Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Alcohol abuse is probably one of the most devastating and most expensive, costly expenditures in our government's programs. If we were ever able to get control on this, then I think we'd be amazed at the amount of money that could be saved and the amount of devastation and disruption to lives.

Mr. Speaker, part of the challenge is to help people to control their own lives, not have alcohol controlling it for them. Part of it is having laws that are appropriate. Part of it is having policing and, certainly, treatment is part of it. But more than anything else, in my view, Mr. Speaker, it's helping people to become self-reliant, to become people who control themselves.

Mr. Speaker, Cabinet will look very, very seriously at the recommendations that are made. We have listened to the comments made by Members and we'll take a look at what can be done to get control over this very, very costly issue in the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, we will not be voting on this motion because it is a recommendation to government. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. I'll allow the mover of the motion to make closing remarks. Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I thank the Members again for speaking to this motion and for, in many instances, sharing some very personal experiences and very personal knowledge of this particular matter. So I really think this is a good thing to send this message to the public and the people of the Northwest Territories and tell them how we, as leaders, feel about this subject of alcohol abuse.

Mr. Speaker, I've been looking at some of the young people even here serving as Pages in the House today. I hope the message gets out to our young people that you don't have to learn this lesson the hard way. You don't need to take the long way around to find out, to get healthy. As young people that are empowered now and have access to good information, they can shortcut this whole long and devastating process that people have to go through and make healthy choices.

I really appreciate Mr. Yakeleya talking about people getting out on the land and getting in touch with their own

spirit. There are so many distractions, I agree, in the communities. People are on their...What do you call those things? I don't even have one. Text messaging and they've got their iPod in their ear and they're just completely bombarded continually with some kind of stimulation. There's no quiet time; there's no time to reflect; there's no time to contemplate and I agree with that, people do need to get in touch with their spirit.

As a government, we do talk a lot about physical healing. Through our health care services, we talk a lot about emotional healing. But we do not, as a government, talk much about spiritual healing. We don't talk about that third part of a person that needs...and there are so many avenues out there where people do find that spiritual healing, and that can go some long ways toward dealing with this issue of alcohol abuse.

So to the issue of denormalizing alcohol abuse, make no mistake, it is not normal to forfeit possession of your judgement to alcohol. It is not normal to put yourself or your loved ones at risk for the sake of alcohol, and it is not normal to destroy your health or your peace of mind or your sense of well-being through the use of alcohol. It is normal to love yourself, to care for yourself, and our human instinct is for self-preservation and to care for ourselves and for those around us.

With that, Mr. Speaker, I will just seek a recorded vote on this motion. Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The Member is asking for a recorded vote on the motion. All those in favour of the motion, please stand.

All those opposed to the motion, please stand. All those abstaining, please stand.

The results of the vote: all those in favour, 11; opposed, zero; abstaining, seven. The motion is carried.

---Carried

Before I go to Mr. Ramsay, I'd just like to take this opportunity to recognize in the gallery Heather Riviere and her son Timmy.

---Applause

Honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I request unanimous consent to return to item 15 on the Order Paper.

The Member is seeking unanimous consent to return to item 15, notices of motion, on the Order Paper. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Return to item 15. Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Thursday, May 17, 2007, I will move the following motion: now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Sahtu, that this Legislative Assembly strongly recommends the government not enter into a binding agreement committing it to the Deh Cho Bridge project until it has provided Regular Members with: an up-to-date analysis of the expected cost of living impacts of the bridge on Yellowknife, the Tlicho communities and the Akaitcho communities; the estimated social impacts and economic benefits for the community of Fort Providence; and the exact total cost of the Deh Cho Bridge to the Government of the Northwest Territories; and given Regular Members an opportunity to comment on whether the bridge should proceed based on this information.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Notices of motion. First reading of bills. Honourable Minister responsible for the Liquor Commission, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, that Bill 15, Liquor Act, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Roland. The motion is on the floor. Motion is in order. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Bill 15 has had first reading. First reading of bills. Second reading of bills. Honourable Minister responsible for Finance, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, that Bill 9, Write-off of Debts Act, 2007-2008, be read for the second time.

Mr. Speaker, this bill authorizes the write-off of debts owed to the government and public agencies. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Motion is on the floor. Motion is in order. To the principle of the bill.

Question is being called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Bill 9 has had second reading and stands referred to a committee. Second reading of bills. The honourable Minister responsible for Finance, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Nahendeh, that Bill 10, Forgiveness of Debts Act, 2007-2008, be read for the second time.

Mr. Speaker, this bill authorizes the forgiveness of debts owed to the government and public agencies.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Motion is on the floor. Motion is in order. To the principle of the bill.

Question is being called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Bill 10 has had second reading and stands referred to a committee. Second reading of bills. The honourable Minister responsible for Justice, Mr. Bell.

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Deh Cho, that Bill 11, Miscellaneous Statutes Amendment Act, 2007, be read for the second time.

Mr. Speaker, this bill corrects inconsistencies and errors in the statutes of the Northwest Territories. The bill deals with other matters of a minor, non-controversial and uncomplicated nature in the statutes, and repeals provisions that have ceased to have effect. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Motion is on the floor. Motion is in order. To the principle of the bill.