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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the riding of Nunakput is in dire need of granular material to address their infrastructure needs in my constituency. The access to gravel in most of my constituency can only be accessed during the winter. It may take at least six months to be able to access a quarry site because of different legislations. An example is Inuvialuit land administration.

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Deputy Premier and the Minister of the NWT Housing Corporation announced that a total of $100 million will be spent to construct 530 adequate and affordable housing units over the next three years. These units may be built as multi-plex or homeownership. Members on this side of the House appreciate the announcement, but because it will address some and not all of the housing shortage across the Northwest Territories. In order to prepare for these units there are a number of obstacles that need to be addressed immediately. By obstacles I am referring to lot availability, access road for dry waste, and construction of power lines for these units.

Mr. Speaker, communities without access to year-round ground material will be a challenge to actually receive these units as identified through the capital plan of the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation. If a community can address their infrastructure requirements to have these available lots and driveways to build these units, what will happen to these units? Will they be carried over to the next fiscal year or allocated somewhere else in the Northwest Territories?

Mr. Speaker, these are just some of the obstacles that NWT Housing Corporation and MACA need to address prior to the construction of the 530 units. These two departments need to immediately construct a plan to address the need for gravel materials for those communities without a year-round access to granular material.

Mr. Speaker, as I indicated earlier, the Beaufort-Delta community needs ample time to plan for the infrastructure needs and require the necessary funds to address these needs. I encourage the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation, MACA to immediately contact the appropriate municipal organizations in Nunakput to help them prepare for these infrastructure requirements. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as advertised, I held a meeting with my constituents at Range Lake North School last night and, although the turnout was not large, it was a valuable and substantial opportunity for me to get an input from my constituents on a number of issues that are before us here in the House and also to hear from them about what's important to them.

Mr. Speaker, I can tell you that we spoke and listened about the new affordable housing initiative, the Yellowknife educational facilities plan, the Deh Cho Bridge project, and lots and lots about a whole issue surrounding WCB, a topic I will speak about later in the session, Mr. Speaker. But another permanent, prominent issue that was raised, which ties into many of the topics I've already mentioned, has to do with the cost of living and cost of doing business in the city.

Mr. Speaker, in terms of how important it is for the government to do all it can to help keep these costs and be mindful of that task in all decisions that it makes. Mr. Speaker, every bit of increase in fuel, power, labour costs, WCB rates and other forms of taxes, have a major impact on running of small businesses. Believe it or not, Mr. Speaker, even though Yellowknife is booming, a lot of national chains consider Yellowknife a very unstable market due to the high cost of doing business.

Mr. Speaker, I'm very proud to represent a riding that has so many businesses that enhance the quality of living for Yellowknifers and the NWT residents. Just this coming weekend I'll have the honour of partaking in the ribbon cutting of another new business, M & M Meats.

But, Mr. Speaker, I have to tell you that the overriding concern constituents had was with keeping Yellowknife's cost of doing business competitive to Alberta because that's who we compete with. Edmonton is who we are competing with and if we're going to continue to have the kind of businesses that we have, and if we're going to continue to have people move here and stay here, and overall to benefit those who have always been here, it is very important for the government to always be mindful about the accumulative effects of all the little costs and the taxes and all the measures that it takes that impacts on doing business for the North. So, Mr. Speaker, I'm happy to share that today. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Members' statement. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my statement today has to deal with the announcement that Mr. Miltenberger announced yesterday in terms of Disability Awareness Week. I'd like to say that I fully support the initiative that the Minister has taken this government in terms of creating awareness for people in the Northwest Territories during this week to June the 3rd, the theme for living, working, and staying together, including people with disabilities.

Mr. Speaker, this issue here is very close to my heart as my grandfather was disabled in a wheelchair. I'd like to ask this government here, in terms of when will this government look at the Sahtu region and consider funding sources for disability to help set up our region for people with disabilities? He did mention several communities and I was quite upset yesterday in terms of the communities of my region I work with. I know they've been asking me for funding to work with the disabilities and help people in this special need in their life and that this government does fail to recognize that. Maybe because we don't have a road or maybe because we don't have the connection to the rest of the Northwest Territories, as the other residents, we're left out of this here. So just shame on this government to recognize this and not include the people in the Sahtu. It's almost like the Sahtu people who are in the special fields should boycott the disability week and not have anything to do with this special whole week for people with disabilities. We're shut out the door on this and really that's caused a disability for our people in the region. There are some good people here who have disabilities and do the job and make a contribution to the community and we're not taking them into consideration. There are other communities who have it and there's also other communities that would, with healthy people, and this funding is for three years. We're shut out of this funding for three years by people. So why bother?

I certainly won't share the much enthusiasm with the Minister during this week in terms of the awareness week, so I wanted to say that. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It's my job to challenge the government in order to encourage them to provide the highest quality of life for our people that we represent. Today I wish to speak about the lack of innovation by this government and the lack of encouragement it is offering our local northern innovators. The Association for the Study of Peak Oil points out that we are on the verge of a massive global oil shortage which will result in the skyrocketing oil prices some day soon. But thankfully, Mr. Speaker, the sky isn't falling today. Although imagine what that will do to a territory that is so dependent on fuels for heating and transportation. Mr. Speaker, our government should know that we are not prepared. We have not done enough to establish alternative energy sources to protect us. What are we doing about creating innovative energy programs? What are we doing to encourage innovation, period?

Mr. Speaker, innovation is a strong characteristic of northerners, and I think the ENR Minister would know that personally. Today I wish to mention about an innovative Yellowknifer who has gone above and beyond to take on new technology to establish smart and wise energy usage. This constituent is using geothermal technology to heat his house. He will be investing his own money in this project; he will be heating his home and his water using heat from the earth. So now he'll be saying goodbye to 90 percent of his home heating oil bill, Mr. Speaker, and I'm sure he won't miss it one ounce. This constituent, as I do, believes that this government should be interested and seriously looking into types of technology so we can take care of our future and become real partners in our future together. The Department of ENR has offered him advice, Mr. Speaker, but not capital. I said advice; and in this constituent's words, it could be better described as a pat on the back. Even local non-profit agencies such as the Arctic Energy Alliance have had the foresight to help invest money in this project by helping this constituent on this great adventure.

Geothermal technology is already being used across Canada. It's not a new concept, so our government should

be willing to get on board, even on a small scale. I'm very concerned about our future and most certainly where we're being driven because whoever's in the driver's seat needs to take off those blinders to see the signs and where we're going. This territory is an amazing place, Mr. Speaker, and it deserves...

Mr. Speaker, may I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement? Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. As I said just a moment ago, this territory is truly an amazing place and its residents deserve innovation from our government and definitely need a reward program that encourages innovation. Mr. Speaker, we need creative thinking and we need it now. I will continue to do my job by challenging the ENR Minister to look out for the best interests of our constituents and our people and to safeguard our future. So later today, Mr. Speaker, I will have thought-provoking questions, which I'm sure the Minister already knows we have a problem out there, and I'm hoping he'll have the courage to help deal with them. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, living in the Northwest Territories, we have always had to live with the high cost of living. That is just one of the prices we pay for being up here. Recently, Mr. Speaker, the Public Utilities Board approved a rider increase that has leadership and residents of the Beaufort-Delta very upset. That is putting it mildly. They didn't even contact the Town of Inuvik to see how the rate would affect their community. Does the board not do their research to see if there are other ways to save money and not always have to let the consumer pay? Were they not set up to protect the consumers much as rubberstamp everything that is put in front of them?

Mr. Speaker, two of the five board members no longer live in the NWT, so how can we expect them to look after the best interests of the NWT from down south? I would suggest, Mr. Speaker, that if board members leave the NWT, then they give up their positions that can be filled by people still living here. I am not questioning anybody's qualifications or abilities, Mr. Speaker. The point that I am trying to make is that board positions that were created to regulate the utility cost of the NWT should be filled by residents of the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Members' statements. Returns to oral questions. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It gives me pleasure to recognize in the gallery a group of provincial and territorial directors from the early childhood education and care from across Canada ranging from Newfoundland to British Columbia, to the Yukon and Nunavut. With them are some of their northern hosts from the Early Childhood Program in Education, Culture and Employment. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. I would like to welcome everyone in the gallery today. If we missed anybody, it is certainly a pleasure to have an audience in here, so welcome and I hope you are enjoying the proceedings. Oral questions. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Minister of Justice, Mr. Bell.

Mr. Speaker, it is very difficult for me to comment on actual sentencing because that is under the purview of the courts, but I would agree that we need to have support and resources in our communities for those who need treatment. There is a lot of discussion currently around the use of conditional sentencing. I know the Members are all aware of the federal proposal to hold conditional sentencing and use it only for less serious crimes and not allow it in situations where violent crimes have been committed, sex crimes, crimes against

children. It is certainly something that I support that we not use conditional sentences in those cases. But in terms of the latitude that the courts and judges have now, that is not something that we are obviously involved in. But I would say that, as a government, we have a responsibility to ensure that there are community resources to deal with addictions. We are certainly working on a number of initiatives. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think that the Minister and everyone in this room or Chamber know that the community resources are not there to deal with drug addictions in many cases and particularly in the smaller communities. To sentence people to house arrest who are drug addicted seems like a bit of a recipe for disaster or for failure for those individuals. I would like to ask the Minister if he has room in the jails for these people. If we don't have the resources to provide counselling and help for these people who are drug addicted, does he have room in his jails for them today? Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Bell.

Mr. Speaker, obviously, it is not our hope or intention that we set people up to fail and somehow they end up back in our court system and back into our jails. We do need to do a comprehensive job as a government, making sure there are treatment options. We need to work in our corrections system to make sure that those who are in our facilities have access to these supports. I think we do a number of things that are very good. Are there needs and are there gaps? Yes, there are, Mr. Speaker. I would certainly acknowledge that. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Mr. Speaker, this is my final question. I wonder if the Minister would commit to working with the Minister of Health and Social Services to do a cost-benefit analysis on providing those resources in the communities to deal with those folks who are in court as a result of drug addictions to see which is the more economic and humane route for this government to provide the resources to support those people in their efforts to get away from those addictions, or to look at the cost of where they are ultimately going to end up and that is in jail. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.