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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I want to raise the issue of the community capacity building fund. Last August 16th, the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs announced this one-time funding with the emphasis on community level control and priorities. In some communities, the expenditure of the money and the projects proposed need to be agreed upon by more than one community government body. This has caused considerable debate and comment from communities as this is a new approach to decision-making. Some of the concerns raised related to whether or not this would set a new precedent for financial resources and funding received by communities from the GNWT and whether consensus could be reached on what the priorities in the community actually were.

This one-time funding in the case of Hay River is $1.964 million. It is intended to be spent on projects that benefit the community and would not result or require ongoing O and M support from this government. I am sure every community, including Hay River, would have no problem coming up with a wish list of projects that are above and beyond what the community or the GNWT normally funds.

To date, I have heard a number of suggestions as to how Hay River could put this money to good use; everything from upgraded equipment for Hay River's public parks and playgrounds, to extension of the sidewalk infrastructure, to alternative schooling options for youth not currently attending school.

Mr. Speaker, it is the intention of the Hay River MLAs to convene a meeting in March to bring the Hay River town council, the M‚tis local government and the West Point First Nation to a common meeting to discuss prospective projects to benefit our community and its residents. In the meantime, Mr. Speaker, I would encourage people of Hay River to turn their thoughts to how this money could be best put to use. We will be in communication with the leadership to set a time and place for this meeting. We very much look forward to the ideas and input that will come forward. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to speak today again about addictions, especially services that should be provided to our youth. How important is the issue of youth addiction services to this government? Judging by its actions to date, I would have to say the record is absolutely abysmal. Prior to becoming the Minister of Health and Social Services, the current Minister referred to the Department of Health and Social Services as a department of perpetual planning. Mr. Speaker, he loved to call it that. I guess he doesn't like to rock the boat much as under his leadership the department continues down the road of the "study it to death" attitude. Meanwhile, our residents and youth continue to demand action. No question, Mr. Speaker, our youth need help.

In 1998, the Department of Health and Social Services shut down the NWT Youth Addictions Program that was operated by Northern Addictions Services, which at the time had a budget of $584,000. The department stated that by April 1, 1999, it was going to develop a new, more effective, they liked to call it, program. Here we are, Mr. Speaker, seven years later. Where is this program? How many youth have we lost from your perpetual planning department? Every Member of this House is well aware of the problems and addictions our youth face on a day-to-day basis. With more resource development, more money, there are more problems today in the Northwest Territories than in 1999. The Minister is really good at saying he'll look at it or it is being dealt with, but his department is very short on action.

This government has to wake up to the issue of mental health and addictions for our youth. They are the next generation and we must have the programs and resources in place to give our youth every possible chance at leading a well-rounded and productive life.

When Regular Members are speaking about addiction services, we mean it. Is it too much to ask for the Minister and Cabinet to actually pay attention to what we are saying?

It seems the only time they do pay attention, Mr. Speaker, is when someone over here is asking for their job. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Members' statements. The honourable Member for the Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I want to follow up with the statement made by the honourable colleague Mr. Ramsay in terms of the support that we need in our small communities. Mr. Speaker, I want to say something from my heart in terms of the help that our people need in terms of addictions, mental wellness and, basically, effective programs.

Mr. Speaker, our communities are suffering. Mr. McLeod indicated that it takes leadership from us, as MLAs, who are sometimes on the constant standby on the phone, as the Minister indicated numerous times, as a job as an MLA is 24/7. Mr. Speaker, I didn't really get it until after a couple of months in terms of my role as MLA. I think all of us here are all truly affected by things that are happening in our small communities. We have such large families. Sometimes it even hits really close to home in terms of things that are happening. We get to really see how the programs are administrated and how they are dealt with. Sometimes it causes us to wonder if we are making any difference.

Mr. Speaker, in terms of our role as MLAs, I say again, sometimes we get so caught up with all the things that are happening, sometimes we just want to deal with them and get them out of the way. Sometimes things get really hard. Sometimes it is hard trying to wonder if you really are making a difference in the life of the people that we represent. I think we are, Mr. Speaker.

All the MLAs here know the disease of alcohol and how it affects not only the person but the families, the whole communities are affected. People are always saying take the people to the land. Mr. Speaker, it can't get any simpler than that. The elders are saying this for a reason. We want to talk about alcoholism or addictions. Bring the people out there. They know. They survived on the land for thousands of years. For anybody to do those types of programs on the land will be wonderful. I am not too sure if enough studies have been done to work with people who have issues that can work on the land.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to really see the government take this approach and get towards a better society for everybody in the Northwest Territories. Mahsi cho.

---Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity today to draw attention to the need of the Minister and the governance council of WCB to take a strong leadership role. Mr. Speaker, the latest issue to hit the public attention is the plight of the franchises in Yellowknife who are in the maximum 25 percent assessment rate increase for the last four years in a row and are still looking for much needed reprieve prior to the deadline of February 28th, Mr. Speaker. This is just one big issue, but there are a lot more that needs attention of the leadership. Mr. Speaker, in reviewing the annual reports of the corporation over the last 10 years, it really shows a very alarming picture.

Mr. Speaker, we see that the assessment revenue has been steadily going up, but their investment revenue is going down drastically. We need to know why. We see that the assessment's steady decrease. Even the subsidy had to go up, Mr. Speaker, and the rates going up, the profit and loss statement shows a loss in 2003 and 2004 for the first time in the last 10 years, this coming from an over $20 million profit in 1997. Now, they saw a loss of $10 million in 2003, or I think it is more than that. They

are still showing a loss. Mr. Speaker, this is not because there have been more claims than before. In fact, the claim numbers have been going down. The costs of claims have been going down, but the rejected numbers of claims have been going up. There is a very alarming picture here because it appears that the employers are being asked to pay the cost of something that is not going right in this corporation, in my view, by looking at the annual reports. We need to find out from the Minister and governance council why it is that the WCB is in such a terrible financial situation. If they don't fix this, they are going to see that the employers are going to be continued to ask to pay for this. I would like to see the action on that front immediately. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Members' statements. Returns to oral questions. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, I would like to recognize the senior management team from Aurora World Corporation, present Daryl Dolynny, as well as Kaz Morita, and Chris Johnson who are here with us today. Most importantly, I am very proud to recognize a special guest, Mr. Tatsua Tanaka, who is a world-famous Aurora photographer who has taken over 100,000 photos of the Aurora.

---Applause

Mr. Tanaka was gracious enough to accompany us at NWT Week in Aichi, Japan at the recent Expo. Members Ramsay, Villeneuve and Menicoche were also in attendance. We had a wonderful time. We are very thankful of the great work that Mr. Tanaka does. I am very proud to have him visit us. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am glad to recognize my sister-in-law, Esmerelda; her husband, Danny, and, Mr. Speaker, after seeing her sister be a Page back in October, my little niece Kellie just can't wait for her turn.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Like Minister Bell, I have a couple of people to introduce. I have a very small description on each of those two people. First, I would like to, as well, introduce Mr. Tanaka and say thank you for attending our Assembly. Mr. Tanaka is a very famous photographer in Japan. He is extremely well known for his photography. To make it quite short, Mr. Speaker, to call Mr. Tanaka an aurora ambassador would truly be an understatement for what he does for the Northwest Territories, but I think it is well suited. The other person I would like to mention is Mr. Kaz Morita. I would personally like to say that his reputation throughout Japan is second to none. I have had a chance to meet with him and have dinner with both him and Mr. Tanaka while I was in Japan. I quickly realized that these were top-notch gentlemen who certainly know their business. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for the Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I want to recognize a person from Tulita, Danny Horassi. He is also with his wife and his child. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Indeed, welcome to everyone in the gallery today. It is always nice to have an audience viewing our proceedings. Oral questions. The honourable Member for Monfwi, Mr. Lafferty.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I do.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Supplementary, Mr. Lafferty.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I was expecting that answer. Good. For the record, it was the right answer.

---Laughter

Mr. Speaker, it is clear, from my recent experience in Behchoko, the loss of power in a community for 10 hours, a back-up generator in the elders' home is definitely required now. It is absolutely important to ensure elders to continue to live in the comfort of their home. Will the Minister commit to the safety of the elders in the Jimmy Erasmus Seniors' Home in Behchoko by ensuring that a

back-up generator is installed as soon as possible, Mr. Speaker?