Orders of the day. Ministers' statements. Honourable Minister of Transportation, Mr. Menicoche.

Mr. Speaker...(English not provided)

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to advise that construction of the Yellowknife passenger terminal building improvements project was recently completed.

---Applause

This project was initiated in response to the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority, CATSA, requirement for a security system at the Yellowknife Airport to screen all checked baggage for explosive devices. This system was operational ahead of the January 1, 2006, deadline.

Along with the changes for the new security measures, the department also carried out a number of improvements to the building that will ensure that the Yellowknife Airport will continue to serve as an effective and efficient hub for northern air transportation. Some of the specific improvements included:

• • construction of new air carrier offices, ticket counters and a second inbound baggage claim area;
• • expansion of the north apron; and
• • expansion of the departure lounge, including washrooms and provisions for food services.

Mr. Speaker, the expansion of the passenger terminal building and airside apron will enable us to handle the surge in aircraft and passenger movements now being generated by resource development in the Northwest Territories. This project will help to facilitate future changes to air services to Yellowknife.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the members of the public for their ongoing patience and understanding during the construction of the Yellowknife passenger terminal building improvements. With the cooperation of all airport users, the Department of Transportation was able to keep disruptions to a minimum. I am very pleased that the work has been completed and normal operations have resumed.

In closing, I am confident that we are well positioned to meet any new air transportation challenges and that the Yellowknife Airport will continue well into the future to satisfy the travelling public needs for a safe and secure air transportation system. Mahsi.

---Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I'd like to stand and speak to the plight of our non-government organizations to continually have to fight for money year after year. Mr. Speaker, we're talking a lot of first-contact groups in the communities that deal with a lot of the social issues. They're the first people that a lot of people seeking help will go to and they're usually the last in the pecking order as far as handing out money goes, and that's not fair to them, Mr. Speaker. They provide an essential service to residents and they should not have to worry every year whether they're going to get their money or not, or whether they're going to get it on time. A lot of these agencies have boards and they're being dictated as to how they're supposed to spend their money. Boards really don't have much authority over how they spend their money. The funding agency, the people that give them the money, will tell them how to spend it and that's not fair to these organizations, Mr. Speaker.

They do provide, like I said, an essential service and it's hard work. You think it's eight hours a day but, in most cases, it's not; it's 24/7. A lot of these people do their work with a lot of passion, with a good heart, and they believe strongly in what they do. To have to put these people and the NGOs through this every year is really not fair to them, Mr. Speaker.

It's time that we had a look at all the non-government organizations that run a good organization, and look at having some multi-year funding for them so they can concentrate on the work at hand, Mr. Speaker, and not have to worry about the finances.

They do provide, as I said, an essential service, a much needed service. It's a service that I think as we go further down the road here, we're going to find that more and more residents need these services a lot more. So this government, Mr. Speaker, should do our part in ensuring that all they have to worry about is providing the service to the people and not have to worry about their financing every year. Thank you.

---Applause

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

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. The tourism industry is a very dynamic and dramatic one around the world, and here in the NWT, Mr. Speaker, we have incredible opportunity and potential to advance this industry to diversify our economy. These days, though, this is an industry under siege, Mr. Speaker. Our aurora visitation across the NWT is down considerably, Mr. Speaker, and in some quarters sports hunting, which is a lucrative aspect, because of the concern that we have for species, including polar bear and caribou, is also under some threat.

Mr. Speaker, tourism is an industry that has a strong and sustained level of competition not only from within the industry itself, but also among governments that compete with each other through taxation, through fees, through subsidies that attract and enable tourism to thrive in their various jurisdictions.

Mr. Speaker, we have a serious situation before us where the federal government has signalled that it is going to, through a change in its GST legislation, now add 6 percent to the cost of tourist packages that are sold outside of Canada. This is a brand new tax for this product, Mr. Speaker, and it is one that adds absolutely no value to what a visitor from outside of Canada is going to receive here and it hurts this industry because it is going to impose a brand new 6 percent cost barrier to our attractiveness and our competitiveness.

Mr. Speaker, this is something that the aurora industry, the sports hunting industry, conventions that attract people in from all over the world to the NWT is going to feel the pain from this and it is something that I know across Canada has raised a particular amount of protest and attention and we should be signalling our protest from the Northwest Territories as well. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, further to our discussion about the dementia facility project yesterday, I'd like to take this opportunity to speak about where this project is at, from my point of view, for the benefit of many in our community who desperately would like to see this project happen.

Mr. Speaker, I'd like to begin by saying that I feel more optimistic than ever before that if all the parties involved give their best efforts, it is very possible to see some concrete results toward having this project included in the business plan in the near future. Mr. Speaker, we know that there's no question about the need for this government to step in to address the need for long-term care programs and facilities for seniors, which will only grow in future. We also know that a designated dementia/Alzheimer's facility in Yellowknife is only one piece in the larger picture of the need to have adequate seniors' facilities and programs in all major regional centres.

We know that the Standing Committee on Social Programs has repeatedly supported a dementia centre in Yellowknife and this larger objective we need to keep in mind. Mr. Speaker, we also know that the previous Minister had approved $1 million for planning of this project, which was not completely accessible because the scope of the project had to be reprofiled.

Within a month of the new Minister of Health and Social Services taking over the portfolio, we know that he met

with the YACCS board to go over where we are with this project, and I believe it was strongly suggested that a price tag of $20 million-plus would have difficulty finding a place in our capital infrastructure plan. But a reprofiled and rescoped project that would bring the price tag down to a reasonable level, about two-thirds of that, is something that he's willing to look at, and has instructed his staff to work with the YACCS to work together to achieve that.

In talking with people at the YACCS, Mr. Speaker, I know that they have been working diligently to make this happen. Mr. Speaker, we also know that this is a normal process of getting a capital project into the planning process. A lot of work has to go in, in putting together a capital project documentation and get through the competitive process, through the line department's budget process, and then at the Cabinet level, and then through the standing committee review process before any budget item makes it into the House for a vote. We also know that approval of no capital project is a certain thing until it's voted in the House as we're doing in this session, but the first step is to work through the business planning process and get it into the government's business plan, and I believe this project is making progress in that regard.

Mr. Speaker, may I seek unanimous consent to complete my statement?

The Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude her statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. You may conclude your statement, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. Mr. Speaker, people involved in this project, especially the staff and the board of YACCS, have been working on this for too long and too hard and I would hate to see this project not be included.

They have to go through this process all over again with the next Assembly and next government who may want to do everything afresh, as any new government is entitled to do, but one that would certainly result in another long delay.

I would like to thank the Minister for the leadership he is taking on this file, and would like to call upon all the parties involved in this project to do everything they can to make it into the business plan process for this summer. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Members' statements. The honourable Member for Thebacha, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on the banks of the Hay River where it enters into Great Slave Lake by Hay River, there's about 40 million litres of fuel stored in barges, single-hulled old barges. We're not sure of their condition, we're not sure if they've been certified, inspected, but they're on the waterway that leads directly into Great Slave Lake, are on the lake down to the Mackenzie into the Arctic Ocean. I consider this to be a significant environmental hazard and a very high-risk operation. For whatever reason, it has happened. On land it would be unequivocally denied. It would be illegal under our laws and under our regulation. In fact, on land, we've just increased the requirements for storage of fuels.

Homeowners now have to pull their tanks out of the basements; they have to be double walled. Industry has to have higher standards of storage. Yet on water, we're forced to stand helplessly by because the federal government has jurisdiction and authority but no regulation. All they can offer are suggestions in terms of the storage. Is there an emergency measures plan? Is there a spill plan? How do you respond to a spill if there is one, God forbid, and it goes under the ice and starts working its way to the lake and downriver?

The federal government is moving towards double-hulled barges, but these barges have had their use changed from barges to storage facilities. It is a circumstance that not only we struggle with, but the people in Baker Lake woke up to find the same circumstance in their community as well. When we say the federal government has responsibility, they do. But we can't count on the federal government to look after our best interests and we see this in many cases. This is a very clear case in point. This is a hazard to the waterway; it's a hazard to the community. If there's a fire, if something happens around Hay River, what is to be done? How often are the tanks dipped? We know that accidents happen because NTCL had a punctured barge that leaked fuel all the way from Tuk to Kugluktuk before it was discovered, releasing we're not sure how much fuel. So we have a circumstance here that is high risk and, in my mind, unacceptable and hopefully will not happen again. Later today I will be asking the Minister questions about the plans in terms of emergency response and monitoring. Thank you.

---Applause.

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

(Translation) Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. On a recent visit to the North Slave Correctional Centre, I met with inmates from Tlicho community and we discussed various programming being delivered at the centre. It was apparent that the majority of these programs did not reflect the needs of Tlicho inmates and highlighted the need for programs in the Tlicho speaking residents. In a facility like North Slave Correctional Centre, there are many challenges that inmates face on a daily basis. A challenge that they should not have to struggle with is language barriers.

Mr. Speaker, during my visit I couldn't help but notice that the centre was full-time Chipewyan speaking...(Translation ends)

...communities and we discussed various programming being delivered at the centre. It was apparent that the majority of these programs did not reflect the needs of Tlicho inmates and highlighted the need for programs aimed at Tlicho speaking residents. Mr. Speaker, in a

facility like North Slave Correctional Centre there are many challenges that inmates face on a daily basis. A challenge that they should not have to struggle with is language barriers.

Mr. Speaker, during my visit I could not help but notice that the centre has a full-time Chipewyan speaking person employed who can assist with language barriers some inmates might have. In the centre there must be at least over 20 people who speak the Tlicho language from the Tlicho communities, Mr. Speaker, yet there is no Tlicho speaking counsellor in the facility. These kinds of numbers should demand a full-time Tlicho speaking counsellor to assist with those who might have language difficulties.

Mr. Speaker, from what the inmates were sharing, they were told to be the interpreters when one is needed. Mr. Speaker, this should not be the case. An outside Tlicho speaking counsellor should be brought in to help assist unilateral inmates and that option should be made available to all Tlicho residents.

Mr. Speaker, part of the vision for correction services is the commitment that the correction services shall be the leader of facilitation of holistic healing in a progressive manner that meets the unique needs of offenders and a contribution to a safe community. Mr. Speaker, I'll have questions for the Minister at a later point. Thanks.

---Applause

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

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Today, Mr. Speaker, I'd just like to acknowledge and commend the good work of two of my constituents who are working here in the House as Pages for the week of this session.

Ursula Unka, on your right, and Adreana Boucher are both Grade 8 students at Deninu Kue. They have been enjoying their stay here in the capital. I think it's interesting to note, Mr. Speaker, that Adreana Boucher, on your left, was selected to represent Deninu Kue at the NWT Winter Games being held in Fort Simpson this weekend to play basketball, but she gave up her spot on the team in order to complete her work here at the Legislative Assembly. How nice is that?

---Applause

Adreana, who also considers herself a tomboy -- and she didn't mind me saying that -- also had no choice but to face one of her greatest personal challenges, and that is to put on a skirt and put her hair in a ponytail, along with hairpins, for the very first time, Mr. Speaker.

---Laughter

She felt very self-conscious and uncomfortable at first, but it has been two, three days now and this is something Adreana has come to terms with. I asked her what made her change. Her reply was only the money made me do this. I thought that was a good answer.

The type of commitment and the interest that Adreana and Ursula have made in the Legislative Assembly for seatings is certainly commendable, not to mention very encouraging, especially for our youth in the smaller and more remote communities who do not always have the opportunity to experience something as wonderful as this. I just want to thank Ursula and Adreana for agreeing to come to Yellowknife to work as Pages. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I'm going to talk about the employment training and recruitment and procurement. Mr. Speaker, a joint review panel has been conducting hearings across the Northwest Territories over the past year and a half. Last week they held hearings in Yellowknife to discuss employment, training, recruitment and procurement. Mr. Speaker, I had an opportunity to attend on one occasion to listen to what the interveners and proponents had to say. I noticed that the Department of Education, Culture and Employment was one of the many interveners in attendance to discuss employment training, recruitment and procurement.

Mr. Speaker, earlier this week, CBC reported on the involvement of government and interveners' involvement to question the proponents on the employment training and recruitment and the procurement of the upcoming pipeline. Mr. Speaker, the chair of the JRP asked each interviewer if they had any questions for the proponents. Unfortunately, there was no response by the interveners, including the Department of Education, Culture and Employment. Mr. Speaker, is this because the hearings are dragging along or is it because government has all the information that it requires to make the decisions that they can make to address all the answers for the rest of the Northwest Territories?

Mr. Speaker, employment, training, recruitment, and procurement are important issues that need to be addressed and planned to ensure that our people are ready for fulfilling these qualified jobs if the pipeline is approved. The government needs to be proactive on the JRP on any proceedings for the benefit of the people of the Northwest Territories.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, in future public hearings I would expect more involvement by the government in questioning the proponents, because they represent the people of the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to speak today about aurora tourism here in the Northwest Territories. In the year 2000, there were over 13,000 Japanese tourists who came to the territory to view our

aurora filled night skies. The unprecedented terrorist attacks of September 11th cast a very large shadow over the entire tourism industry throughout North America. The year after the attacks, the number of Japanese visitors had been cut over half, to roughly 6000. From 2002 to 2005, our numbers showed a steady increase to just over 10,000 visitors. Preliminary numbers would suggest that the 2006 numbers will be approximately the same. What is troublesome is that it looks as though the numbers for this season are down substantially from last year.

Mr. Speaker, research would suggest that we do have some competition in the aurora viewing market. Alaska, Yukon, and northern Alberta are all showing growth in Japanese visitation. The industry needs and demands the attention of our government to take the necessary action to ensure we stay competitive.

One of the bigger challenges remains: the number of flight connections and difficulty the Japanese visitors experience in getting to the Northwest Territories. Both Whitehorse and Fairbanks have the ability to handle large, fully-loaded charter aircrafts such as the 747 and 767. This certainly gives them an advantage. Now that charters are in play, they have cut the flying time from 20 hours to seven hours to get to Fairbanks. This year seven direct charter flights of 747s will be bringing more than 2,200 Japanese visitors to Alaska. In Yellowknife, we've been talking about extending the runway to handle large charter aircraft for years, but it still remains not a reality.

In 2004, the Department of ITI spent $250,000 on the Aurora Recovery Program, which worked to brand the Northwest Territories as the destination for aurora viewing in Japan. This money was leveraged with CTC money to put almost $1 million into the branding effort in Japan.

Mr. Speaker, given the fact that competition is getting more noticeable and numbers are down, what is the government's plan to help this industry become more competitive? Tourism 2010 speaks of an additional $14 million being spent in marketing of key leisure markets which includes aurora viewing. How realistic is that number? Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Minister of ITI at the appropriate time. Mahsi.

---Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have a pressing need in Hay River. We have a medical clinic which has existed, I don't know how long, but prior to my arriving in Hay River 32 years ago.

A medical clinic is a public building frequented by many residents on any given day. There are two physical problems with getting into our clinic. One is the door configuration. The door is heavy and it has no automatic door opener. Secondly, there is no barrier-free access to our clinic. This is particularly unacceptable, given that most people going to the medical clinic are unwell, injured, recovering from injuries, or elderly.

New buildings built in Hay River are required to have barrier-free access to meet the National Building Code. Buildings leased by government must be barrier-free. Older buildings have been modified, ramps have been built, door openers have been installed. Federal buildings, such as our post office, have been brought up to compliance. Private commercial building owners have invested in compliance. So ironically why would a busy medical clinic not have barrier-free, easy access?

The community has made many accommodations, the Town of Hay River, in the construction of sidewalks, curbs, ramps, and how could a building owned by this government be allowed or want to fail to respond to this issue?

Mr. Speaker, when I asked the Minister yesterday in Committee of the Whole about this issue, the response, I believe, was related to a master plan for facilities and where the Hay River clinic will ultimately be located. But, Mr. Speaker, we need action on this now. The capital plan for a new or renovated hospital is a few years out. This is 2007 and we want a medical clinic that is barrier-free for our residents and we want it now. I understand that there has been some discussion with the Hay River Health Authority about some funding to do this. It's not a huge amount of money, but I just want to stress that this is not an acceptable situation. We want it addressed right away. We cannot wait. It's unthinkable in this day and age that our government can own a building that the people in our community who have to go to a clinic cannot get in the door. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Since I was elected, I've had the fortunate pleasure to be able to meet many seniors and elders in their homes across the Northwest Territories. Some of these elders and disabled people live in homes built by and owned by the Housing Corporation. Some of these people are lucky enough to have their home accommodate their personal situation, but, Mr. Speaker, many out there are not. Simple things like having their hallways wide enough to navigate their mobility aids, like scooters or even wheelchairs, down their hallways, lowered counter tops, ramps and doorways that allow for easy access, sit-down tubs with access doors, are all designs that can make a difference between independent living with dignity or having to move into an assisted living situation.

The NWT Housing Corporation appears to be taking into account the needs of seniors and the disabled people in their recent designs. Mr. Speaker, evidence of that is the 8-plex barrier-free construction apartment that they're building in my riding, which is soon to be open.

The department is making great strides and they deserve significant credit for their efforts, but I see the need to go a bit further, Mr. Speaker, helping to ensure the present and future needs of our seniors and disabled residents are met through the housing designs the Housing Corporation funds and constructs. Initial spending on such design

features could save large sums of money in extended care costs and help elderly people keep their independence and pride as they live on their own.

Mr. Speaker, there is a need for formal policy, a clear declaration that outlines design factors and equipment that must be incorporated into any unit being built by or paid for by the NWT Housing Corporation aimed at our seniors and disabled persons. This would allow many more people to age in place and not have to be relocated into a health care environment.

Mr. Speaker, we need functional, practical designs based on best practices that meet the needs of our seniors and disabled people now and in the future. Mr. Speaker, I will be challenging the Minister later to help address this concern. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Members' statements. Returns to oral questions. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. I'd like to welcome everyone in the gallery today to the House to observe the proceedings. It's always nice to have an audience in here. Welcome to the House.

---Applause

Colleagues, before I go to the next order on the Order Paper, oral questions, I want to draw Members' attention the fact that we only had time in this House yesterday for 10 oral questions. This is in spite of the fact that you have agreed to limit the number of supplementary questions from three to two. The reason for this is that the preambles to both your main and supplementary questions were excessively long, as were the answers being provided to some of the questions.

Members, I am a servant of this House and I administer the rules that you have set for yourselves in this Chamber. However, in interpreting those rules, I have to be fair to all Members.

I will once again urge each of you to limit the preamble to your main questions to one short, carefully crafted sentence. There should be no preamble to supplementary questions. The Ministers should make every effort, a greater effort in keeping their answers short and to the point. I will do my best to assist Members in respecting these rules. Thank you, Members.

Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I said in my Member's statement today, I believe that there needs to be a firm policy document specifically outlining the required design features that should be incorporated into the Housing Corporation units for seniors and disabled persons. So can the Minister tell us whether a firm policy document exists to guide the construction of units for seniors and disabled people? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, I'm not sure what a firm policy document is, but, yes, we do have policies with regard to facilities for seniors.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister tell me today what this policy is based on? Is it based on barrier-free, visibility, or what are the policy baselines? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, it varies depending on the needs of the seniors. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Final Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

---Laughter

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister bring it forward to the House? Because it was my understanding that there was no formal policy as of a few short days ago. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, I'm not sure exactly what a formal policy means, but I will bring forward a copy of the policies that we use when dealing with seniors' housing. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Oral questions. The honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my Member's statement spoke of the need for multi-year funding for NGOs. They provide an essential service. We have to let them know that we value their service. I'd like to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services, what can we do as an Assembly to ensure that these NGOs with proven track records can be multi-funded? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we are working with the overall government direction through FMBS to look at the matter of multi-year funding with NGOs that deliver programs on our behalf. That's our first phase. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to ask the Minister, who has the authority to approve multi-year funding for NGOs? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I should, as well, say that there are a number of multi-year funding agreements in place and each department would have that ability as it reviews the programs that are delivered and the situation that would occur when it comes to multi-year funding. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Final Supplementary, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Would the Minister commit to ensuring that an NGO like the transition home in Inuvik is multi-year funded? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we will work with the appropriate authority in the area to see what can be done in that area. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Oral questions. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Braden.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question this morning is for Mr. Roland in his capacity as Minister of Finance and it addresses the federal government's stated intention to impose a 6 percent GST on offshore tourism packages. Mr. Speaker, it's important to note that this depends on the passage of federal legislation. I have suggested in this House, and so has the NWT Tourism Industry and that of Canada, that this is a very damaging and a retrograde tax. Last October, the Minister told the House that certainly the tourism rebate issue is one that will be raised for sure. Mr. Speaker, I want to ask the Minister how has he raised this issue with his federal counterpart. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. The honourable Minister of Finance, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, a number of other Ministers have had meetings with their federal counterparts. Minister Bell met with Minister Bernier and was informed at that point, that would be addressed to the federal Finance department. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Indeed, Mr. Speaker. It is the federal Finance department that has the handle on this and that is why I am addressing the question to our Minister of Finance to see what direct action he has taken to express the NWT's concern and displeasure with this potential move.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, when we have our meetings with the federal Finance department, we raise a number of issues. Our critical areas we focus on is more on our formula financing/revenue sharing side of the equation. I haven't had opportunity to speak directly to the federal Finance Minister regarding the GST situation, but we have had our discussions through department staff around that area. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Final supplementary, Mr. Braden.

This is a matter of curiosity, Mr. Speaker. If the federal government does impose this retrograde tax, does the Government of the NWT stand to benefit in any shape, or the operators in the NWT stand to benefit in any way, shape or form, from this new source of tax revenue going to the federal government?

Thank you, Mr. Braden.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am unaware if tourism businesses in the North would benefit from this move. This move would benefit the federal government. We are having some of our own discussions about a collective working arrangement with the federal government when it comes to taxes, and GST is one of those that we are having a bit of a wrestling match with ongoing just from a government-to-government basis as well. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Oral questions. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister of MACA in terms of the recent Canada Winter Games hockey team that held a clinic in Fort Good Hope. I wanted to ask the Minister about the type of support MACA is giving this group or this initiative in terms of continuing support of these small communities that receive a high calibre of coaching clinics.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don't have the specifics as to the Fort Good Hope hockey team. I would have to take that as notice, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Oral questions. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to ask questions to the Minister responsible for the Workers' Compensation Board. Mr. Speaker, we have had numerous discussions about various issues about WCB, some of those long-outstanding, chronic pain cases and such. We are aware that the Minister is working on bringing new legislation forward, a part of which would discuss the jurisdictions and rules and responsibilities of WCB and the Minister, which I think will go a long way in addressing some of the long-standing issues we are dealing with. Could I ask the Minister to give us confirmation that we will be able to see this at the beginning of March? Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. The honourable Minister responsible for the Workers' Compensation Board, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am looking forward to introducing the legislation redraft for the Workers' Compensation Act. It should be coming forward to the House the first or second week of March. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the Minister's response to the written question I had made about chronic pain policy, he indicated that there was a meeting of the Governance Council happening this week in which they will be discussing this. Could the Minister advise the House as to where we are on that issue? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I will be tabling that information in the House I believe March 9th and will be making a statement in this House with regard to that information on what is being provided to the House and also the general public.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Final supplementary, Ms. Lee.

Just for the record then, I believe the Minister is planning on making available the WCB's response to the Auditor General's report as well. So could the Minister indicate whether we should be expecting that as well?

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, that is correct. We will also be tabling information and response to the Auditor General's report and the motion that was passed in Committee of the Whole by this Legislative Assembly to address issues that were requested also in Committee of the Whole by this House. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Oral questions. The honourable Member for Thebacha, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are for the Minister of ENR with regard to the high risk storage of 40 million litres of fuel in single-hulled barges. I would like to ask the Minister whether the Department of ENR has been successful in obtaining the storage plans, the monitoring plans, the emergency response plans that were supposed to be there in relation to the storage of that fuel. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The honourable Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yes, we have been working with the company to look at their plans for cleanup for spill response and we've also been working with the federal government and our own justice system to look at the legislation we have and see if there is any way we can have this concern dealt with. It is a real concern. It's something that we have voiced to the federal government, Transport Canada, and we've also heard from Environment Canada and they have concerns. It's something we have been working towards trying to clean up the legislation and regulations

around it. I think we have our first draft ready for review. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Could the Minister explain if this is the first draft of regulation? Is it going to be legally binding or is it just an understanding among the parties? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the responsibility, and we had to go to Justice to check this, but there is confirmation that Transport Canada has the primary jurisdiction in this area. We are looking at the first draft of the regulations. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Final supplementary, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Further clarification then, please. Are these federal regulations and we are just looking it and it's going to have to go through a long federal process? Is that what the Minister is telling us?

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the regulations are under the federal government. They are working with us. I don't have an exact time frame. I would have to commit to getting that. We are also working with the company, voicing our concern, and also to the people who will be receiving this fuel. There has to be a better system set up so that they can store them on land and have our own laws and rules apply rather than have them stored in these barges. It's been a practice that's been around for about 10 years or so, Mr. Speaker. There are other areas in the NWT that are being targeted and I should also mention there are also other areas in Nunavut that are being targeted for storage in this manner and it's a concern all around from all the territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Oral questions. The honourable Member for Monfwi, Mr. Lafferty.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier I spoke about the importance of having a Tlicho speaking counsellor at North Slave Correctional Centre, so I have a question for the Minister of Justice. Can the Minister of Justice commit in this Assembly explore the possibility to add a Tlicho speaking counsellor to assess with Tlicho inmates at the Yellowknife North Slave Correctional Centre? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Minister of Justice, Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will certainly go back to the department and discuss the request. As the Member pointed out in his statement, we do have an aboriginal counsellor. He does not speak the Tlicho language. We can talk about what the need is there. We do have arrangements with elders who come in periodically from all over the regions to work with inmates, but a more formalized position like this is something I would have to take back and discuss with the department. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Supplementary, Mr. Lafferty.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on another note, I would like to ask the Minister of Justice, does the Department of Justice have any type of working contract with the Tlicho Community Services Agency to deliver various healing related programs for Tlicho inmates in the Tlicho language? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I will again check on that. I am not sure if the contracted relationship is directly through the TCSA or if it's individually with an elder or if it's through the community services agency and then to various elders, but I will get the detail and get back to the Member. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Final supplementary, Mr. Lafferty.

Mahsi, Mr Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my final note on the Tlicho Community Services Agency, since the response will be forthcoming from the Minister, can the Minister commit to a possible partnership with the agency if there is no such agreement in place to deliver such programs for Tlicho inmates in the Tlicho language? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will commit to sitting down with the Member and his leadership and discussing what the best arrangement going forward would be. I agree that if there is a need and it sounds like there is a need at the North Slave Correctional Centre to provide better programming in the Tlicho language, then I am willing to sit down and discuss that and talk about how we best do that with the leadership. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Oral questions. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Villeneuve.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, just going through some of the Bathurst caribou monitoring reviews that are going to be happening, I know the Bathurst caribou survey is planned for 2009. Two years from now, Mr. Speaker, when the crisis is right now and I think we just need action now today. We can't wait for two years. I want to ask the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, can the Minister work to get a commitment from the federal government to provide the resources required to conduct a thorough study while the iron is hot? That being right now within the year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. The honourable Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Member is referring to the Bathurst herd. We just finished our study on the Bathurst herd and the results were just provided this fall, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.