Good afternoon, colleagues. Welcome back to the House. Orders of the day. Ministers' statements. The honourable Minister of Justice, Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to recognize the people who are working to deliver local justice services and reduce crime in the communities.

Justice committees work with elders and community leaders to develop innovative solutions to their justice issues, such as the diversion program. Diversion is for people who accept responsibility for the minor crimes they commit. They meet with the committee to talk about what happened. Then the committee makes a decision about how the person can make things better. Last year, there were more than 200 diversions.

Community justice committees also develop crime prevention activities. They're administering fine options programs, on-the-land activities and services for victims of crime. Several innovative projects have moved forward in the past year. The dog shelter in Nahanni Butte is teaching teenagers to care for animals. The cabin-building project in Whati brings youth together with elders, who are teaching them skills far beyond how to hammer a nail. A support group in Inuvik is helping girls find good role models and avoid violent situations.

We're seeing real results. In Deline, there have not been any youth in court for the past four years. The Yellowknife victim services workers were recently selected as the Outstanding Group of the Year, for their dedication to service at any time of the day or night. The Gameti policing project has just wrapped up, and Behchoko and Fort Simpson are both planning to deliver their own victim services programs.

Funding is now available to every community to hire a part-time justice coordinator. Additional special project funding is available to deliver programs. This money helps communities develop a justice system that meets their unique needs and provides them with a safer environment.

The support for community justice is encouraging. Communities are excited to deliver their own projects and to help residents live in safer neighbourhoods. This Assembly passed a motion last year to support and improve our programming. In response, the Department of

Justice is developing a strategic plan with local stakeholders and partners, including the RCMP. We'll help communities deliver better services, improve training programs, make good programs even better and communicate more effectively. This involves working with partners from the community level all the way to the federal government. I am looking forward to presenting more details about this plan to Members next month. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Ministers' statements. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to announce that through the Don't be a Butthead campaign, many young people have made the commitment to be smoke free. I have personally written to over 3,000 children and youth from every community in the NWT, congratulating them on their pledge to remain smoke free. This campaign originated in 2004 as an initiative of the Department of Health and Social Services to educate youth across the North on the benefits of staying smoke free.

This year, youth and schools in the NWT got caught up in the smoke-free fervor by entering the Create the Smoke Free Future contest in either the junior or senior category. A total of 200 entries from 12 communities were received in four categories of words, music, video and visual arts.

As we celebrate World No Tobacco Day, I am proud to announce the winners of the Create the Smoke Free Future contest.

The winners in the junior class, grades 3 to 7, are: music category, Leah Bodnar McLeod, Tori Hendrick, Leon Simon and Melanie Rogers, Inuvik; written category, Tamara Grosco, Yellowknife; visual arts, Hannah MacLeod, Yellowknife; video, Carly Wilson, Yellowknife.

The winners in the senior class, grades 8 to 12, are: music category, Sonny Simpson, Wekweeti: written category, Heather Henderson-Powder, Tulita; visual arts, Russell Giroux, Detah; video, Max Rossouw, Brandon Bradbury, Griffin Wile and David Brinston, Yellowknife.

The junior winners will be receiving their choice of $250 or a digital camera while the senior winners will have their entries produced professionally. I invite Members to view the winners' artwork in the Great Hall throughout the day. They are excellent creations and a testament of your youth's commitment to stay smoke free.

I hope that you will show your continued support of the campaign by congratulating students in your riding who have made a commitment. You can also encourage and recognize the people and schools in your community for their continued efforts in protecting our youth against the harmful impacts of tobacco use.

In addition to the successful Don't be a Butthead campaign, this Legislature recently passed and implemented legislation to create a smoke-free generation. The Tobacco Control Act represents an important part of this government's strategy to encourage healthy lifestyles for all northerners.

Educating our youth about the harms of smoking is a giant step towards helping them choose a healthy lifestyle. Let us work together to end the smoking epidemic that harms so many northerners every year. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Ministers' statements. The honourable Minister of Public Works and Services, Mr. Roland.

Mr. Speaker, energy costs are a concern to all of us. The Department of Public Works and Services has an opportunity to test a cheaper alternative energy source this coming year at the North Slave Correctional Centre.

Public Works and Services and the Department of Justice recently received a proposal from a Yellowknife-based company, Arctic Green Energy, to provide a wood pellet boiler system at the North Slave Correctional Centre.

Providing heat for buildings using wood pellet boilers has been common practice in Europe for decades, with systems reliably heating numerous facilities such as hotels, office buildings and recreational facilities. Money is saved by using less expensive wood by-products, specifically crushed sawdust pellets. They also significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The North Slave Correctional Centre needs a boiler to provide backup heat. Capital of $225,000 was approved for this boiler. Arctic Green Energy proposed to provide a wood pellet burning boiler system instead of installing a third oil-fired boiler. It would be the primary heating unit and would provide 50 percent of the heating requirements for the facility.

Arctic Green Energy will be responsible for the design, installation, operation and maintenance of the wood pellet system at no cost to the Government of the Northwest Territories, and for provision of the pellets. Arctic Green Energy would act as an energy service provider, billing the GNWT for heat supplied to the facility.

The system will include a storage unit to hold adequate wood pellets for one month's required output in winter conditions. This should enable the system to continue to operate during ferry and ice road closures.

We anticipate many benefits from the wood pellet system. For example:

• • Capital savings of $225,000 from the original third boiler project;
• • Estimated $50,000 annual savings in heating costs for the facility; and
• • Estimated reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of 1,450 tonnes annually.

---Applause

The new wood pellet boiler system will be operational by November 1, 2006. After one year, the system's effectiveness will be evaluated. If it is efficient and reliable, we will consider this heating system for other major projects. If it is found not to meet our needs, the system will be removed and the deferred oil-fired boiler will be installed.

Public Works and Services, together with our GNWT client departments, is committed to reducing energy costs in buildings for the benefit of all northerners. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Ministers' statements. Members' statements. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Braden.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the February session, I spoke of the ongoing difficulties of an injured worker, a 51-year-old man whose life has been shattered by a 19-year-long battle with the Workers' Compensation Board. Mr. Ivan Valic is one of some 40 injured workers that I know of, Mr. Speaker, who have experienced a never-ending appeals treadmill with the Workers' Compensation Board Appeals Tribunal system.

Mr. Valic is angry at the system. His oft repeated question is who is responsible? Who is accountable? Why doesn't the Minister do something? Why doesn't the Premier do something? Who is accountable? The accountability question is one that is not well answered or clearly defined. In an exhaustive ruling filed December 14th last year. Madam Justice Schuler of the NWT Supreme Court found that Mr. Valic was indeed discriminated against under section 15 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, because the board's policy on chronic pain syndrome fails to treat those injured workers on an equal footing with other workers.

Further, Justice Schuler concluded that through the board and the tribunal's dealings, there was denial of natural justice. Mr. Valic sought to have his case reheard by a fresh and independent appeals panel within 60 days. Justice Schuler granted Mr. Valic's appeal to a freshly constituted tribunal and the Minister is now seeking appointees to this tribunal which, I understand, closes today.

Mr. Speaker, Justice Schuler did not order the 60-day hearing deadline, but her ruling was clear in its intent to see Mr. Valic's rehearing completed in reasonable time. Mr. Speaker, it's been more than 160 days since Justice Schuler's decision; 100 days more than originally sought

by Mr. Valic for the rehearing. The timing now clearly rests with the Minister to ensure that a freshly constituted appeals tribunal is in place. I will have questions for the Minister on this process at the appropriate time later today, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

---Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to discuss the issue of disability awareness. I listened quite closely to Minister Miltenberger's statement yesterday on the occasion of Disability Awareness Week. The theme, Mr. Speaker, this year is Living, Working and Educating Together - Include People with Disabilities.

Mr. Speaker I want to start by acknowledging the good work of organizations like the NWT Council of Persons with Disabilities and EmployABILITY who provide such valuable services to many of our residents.

Noticeably absent from the Minister's statement yesterday was how the Government of the Northwest Territories plugs in and participates in including persons with disabilities in our own public service. In his ad that appeared in the local press this week recognizing Disability Awareness Week, he states, "I encourage everyone to be inclusive of individuals with disabilities and recognize the contributions they provide within our communities throughout the territory."

It would seem that Minister Miltenberger and his colleagues on Cabinet have much to learn about how inclusive and how accepting the Government of the Northwest Territories is when it comes to hiring persons with disabilities in our own public service. The old adage that one should lead by example certainly comes to mind and I am going to give Cabinet a clear and concise message today that when it comes to leadership in the inclusion of persons with disabilities, they have an incredibly abysmal record.

Disabled persons make up 13 percent of our population. Yet, as a group within the public service of the GNWT, they represent .4 percent. Yes, .4 percent. This from a government which continues to preach inclusion. The government should be ashamed of themselves. Let's look at the lead departments, Mr. Speaker. FMBS has a grand total of zero employees with a disability. The newly minted Human Resources department responsible for the government policy in the area of human resources has, surprise, surprise, zero employees with a disability. In all of the GNWT reports in the public service from 1996 to 2004, there is not one single, solitary sentence about the Government of the Northwest Territories' efforts to hire disabled persons. Perhaps the Minister responsible for the public service can flip through these reports and he can note that there is an absence of any text...

Mr. Ramsay, your time for your Member's statement has expired.

Thank you, Mr. 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, Mr. Ramsay.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In all GNWT reports on the public service from 1996 to 2004, there is not one single, solitary sentence about the governments' efforts to hire disabled persons. Perhaps the Minister responsible for the public service can look through these reports and he'll note that there is no text on efforts to hire disabled persons.

As the Human Resources department likes to display in any literature that I have read, they like to flaunt the affirmative action policy. Mr. Speaker, disabled individuals are second only to indigenous aboriginal persons in that policy. Mr. Speaker, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize that .4 percent representation of arguably the most disadvantaged community, and that is in terms of employment, income and education in the territory, that remember comprises 13 percent of our population, is completely unacceptable. The Government of the Northwest Territories has made hundreds of direct appointments in the past 10 years to many priority one individuals, yet research I have would indicate that only one -- that is one -- direct appointment to an individual that had a disability.

Mr. Speaker, I intend to hear from the Minister responsible for the public service today why disabled individuals continue to face barriers when trying to gain employment with this government. Thank you.

---Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to inform the Members that Hay River is proud to be hosting the 22nd Annual NWT Track and Field Championships. The organizers are expecting approximately 1,250 participants coming into town from 31 communities in the Northwest Territories. A huge part of the track and field success must be credited to the staff of the Hay River schools: Diamond Jenness Secondary School, Princess Alexander School and the Harry Camsell School. I would also like to recognize at this time the many residents of Hay River, the parents and coaches. These people come out every year to volunteer their time and their expertise at the meet and in the school working on various track activities.

Several local businesses offer time off to their employees and some volunteers take part of their vacation time to be able to work at this exciting event. The track and field committee enlists the services of approximately 350 volunteers each year to complete the planning process, fill the required stats keeper positions, operate food services for students and spectators, as well as covering for many other jobs involved in running the track meet. I would like to commend all of the people whose personal efforts make the track and field meet a success every year.

As an added feature this year, the 2007 Canada Games torch, on its journey across Canada, will be brought to Hay River tonight for the opening ceremonies of the track and field meet. Included with the runners from Enterprise that will be bringing the torch in will be our own Commissioner, Tony Whitford. The Hay River Running Club and the Commissioner will arrive at the arena carrying the 2007 Canada Games Torch that will light the track and field flame to begin the games. This evening, when the House adjourns, a large delegation of Ministers and Members will be attending with yourself, Mr. Speaker, and I, the track and field opening ceremonies. This is the largest delegation so far and I'm looking forward to the excitement that is generated when the teams from schools large and small enter the arena. The pride and emotion that is felt by the participants and by spectators alike is something to behold.

Again, Mr. Speaker, congratulations to Hay River, the organizers, the volunteers and, of course, the spectators that go out, rain or shine, to cheer them on, and the best of luck to everyone who participates this year in the 22nd Annual Track and Field Championships in Hay River. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Today I'd just like to commend and publicly congratulate some successful individuals from my constituency of Tu Nedhe on their recent academic achievements. I attended the Aurora College convocation ceremonies in Fort Smith on April 29th, 2006, to congratulate two individuals who graduated from college diploma programs and two that graduated from college certificate programs.

I'd like to send my congratulations out to Melanie McCallum of Deninu Kue, who received a management studies diploma, and congratulations to Lisa Beaulieu, also of Deninu Kue, who received her social work diploma.

I'd also like to congratulate Agatha Laboucan of Lutselk'e for completing and receiving her management studies certificate, and Lorna Catholique, also of Lutselk'e, in receiving her certificate in office administration.

Mr. Speaker, these individuals are definitely an inspiration to other community members who are considering furthering their educational needs. But the real icing on the cake, Mr. Speaker, is on May 18th, 2006, I along with the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, the Honourable Charles Dent; our Commissioner, Mr. Tony Whitford; and many community members of Deninu Kue gathered to celebrate the achievements of two more successful individuals of the Deninu Kue school's six Grade 12 graduation class. Again, I would like to congratulate Jodie Miersch and Kirstin Fabien for their achievements, and offer my encouragement and full support to continue on with your educational needs and to fulfill your lifelong goals, aspirations and dreams.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, I'd look forward to seeing more of my constituents realizing their potential in any academic arena and I can say with confidence that I will see more success stories when I look into the future of our constituency of Tu Nedhe. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. (Translation) Today's statement will be on elders. We have elders who work in the school sometimes. We have difficulty paying them. (Translation ends)

...consider a leader in maintaining and enhancing aboriginal language, culture and traditions. This wouldn't be possible without our elders; our Ph.D.'s when it comes to traditional knowledge and on-the-land programs, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, lately with the introduction of FMBS system to the Community Services Agency it has become more difficult to issue elder's pay for their casual work; pay that they deserve for their valuable contribution to the society. The TCSA used to have a system prior to August 4th, the effective date of the Tlicho Agreement, which allowed elders' pay to be issued within a day of their service, Mr. Speaker. Now elders have to wait up to six weeks to receive their paycheques and this is not acceptable, Mr. Speaker.

I would like to draw attention to this House to a clause within the Intergovernmental Services Agreement that addresses operating condition of the TCSA that was signed by Tlicho, GNWT and Government of Canada. The section 3.2(a) of the ISA states, territorial legislation shall settle the roles listed for the agency in appendices and any other powers, responsibilities and accountabilities of the agency, except, Mr. Speaker, those assigned or delegated to the agency by the Tlicho Government or the Government of Canada. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, this agreement makes it clear that the Tlicho Government wishes the TCSA to hire their own traditional elders for cultural enhancement and also development. The GNWT must respect the terms and conditions the Tlicho Government wishes to set.

The GNWT should not be imposing its own responsibilities and accountabilities on the TCSA for programs assigned by the Tlicho Government. In this case, the Tlicho Government wishes to hire their own elders, pay them immediately after the completion of services. The GNWT needs to work with the TCSA to make it possible for them to make immediate payments to elders. It is not acceptable to force elders to wait six weeks, Mr. Speaker, to receive their pay for well-respected services.

Mr. Speaker, we're losing elders as we speak in the schools. So I will have questions for the FMBS Minister at the appropriate time. Mahsi.

---Applause

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

Mr. Speaker, mahsi cho. Mr. Speaker, there are only a few issues that most rural MLAs raise session after session and that is permanent nursing and policing in the communities. For some communities these issues can be approached individually or making it easier to pursue. For the community of Wrigley these services and commitments are very much connected. This government has indicated that until the police are stationed in Wrigley, Health and Social Services will not station a permanent nurse there. I find this response and approach to be unacceptable. Why is the community of Wrigley being treated different? The Deh Cho Health and Social Services Authority has already earmarked the necessary funding to station a nurse in Wrigley, so why delay, I ask.

There has been some speculation that a previous nurse felt intimidated and safety was an issue. If the Minister has made these very dramatic policy decisions based on this, why hasn't the ministry conducted a thorough evaluation of those circumstances? This also raises another pressing issue in the Nahendeh and all over the North; funding for safety and protection services through local RCMP presence.

During the previous session in February, Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Justice responded to comments raised by my Nunakput colleague with a possible arrangement whereby a police officer could be stationed in a small community with another peace or enforcement officer. The communities have been requesting for years this type of innovation and flexibility with these interdepartmental services to maximize protective and medical services for small and remote communities. For Wrigley the list of excuses just gets longer, Mr. Speaker. No nurses unless we get policing; no policing unless we get funding for not two, but 2.5 positions. Huge strain on anybody's resources, especially when all small communities simply ask for better health care and better policing from our government.

Mr. 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. Menicoche.