr. Speaker, but he was also a very good athlete in the sport of hockey as part of the Grollier Hall Fliers.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to know Mr. Cockney as a neighbour of mine in Tuktoyaktuk. I would like to congratulate him on his accomplishments and see him this weekend. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. Members' statements. The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, I would like to discuss the role that the Government of the Northwest Territories is playing in the development of the Mackenzie gas project.

I have always been, and remain, a strong supporter of the Mackenzie gas project and the benefits that are going to come as a result of this multi-billion dollar pipeline project. Some of my colleagues have brought up the issue of the letter of comfort that the GNWT sent to the proponents of the project. They had their own opinion on what that letter meant or didn't mean. The issue I have is that there hasn't been any opportunity for public discourse or discussion on what the Government of the Northwest Territories, on behalf of all the communities, should, or would, be receiving.

Mr. Speaker, we just recently went through a federal election campaign where these issues were front and centre. However, our government does have some questions to answer on what their role is and what public expectations are of the GNWT. In my opinion, the letter of comfort was nothing more than something that Government of the Northwest Territories felt obligated to do. The letter itself is basically a letter about nothing. I

would like to call it the Seinfeld letter, where the GNWT drops the ball in that we are a public government. As a government, we just came out looking like losers.

The socio-economic fund, the $500 million, is earmarked for communities along the pipeline route. Let's not forget that $50 million per year over 10 years split amongst 20-odd communities does not equate to much. Left out of the equation are three of the four main population centres like Yellowknife, Hay River and Fort Smith, which are set to receive a grand total of zero for socio-economic impacts of pipeline development.

Our government has failed 70 percent of our people by not including, or demanding, a discussion on benefits for all communities. Of course, there will be economic benefits like jobs, training and further exploration. Who will pay the price for the added socio-economic impacts in all of our communities? We will, Mr. Speaker. To me, it just looks like we missed the boat. Thank you.

---Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this government has been acting like it has won a gold medal ever since the Harper Conservatives stated during the election campaign that they understand that the northerners have to be the primary beneficiaries of resource development. I agree with that principle as well, Mr. Speaker, but I must say to this government that it should lead by example and really practice what it preaches, because the possibility of having upwards of $300 million being invested into northern economy is a great thing for whatever reason. To do it for housing is even better. This is the kind of thing that the governments are supposed to take a leadership role on and do it well. Mr. Speaker, I don't see that happening. I'm sorry; I'm losing my speech this morning.

Mr. Speaker, I don't believe that we can be doing this by the Minister of Finance stating that his aim is to promote the conversion of a pipeline workforce housing. Mr. Speaker, I think the more important questions this government should be asking are, how are we going to maximize our opportunity for all our northerners, northern labour and businesses? Questions that the government should be answering are things like, how are northern businesses going to be asked? How could they work under these housing projects? How are northern businesses going to be able to take advantage of these housing project benefits? How is our northern labour going to be trained and hired for opportunities under these housing projects that would train them for the long term and not just for three months or whatever short-term task to do a small thing?

Mr. Speaker, one of the questions that the government should ask is, how is this government going to develop 1,400 lots, and how and when are they going to start talking to other governments, departments and organizations to make this happen? Why is it that the government should be developing lots when it is usually the private industry that should be doing that? Why is it that the government is approaching Imperial Oil about one idea from one company, when they should be looking at a very broad view? I would like to say to this government that it should really practice what it preaches. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Members' statements. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Braden.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. The financial plight of non-government organizations, or NGOs, is a matter that received considerable attention in the pre-budget consultations that your committees undertook this past fall, and has been an item of fair frequency in our debates here.

Mr. Speaker, I would say that if it were not for the NGO sector, the quality of life in the NWT would be seriously diminished. They are at work across all of our sectors: economic, in the arts, environment, sports and social. It is especially in the social environment where the public of the NWT really feels and sees their impacts.

Mr. Speaker, our government supports many NGOs through program delivery. The Canadian Mental Health Association, the YWCA, the Literacy Organization, Sport North, and the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre are just a few examples. But, Mr. Speaker, project funding is all too often arranged only on a year-to-year basis. Very often, these NGOs have a great deal of difficulty attracting and keeping qualified, trained staff because they just can't be certain of their cash flows.

Mr. Speaker, this government should be looking at, or is right now looking at, tax adjustments for both large and small businesses. This is fine. But I think we need to pay similar attention to the plight of our NGOs if our citizens are to continue to benefit from the calibre and the reliability of services that these NGOs are delivering on behalf of our government.

A salary survey by the YWCA, Mr. Speaker, shows that there can be as much as a $30,000 a year difference between a job performed in that organization as to one hired by our government. That is a huge discrepancy, Mr. Speaker. Something that we have got to be looking at more and more seriously is the consistency, the stability and the sustainability of our service agreements with non-government organizations. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Members' statements. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to draw attention to the plight of parents who have had to watch helplessly as their teenage children become involved with and eventually addicted to drugs.

Many of these parents have tried every means to get through these difficulties and are running out of options. There is only so much physical control a parent can realistically exercise over someone who is 16, 17 or 18 years of age, Mr. Speaker. This leaves parents in a constant state of worry, where they don't know what is happening to their children and they worry that they may hurt themselves or others.

I am speaking, Mr. Speaker, to an issue that has arisen in Alberta and they have found a solution. I am aware that they recently passed a Protection of Children Abusing Drugs Act which will come into force in July of this year. I am also aware that Saskatchewan is discussing similar such legislation. This new law allows parents to apply to the courts for an apprehension and confinement order for their children who are abusing drugs and alcohol. The order can authorize confinement in a protective safe house for up to five days. This allows Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission to conduct an assessment and provide detox treatment during that time.

Mr. Speaker, I am sure that, once this law comes into force, it will be a welcome relief to those Alberta families who are struggling to help protect their children and overcome the abuse that drugs and alcohol has caused.

The Protection of Children Abusing Drugs Act in Alberta means that you do not have to commit a crime to get help when you have drugs taking control of your life. I think it is time that the NWT consider such acts to help protect our families and our youth. Some of the plans, when it was originally drafted, were 30 days of confinement, 90 days' mandatory protection, but I am not calling for those numbers. All I am asking for is the Department of Health and Social Services take a look at the effectiveness of this program to see if we can do something here in the North.

It is no secret, Mr. Speaker, as mentioned by MLA McLeod and MLA Menicoche, that drugs are a problem in our North and we need to stop the abuse that ranges in all ages and social groups.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, when loving parents are left without options, it is critical that our government find something so our young people don't become another statistic. So we need to affect change to stop this cycle. We cannot give up on our youth. It is not an option. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the issue of the status of the business incentive policy was raised in this session last week. The Minister responded with a reference to a consultation process to determine the opinion of northern businesses surrounding the business incentive policy. I would be very interested in hearing how effective businesses feel the BIP is working and how it benefits them or not.

My initial inclination is that a tax reduction across the board to small business would actually have a more positive impact on the bottom line of small business than does the BIP. The BIP has no effect with northern business competing with northern registered business. It is an important adjustment on contracts for goods and services when northern business is competing with southern business, with the economy as heated as it is and as it is anticipated to be in the next while. The GNWT is not the same engine for the economy that it once was. In this regard, a reduced tax rate effects all profits generated by business, not just those potential earnings from GNWT contracts affected by a contract price preference margin.

Mr. Speaker, we have other ways of effecting our procurement methods to recognize northern investment and content through such things as request for proposals and negotiated contracts.

Mr. Speaker, I look forward, with interest, to what the business community will have to say about our business incentive policy versus a lower business tax rate. I will have questions, later on, how that process is going to roll out, for the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Members' statements. Returns to oral questions. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, Mr. McLeod.