Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, we talked about technology and how it might assist us in people having a tour of the Legislative Assembly, but one thing we do not have yet is advanced technology in this House. I was reading and noticing recently that even the town council of Hay River now have laptops on their desk for council meetings, so they don't have to have so much paper photocopied and distributed. In fact, they can just scroll down and click on the document required that they need to consider at that council meeting. That is the town council of Hay River. I guess I have often wondered why we need to continually circulate things like Ministers' statements, committee reports, things like this, when we have the perfect setup here for a desktop glass window with a keyboard that pulls out and we can just access all of our information in a modern way.

So I am very happy to hear that you can take a virtual tour with an IPod and language translation, but I think the services in this Chamber are somewhat behind the times. I just wanted to make that comment. Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Villeneuve.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I think probably this is one department that will get more praise than criticism, the only department in this whole process here that will probably be on the flipside of the coin here for once. I just wanted to say that I really have to commend the Legislative Assembly. I know I did make some references in the past about the lack of affirmative action here in the Legislative Assembly and I really have to commend the office of the Clerk and the Legislative Assembly for really forging ahead and getting some action done on the affirmative action side. I definitely have to commend them on that. They are definitely a model for all government departments, that it is doable and even at the highest House of the NWT. I think the rest of the government departments should really give them a lot of praise for carrying out that initiative in such short notice.

The APTN and our own TV channel option was always discussed here with all the Members. I was sad to see that the APTN channel went because a lot of the small communities really relied heavily on it. I still get a lot of feedback now from a lot of the smaller communities. You would be really surprised to know that there, in the small communities, they stay up until past midnight just to watch the sessions here and take part in what's going on in government. So even though it is at the wee hours of the evening, I think the tuning in of the Legislative Assembly is still really on the high priority list of a lot of people here in the NWT, especially out in the remote centres.

With regard to the technology side of things, I know there are definitely pros and cons to more technology here in the House, but I think if we keep it good and simple and put more emphasis into what actually gets discussed here as opposed to what gets distributed, I think that is the important thing to come to grips with. I was never really in favour of bringing in too much technology into the House in the first place because of distractions. But the door is still open for it anyway, so I would encourage the office of the Clerk to forge ahead and see how we can improve in that area. There's always improvement, undoubtedly; but I think what we've done so far is leaps and bounds anyway. That's all I have to say. Thank you very much.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Any further general comments?

Mr. Ramsay.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I just wanted to mention a few things for general comments. Like my colleague Mr. Villeneuve, I'm happy to see the level of employees around the building, including the affirmative action candidates. It's a very welcome addition to the building and I commend the Clerk's office for doing that.

---Applause

He should be applauded for that.

I also wanted to mention we spend a tremendous amount of time in this building, especially during session, and obviously we need to eat here. The food service has been tremendous, and I just wanted to commend the Clerk and the Speaker for the provision of that contract. I think it's good and I think most Members here, or all Members here, will stand by me on those accolades for the level of service there.

I also wanted to talk a bit about the technology. I think we have to try to either go full on with laptops or desktop computers, whatever the case may be, or we don't. Right now, I think it's a bit of a grey area with Members and it's something we need to get some clarity on. Some Members today are using devices in the House that have the capability of sending and receiving e-mails, and it's happening today. As a Legislature, I think we have to come up with some rules of engagement in terms of technology. Either we're going to do it or we're not going to do it. Right now, some of us are playing by the existing rules and some aren't. So I just wanted to mention that, Madam Chair.

The Speaker's Outreach Program is a fantastic program, and again I want to applaud the Speaker's office for undertaking this initiative. I know he has a couple more trips planned next year. This is a fantastic opportunity to take government out to the smaller communities, interact with children and people that live in those communities, and give them a little taste of what happens here at the Legislative Assembly building in Yellowknife, show them the Mace. I think that's a fantastic program that the Speaker has embarked upon.

I think that's about it for my general comments, Madam Chair. Again, I thank the Speaker for being here. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. General comments. Next I have Mr. Braden.

Madam Chair, thank you. I want to extend my compliments to the Speaker and Mr. Mercer and the management team here very much on the staffing side, and the achievements that we're posting here in terms of the number of women and affirmative action candidates who are among the complement of staff here and the statutory positions. That's a fantastic record and really shows that I think we can be proud of demonstrating some leadership.

Madam Chair, I also wanted to compliment the initiative that is underway now to provide more interpretive and informational services about the Legislative Assembly in official languages, and also, as the Speaker indicated, in Japanese, who account for a surprising number in the total number of visitors to the Assembly. I have been an advocate of this for a couple of years at least now, Madam Chair, and I'm very pleased to see what looks like a very economical but a very up-to-date and easy-to-use technology.

This building is a jewel, not only in Yellowknife, in the Northwest Territories, but in Canada and even in the Commonwealth, Madam Chair. I know, from talking to other parliamentarians from Canada and around the world, how impressed they are with this building and that we are proud of it and we should continue to be, and the more we can do to show it off and help people understand what it means to us and what we do in here, the better. So my compliments, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Next I have Mr. Pokiak.

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. I have Mr. Ramsay.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I just wanted to mention a couple of other things. I wanted to mention research services and the services that are provided to Members. I don't think they get enough credit for the job that they provide to Members, and I wanted to mention that.

I also wanted to mention, too, that I do believe that they should be remunerated on a level that you'd find research staff inside the various departments. I think they should be. When we get to that page in the detail, I will ask that question about that issue. I do believe they provide a valuable service to Members and they should be looked after accordingly.

The other thing I wanted to mention, too, and I'm happy to see this, the tour of the facility with the hearing device. I think that's an excellent, excellent idea. Full marks to the Speaker's office for going down that road. I think it's a good opportunity for visitors to this building, in whatever language, that they can have a tour of the building and find out what certain things mean in this building and why they're here. So that's great.

As well, when you're talking about the Legislative Assembly, it's obviously the department that's closest to home for Members. Not just the research staff, but I think having the staff at the Legislative Assembly makes our job so much easier. From corporate services, research, it's topnotch from top to bottom and I just wanted to give the Clerk's office full marks for having a top rate staff here at the Legislative Assembly. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Next on the list for general comments I have Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Madam Chair. A couple points I want to make is in regards to a comment that was made to me last week in terms of the work that we do as MLAs and the amount of time that we sit in terms of going through the mountain loads of documents, the level of detail that we discuss and the amount of time that we spend away from our families, and the, at times, misconception by the public who don't have the benefit of being here day in and day out as we are elected to do and represent our people in our constituencies. One of the comments was made by a constituent who said I wish some people in our communities, in my communities, would come and sit and go with you throughout the day and see how many hours you put in in the House and the amount of work that you have to be up on and the type of work you have to deal with. I really think that's so important, Madam Chair.

I'm looking forward to the schedule of the Outreach Program that the Speaker has outlined. I'm glad that Whati was the first community, along with Member Lafferty, in terms of explaining it to the people, because

bringing the role of government to people, it really would help us in terms of some of the bigger issues that we have to deal with, some of the bigger issues that we have to deal with with the federal government, and the amount of work that we do as Members. I say this because of the sacrifice that all Members make, a personal sacrifice. However, that's the role that we chose. The role was chosen by us by our members who would like us to be here to represent them. So I really want to stress this initiative of how important it is now to undertake and to fully deal with. I certainly want to tell the Speaker that you certainly have my support in this area here. I think that's a good thing you have worked on and initiated, and talking about the role of the Assembly and even MLAs into our communities. I think it's a real good move here. I think we're cutting some new path here in terms of how the Assembly is getting back to the people in our community so that they understand our role. Sometimes it's good to have people really understand what we do as MLAs.

Also, Madam Chair, I want to look at the broadcasting solution that the staff has worked so hard on. It seems that we have some agreement that we'll do some testing in the coming years and coming months. In terms of what we're doing would be very beneficial to our people.

Madam Chair, just this afternoon the Member for Range Lake mentioned the importance of broadcasts in our communities. One of my constituency members saw her for the first time and said, ah, that's you, I see you, and I see you and him together. Not like that...

---Laughter

I mean in the House here. She was so happy, because she said I watch you guys at 12 o'clock at night. I watched what you guys are doing. This is an 81-year-old elder that watches us, and it's so important that they watch us. I think this is so cool that we're going to have our own broadcasting system. I think that's right on. So they are watching us and it's something that's important here.

Madam Chair, the last point I want to raise is following Mr. Ramsay's comments in terms of our research staff and the fairness of them being looked at in terms of the work they do for us. I've seen them work magic. I've seem them work tirelessly and I've seen them work to make us look good in front of the House here, in front of the speakers. They've done a wonderful job and I can't say enough about them, and I think they should be compensated for what they're worth. I think that should be something we look at seriously, because it's not fair.

I think, Madam Chair, the House in terms of this item here for the Legislative Assembly, it has done a lot of good for us. So I want to leave it at that and again say congratulations on these new initiatives that mean a lot for our people here, to the Speaker and to the Clerk. Mahsi, Madam Chair.

Mahsi, Mr. Yakeleya. General comments. Next on the list I have Mr. Lafferty.

Mahsi, Madam Chair. Madam Chair...(English not provided)

Madam Chair, I'd just like to highlight two key points as a general comment. The Mace that was travelling last year was a real successful trip, as the Speaker indicated, last year in Whati. It was a very successful outcome. The students had a lot of questions for us, which was great. The first ever, and that won't be the only time. There will be others going to small communities, and this is a learning experience for them, as well; even for us going to communities and demonstrating that this is what we do on a daily basis for you, for the North. So it was good and I'm glad that it will be continuing to the other communities as well. This is a good start.

Madam Chair, another topic that I've highlighted in my language was the aboriginal program. We did have the broadcasting, but, due to technical difficulties or negotiations, we're not broadcasting anymore except for at midnight. I've been approached by several elders in my community and they say when you talk in the Legislative Assembly, all we see is your lips moving. They say it's all in English, and they said it would be nice to hear you in the Tlicho language. I told them it's coming this fall. Our staff is actively working hard at it, and I'm glad to see it's part of the progress I'm hoping to see this fall. Like my colleague Mr. Yakeleya said, there are elders out there that stay up to midnight. It's not fair to them to stay up until midnight just to watch us perform, how we perform. But at the same time, speaking our language does not air in our language there. But it's coming, which is good. I'd just like to highlight that because it has been an issue, and those issues are certainly being addressed by our staff.

So those are the two main key areas I wanted to highlight, Madam Chair. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Any further general comments on the Legislative Assembly? Detail?

Okay, Members, I'll direct your attention then, please, to page 1-10, information item, revenue summary.

Agreed. No questions? Page 1-13, activity summary, office of the Clerk, operations expenditure summary, $7.653 million. Mr. Ramsay.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I had a question in regard to the research services and remuneration for our research staff here not being on a level that would be comparable to research staff inside a department. I wonder if the Speaker could fill us in on why this is the case and what steps we could take to ensure that our research staff here are paid comparably to research staff inside the departments.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Speaker.