This is page numbers 1 - 34 of the Hansard for the 15th Assembly, 6th Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was going.

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Bill Braden

Bill Braden Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is a gift; it is a tremendous gift that we have set before us, Mr. Speaker, and that is the decision of the Mackenzie Valley pipeline consortium to delay the start of the proposed gas pipeline.

Mr. Speaker, that is because we have at least two more years to work this project to get even greater advantage from it. Mr. Speaker, we have already invested amazing resources into aspects such as employment and literacy to enable our people to take the best advantage of the job opportunities that are going to come. We know that our infrastructure is lagging. We know we need to make more investment into the roads, schools, waters and the waste systems in our communities. We know that our social services need more development. The NGOs need more services and support so that they can be ready for the impacts this project is going to bring.

Mr. Speaker, this Assembly has given, in the past few weeks, tremendous attention to the environment. We have so much more that we can do to lessen the environmental impact of this mammoth project. The private sector can always use more time to arrange its investments and its infrastructure to take advantage of it. Mr. Speaker, now is the time to take advantage of the time to secure the $500 million socio-economic impact fund to have that delivered before this project gets started. Why should we be waiting for the NEB and Imperial Oil to decide on money that the federal government has already committed to us? It makes no sense to hold off on this commitment. As well, Mr. Speaker, we should be looking at expanding its application to other communities that surely will be affected by this mammoth project. The big prizes, Mr. Speaker, the ones we know we deserve, resource revolution...

Some Hon. Members

Revolution!

Some Hon. Members

Yeah!

Bill Braden

Bill Braden Great Slave

Yes, resource revolution and devolution are the ones that we must achieve. Despite the promises of the Prime Minister, despite the optimism of the Premier, it is going to take more time to iron these funding issues out between Ottawa, the provinces and the territories. Let's use that to our very best advantage.

Mr. Speaker, with new leadership here and in Ottawa over the next few months, we are going to have time to bring new plans to bear and get those deals in place for the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

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

Construction Of The Tuktoyaktuk-inuvik All-weather Highway
Item 4: Members' Statements

March 12th, 2007

Page 6

Calvin Pokiak

Calvin Pokiak Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I will talk for a moment that the Minister of Transportation was going to announce the Tuk-Inuvik highway funding.

---Applause

Mr. Speaker, with the escalating cost now to $16.2 billion reported yesterday for the construction of the projected forecast start date by 2014 of the Mackenzie gas project, this government needs to look at alternatives to promote economic development in the Beaufort-Delta.

Mr. Speaker, the annual construction of the 200-kilometre ice road between Tuk and Inuvik is a blessing for the community of Tuktoyaktuk because it enables residents to visit friends and grocery shop. We know it costs an average of $400,000 a year to construct and maintain this ice road. This brings me to raise the construction of a 22-kilometre access road to source 177 and the all-weather road between Tuk and Inuvik.

I first heard of the Tuk-Inuvik highway in 1978 as a hamlet councillor in Tuk. Mr. Speaker, construction of the 22-kilometre access road to source 177 and the Tuk-Inuvik highway will bring economic and municipal benefits to local businesses and contractors for the community of Tuktoyaktuk and the eventual Inuvik businesses and contractors if the federal government can provide funds for the construction of the Tuk-Inuvik highway. I say this because it is a long-term municipal requirement of the Hamlet of Tuk by way of access to a new landfill site, potential water source and a year-round gravel source for the community and will provide employment for the people in the Beaufort-Delta.

Mr. Speaker, I know the construction of new highways is a federal responsibility, and I appreciate the efforts of our Premier and the Minister of Transportation for the Mackenzie Valley and the Inuvik-Tuk highway through the documents, Connecting Canada from Coast to Coast to Coast and Corridors of Canada, II. Acknowledgement of these documents by the federal and territorial governments is one thing, but in order for it to become a reality, the construction of the access road to source 177 and the Tuk-Inuvik highway, we need to access funds and hope they will be included and identified in the upcoming budget. If not, I may have to take my colleague's advice, the Honourable Mr. Robert McLeod, and invite the Minister of Transportation and request to purchase two picks, two shovels and one quad so we can start the highway. Mr. Speaker, I would like to request unanimous consent to conclude my statement. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

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

Calvin Pokiak

Calvin Pokiak Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. Mr. Speaker, if not, I will have to take my colleague's advice, the Honourable Robert McLeod, and invite the Minister of Transportation and request to purchase two picks, two shovels and one quad so we can start the Tuk-Inuvik highway.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, the Premier and Minister of Transportation must continue to vigorously lobby the federal government to access funds for the construction of a Tuk-Inuvik highway because it will bring prosperity and economic benefits to the residents of the Beaufort-Delta region. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

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

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I, too, am concerned about the recent announcement of the $16.2 billion that they said it was going to cost to build the Mackenzie Valley pipeline. I represent the riding in an

area that has a lot to gain from the construction of a pipeline and we have a lot to lose. It is starting to bother me, Mr. Speaker, as to money that these people are hoping Ottawa gives them. We ask for a little bit of money for some royalties and they are asking in the billions of dollars. Chances are that they are going to get it. They hold something like the pipeline to their advantage to try and get that money out of Ottawa. They stand to profit billions and billions of dollars, and yet they go and ask the government for some money like they really need it. We are the people that need the money, Mr. Speaker. We really do.

An Hon. Member

Hear! Hear!

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

I don't think they need any fiscal enhancement. I have been a strong supporter of this pipeline and I will continue to be, because there will be some economic benefit to the people that I represent and people of the Northwest Territories. But it is starting to bother me as to the amount of money that the proponents are asking for to build this pipeline.

I have been here for just over two years, Mr. Speaker, and I have come to admire my colleagues and the eloquent way that they put things. I say something stinks; they say it has an unpleasant odour to it.

---Laughter

Mr. Speaker, from what I have seen so far and all the talk that has been going on, this whole business with the pipeline and everything that goes on with it and the politics that goes on with it is really starting to have an unpleasant odour to it, Mr. Speaker. That unpleasant odour is not the natural gas. Thank you.

---Laughter

---Applause

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

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

World Water Day
Item 4: Members' Statements

Page 7

Robert Villeneuve

Robert Villeneuve Tu Nedhe

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I just want to draw some public attention to next week, March 22nd, being designated as the World Water Day by the United Nations General Assembly back in 1992. Mr. Speaker, the World Water Day is an international day of observance and action to draw attention to the plight of the more than one billion, or 20 percent, of the people worldwide who lack access to clean, safe drinking water, something many northerners cannot relate to due to the fact that we are surrounded by thousands of clear lakes and clear rivers.

Mr. Speaker, I just want to mention some simple but maybe even quite disturbing facts that we don't hear too much about here in the NWT with respect to water. Mr. Speaker, the lack of safe, clean drinking water is estimated to kill approximately 4,500 children per day. That is one every 14 seconds, Mr. Speaker. Ten kids will die even before I finish my Member's statement, and 120 before we all finish our Members' statements, Mr. Speaker. That is pretty disturbing to me. Mr. Speaker, the problem is not confined to any particular region of the planet. It is a worldwide issue. Although the task of addressing such a huge issue may seem quite daunting to many who may want to get involved, the modest actions of many individuals can make an extraordinary difference. So I encourage everyone to mark your calendars and go out and show your support on March 22nd to the organizations and the NGOs that are working towards developing a unified approach to addressing the disappearance of our safe, clean drinking water that condemns billions of people to a perpetual struggle for survival every day. So on March 22nd I encourage everyone to go out and make your difference. Thank you.

---Applause

World Water Day
Item 4: Members' Statements

Page 7

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

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

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I was reviewing the report commissioned by Alternatives North on the Mackenzie gas project. The report notes that most of the income and employment will accrue to individuals outside of the NWT. The MGP Socio-Economic Agreement and the employment benefits the NWT can derive from it need to be examined and work needs to be done to ensure maximum benefits stay here in the North. Section 2.1.1 states that up to 16 percent of direct employment opportunities during construction and up to 72 percent during operation, Mr. Speaker, should be filled by NWT residents. But, Mr. Speaker, let's point out the obvious. We're hard pressed these days to find a tradesperson to work in the comfort of your warm, cozy home, let alone on the pipeline. Now let's look at approximately 800 physical, demanding jobs in the middle of nowhere in the middle of winter for our constituents and residents. I'm sure they can hardly wait.

The fact is, about 60 to 65 percent of the employment demands will be for jobs that typically require some level of post-secondary education. In fact, section 2.4.1 of the MGP Socio-Economic Agreement states that the MGP will require prospective workers to obtain appropriate education, training skills and experience. Mr. Speaker, that's before being hired.

As recent as 2005, ECE commissioned a report that says that the majority of the current available labour supply has less than high school as their education level and recently little job experience. Indeed, as a clear example, Aurora College was forced to suspend its Nursing Program due to the lack of qualified northern candidates. There was a total of 343 high school graduates in 2005, Mr. Speaker, and I think there's chances that not all of those 343 high school graduates will want to work on this pipeline.

In June 2006 there were only 1,600 people in total looking for work. Again, how many of those would be suited for a life in the oil and gas industry; a life that can be hard, with labour and rotational work schedules in camp, Mr. Speaker? It's a tough life and it's tough at home. This isn't a lifestyle for everyone. Every industry in the NWT is suffering from the lack of skilled people for highly demanding jobs. This pipeline will put even more demands.

I'm concerned that we won't have the trained bodies to fill these oil and gas project positions, thereby losing out on the so-called...

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

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

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

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

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

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.

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Even with the delay, I'm concerned that we will not have the trained bodies with enough skills to get those types of beneficial jobs. I'm even concerned that residents of this territory won't be in management positions. Management positions are where residents have some ability to be part of the controlling destiny of this project.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, I will be asking the Education Minister, at the appropriate time, what his plans are with the surmounting education problem and lack of training for people out there to be prepared for this, even though we now have more time to put back on the clock to get our people ready. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

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

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty North Slave

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker...(English not provided)

Mr. Speaker, I'd like to send my condolences and prayers to the family of Adele Wedawin of Behchoko, a well-respected 95-year-old, who passed on this past Sunday. Our prayers are with the family, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to focus at the same time on the elders' situation in our community.

Mr. Speaker, the Tlicho Community Services Agency operates the Jimmy Erasmus Seniors' Home in Behchoko. It is a residential facility that accommodates eight elders whose needs are classified as level two and level three care. This means that, although they are considered to be somewhat independent and mobile on walkers or wheelchairs, they are still very fragile and require 24-hour medical care.

Mr. Speaker, from a regional perspective, the Jimmy Erasmus Seniors' Home is a facility that can accommodate elders from our five communities. Tlicho culture and traditions support that elders provide that ongoing sense of connectedness to our land and our language. Rather than having the elders removed from the Tlicho region, it is healthier for the elders, their families, and our communities to have the elders remain close to home.

Mr. Speaker, the facility was completed in 1986 and it's owned by NWT Housing Corporation, which is responsible for the maintenance of the building. There have been issues of groundwater accumulation, removal in the crawlspaces, the presence of mould in some areas of the facility, condensation in the roof structure, damaged flooring and deterioration of plumbing lines, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the groundwater accumulation and the condensation in the roof structure has contributed to dampness and mould in the building. The presence of mould in some of the rooms of the facility poses a huge concern for the community of Behchoko, especially the elders. Mahsi.

---Applause

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

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

Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I want to say that this morning I went to a conference down in Ndilo at the community gym and, Mr. Speaker, I was taken aback by the number people that were there from right across the Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker, I spoke at this conference and they were talking about the residential school action that the government has taken and, of course, the Northwest Territories government has supported it in terms of helping the survivors. But, Mr. Speaker, I was there in terms of a presenter and talking about our experience as survivors, and, Mr. Speaker, there were women there, there were men there, there were young people there, there were leaders there from our communities there, also from the Assembly of First Nations. They were sitting there talking amongst themselves as how and what they can do as people in the Northwest Territories in terms of helping our own people. There are people in our region who are looking for answers or looking for support and looking for ways to deal with the residential school issues. They know that the payment that this government is proceeding with won't be enough. It's not about the money, people have said; it's there because of a legal process. It's there on behalf of the government saying they're sorry for wrongs they've done to a nation of people that took away their children -- I was one of them, I was six years old -- and how the devastating effects being taken away from your parents, your home community, your language and your culture and the damage it has on you in terms of the ripple effects. These people are looking for help from this government here.

I certainly hope this government has some time to go down and meet with these people in Ndilo, sit with these people who are hurting, sit with the women who are hurting and wondering what's wrong with their children or grandchildren or even what's wrong with themselves, or with men who are there looking for help.

Mr. Speaker, this residential school issue, there's 213 elders 60 years and over in the Sahtu. These elders need help in terms of experience. We put them through the wringer on a number of processes. Let's get out there. Let's help them. Let's get our history straight. Let's have this history of the residential school once and for all something I can stand up and say it does not have an effect on our life anymore. Thank you.

---Applause

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

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