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.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. We also need to address the issue of the road deterioration beyond that immediate action. The Deh Cho connection needs to be improved and upgraded. A logical solution for a proper upgrade is to look at the chipsealing of all this Highway No. 1 and 7, then we could

truly speak of connecting the Mackenzie Highway and the Alaska Highway.

Mr. Speaker, I am looking forward to have road safety for Deh Cho residents improved and hope to see the improvements to Highways No. 1 and 7 identified as a priority and identified in any capital planning that this government may have. Mahsi cho.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Members’ statements. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, I would like to address an issue of growing concern in my constituency and the North. In the booming market of real estate, cars and telemarketing, it is obvious that the NWT legislative framework to protect consumers from scams does not go far enough. This leaves consumers vulnerable and allows for dishonest practices to go unchecked in the NWT. Consumers need to be fully protected. Current NWT laws do not require disclosure on the integrity of a house or used car and there are no regulations for telemarketing. Our protection laws are minimal and we are behind the times. We are putting residents at risk and some have already been stung by this lack of protection.

Other jurisdictions in Canada and the United States have comprehensive consumer protection laws covering a variety of disclosure requirements and spell out consumers’ rights and unfair practices. For example, Ontario’s law also addresses rights and obligations for Internet and remote purchase agreements and provides for a cooling off period when consumers enter into contracts. Consumers have rights and remedies should they find out that they bought a lemon car or they bought a house that has a leaking roof or a cracked foundation. There are serious consequences for previous owners who do not disclose this kind of information, Mr. Speaker, when they sold the song to that buyer.

It is nice to see the consumer affairs division within the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs offers consumer tip sheets. The information is so general that it can be used by the entire company so there is no reference to specific laws, rights or any type of remedies. The problem is that we have no laws that require disclosure and consequently there are no remedies because, as we all know, if the person did not receive the goods that they were promised, or bought the song that they were sold, it is their own tough luck. It falls on their own shoulders.

The Minister indicated to me that he and the department are aware of this increasing concern regarding lack of consumer protection and that he will look into it. We need to catch up to the times, Mr. Speaker. We need to catch up to the other Canadian jurisdictions as to what they have been doing for years. We need stronger comprehensive disclosure laws to protect our consumers. I urge the Minister to create a proper disclosure law as a priority in this government. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Members’ statements. Reports of standing and special committees. Returns to oral questions. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for the Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize Paul Andrew, a resident of Tulita and also recipient of the national aboriginal award that is going to happen in Toronto in 2008.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for the Deh Cho, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize a former constituent, Sarah Gargan, that used to live in Fort Providence. She is now living in Yellowknife, I believe. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. If we missed anyone in the gallery today, welcome to the House. I hope you are enjoying the proceedings. Acknowledgements. Oral questions. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this technical review that I am making reference to with respect to the Diamond Jenness Secondary School in Hay River was completed in August 2006. Might I compliment the Department of Public Works and Services for actually a very comprehensive and thorough review of the school. However, I don’t know what has been done with this information since. There aren’t too many pieces of infrastructure or buildings that would be allowed to go into this state of disrepair. There are health issues. There are safety issues. There are code issues. This is a piece of infrastructure and a building that is owned by this government. I would like to know from the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment or PWS, I guess whoever feels responsible, to tell me what has been done since this report was compiled to address the deficiencies that are identified here which are too long a list to even stand here and list. Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Lafferty.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Yes, the Member is right about the evaluation report that has been conducted in the community of Hay River. Based on the technical report, it is estimated that it will cost approximately $22 million plus in, of course, July 2006 dollars at that time, to upgrade the facility. But at the

same time, this does not take into account the relocation of the students and also the alternate location while the work is being done. Of course, there will be additional costs here. But, Mr. Speaker, I would just like to highlight that as we move forward in the 16th Assembly, we will be

discussing this as part of our capital projects among other projects for the Northwest Territories. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty.

Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have a way of assessing our priorities when it comes to capital planning in this government. It is the protection of people and the protection of assets. I would like to suggest that the people are not being well served by this building. I would suggest that this is an unhealthy building to go to school in and to work in. The asset is not being protected either, because it is being allowed to go further and further into disrepair. There are some basic, not-too-costly things that could be done to at least maintain the school until a major retrofit is done. I would like to ask the Minister, who is responsible for coordinating the maintenance of this facility? Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Lafferty.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the report again does highlight the deficiencies and also the work that needs to be done in Hay River, on the Diamond Jenness School. Also with moving forward we need to identify this as part of capital project planning. That will certainly be our discussion here with our government as we move forward and with the setting of priorities and planning which area should have the most priority for the Northwest Territories, because we do have quite a few capital projects that are in line. This will certainly be one of the issues that we will be tackling in the near future. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty.

Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, what I want to hear today is that this school is a priority on this government’s agenda. That is what I want to hear today: a priority. Now, I know there is a lot of competition for capital projects, but we have had an increase in our ability to borrow money. It has gone to $500 million now, I think. I would suggest that this is important enough that if there are competing projects, the government should borrow money to fix this problem as opposed to letting it languish. But in the meantime, will the Minister commit that the things that can be addressed will be addressed immediately? I am not talking about the major retrofit for $22 million, but the small things will be addressed immediately. Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Lafferty.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this report is in front of us. Our department will certainly look at it with the Cabinet and will be highlighting the key areas where there needs to be some renovations happening here and there. The major project, if that needs to take place, we will certainly look at that, as well. At this time, I cannot make a commitment to say we will move forward with this. We need to identify our priorities with the colleagues, as well, priorities for the 16th Assembly. Which capital projects should we pursue? At that time, we are open for discussion and moving forward with that. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Final, short supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Mr. Speaker, if I owned a building that had code deficiencies like those listed in this report, somebody who is an inspector in the government would be all over me. Who can I call to report the disrepair and the code deficiencies in this school? To whom shall I report it if it is a government building? Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Lafferty.

Mr. Speaker, this is one area that we will certainly look into with our department. We will certainly be getting back to the colleague that is asking the question. These are technical areas that we will certainly look into, as well. Mahsi.