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

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, let me just start off by welcoming all the Members here back into the 15th Legislative Assembly. Mr. Speaker, last year and the year before and I'm sure many years prior, myself and many other Members of this House, from this side of the House and that side of the House, have raised the issue of our rent scale used in our public housing here in the NWT many times, Mr. Speaker. There are many concerns about the disincentive it creates to seek meaningful employment by the clients in our public housing, the animosity it raises between the clients, the LHO staff and our NWT Housing Corporation staff about what is deemed fair for rent for units that just may be lacking in proper maintenance or just plain run down, and the lack of respect for this government's housing stock by many public housing clients due to the fact that they just feel they are just not being treated fairly in their communities when it comes to public housing allocations and rental agreements and rent scales.

Mr. Speaker, from the many inquiries and concerns I received on this issue, this is never going to go away unless this government has to really seriously revisit this issue and ensure the people in our public housing units are being assessed rent that is deemed fair in the terms of their social and financial circumstances in their communities, and on the condition of the unit and on a scale which allows clients to move out of our public housing, which is the public housing mandate here in the NWT.

Mr. Speaker, later on today I will be again asking the Minister of Housing questions about this government's action plans, if any, to address this ongoing, anti-independent, socially dysfunctional system of public housing management, Mr. Speaker. I hope the Minister can present some good action plan that this government intends to take in the next year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to send congratulations to all the Sahtu students who will be graduating from Grade 12 this spring and to the parents who have worked hard for many years to see their children to this point. Finishing high school is an achievement all students should be proud of, Mr. Speaker. A high school diploma should be a direct ticket to other opportunities, like universities and technical schools. Unfortunately, this is not the case for many of our students in small communities. Although they work just as hard as students in the larger centres to get themselves to Grade 12, many of them are finding that they do not have the core courses or the skills to further to the education of their choice. These students have to go back to high school or to an adult upgrading centre, usually for upgrading, before they can get into a post-secondary education institution.

Mr. Speaker, young people are anxious to get on with their futures. It's hard for them to postpone their dreams. How many potential doctors, teachers and tradespersons have been discouraged by this system or just have given up? We are letting down these students, Mr. Speaker. We need to ensure our students in small communities have access to all the courses, in particular the science and math courses, and the chemistry and lab courses, that are requirements for many universities and technical programs. This means access to facilities like labs, as well as qualified teachers that can guide them through difficult subjects like chemistry and physics.

Mr. Speaker, we can do this, Mr. Speaker, and we have to because these young people are our future, our hope and,

more importantly, one day will be our voice in our governments. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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

Mr. Speaker, once again I am rising in this Assembly to speak about the inequities of our NWT health care system. Our health professionals do a fantastic job meeting our northerners' needs. However, like me, they also have trouble comprehending the logic of what is covered and not covered by NWT health care. I raise the issue of constituents with a child born with club feet who were told that the government would pay for all surgeries needed to correct the condition, but the government would not pay for the required braces needed between the surgeries. I am pleased to say, through the generosity of residents, particularly Ekati Crew F Recovery/Processing Plant, Grace Ann Fitzpatrick-Crouch, Wayne Scheelar, National Car Rental, Nancy Magrum and Dennis Bevington, our MP, they have donated enough money to get this little girl the next medically required braces, Mr. Speaker. This should have never had to have happened, and I want to make sure that every time my constituent's daughter needs new medically prescribed braces they do not have to rely on northern generosity. Generous people should not be picking up the tab for something that the government is responsible for, Mr. Speaker. Doctors have stated, without adequate braces, all the good work done by surgeries will be undone.

This is an absurd situation. This government must acknowledge the responsibility and pay for the required braces. According to the department, it has been at least 12 years and maybe even longer since the specified disease condition schedule in the extended health benefits policy has been amended. Clearly there is a need to review this policy more than once every 12 years. I note that there are many other conditions on this list that people are born with that are genetically prone to developing cerebral palsy, cystic fibrosis, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, and even spina bifida. These include a number of congenital conditions. Why is this congenital club foot not on the list? I am talking about what is right. I am talking about the department and the program that needs to find less bureaucratic ways and more empathetic ways to help the needs of our northerners. There needs to be less worrying about what other jurisdictions are covering and more worrying about ways that we can find a method to help our northern families, Mr. Speaker.

In closing, I will be following up with the Minister on this issue because I want my constituents to worry less about where the money's coming from and more about their daughter specifically. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to speak today about the Deh Cho Bridge project. I want to state for the record, Mr. Speaker, that I do support the Deh Cho Bridge being built. Most Yellowknifers and residents of the North Slave would certainly welcome the construction of a bridge across the Mackenzie River. I do, however, have some concerns regarding the project and I feel that before agreements for a project like this are entered into, they should be subject to public information sessions and consultations with stakeholders. Every opportunity should be taken to ensure that as many opportunities are made available to northern business and people in the construction of such a large piece of public infrastructure.

The Deh Cho Bridge Act, which is legislation that was passed by the last government, gives authority to Cabinet to enter into agreements to build a bridge across the Mackenzie River. In the Deh Cho Bridge Act, there is no requirement for the government to consult or come back to Regular Members regarding agreements that are entered into. Mr. Speaker, what I'd like to see is that if this project is proceeding, I want the government to consult with Regular Members and stakeholders. We need and we deserve to have the opportunity to ask questions about this project.

The loan guaranteed to the Deh Cho Bridge Corporation has been increased several times over the past three years, from $2 million in 2004 to just over $4 million in March of this year. When the government was questioned as to why the loan guarantee was continuously increased, the first answer offered up was that the government was waiting for federal dollars to make the project viable.

I'd like to provide a short quote from last October's sitting from the Premier, and I quote. "Mr. Speaker, it's our view that there is infrastructure money coming and we should not jump the gun here and be premature. Let's wait to see what the federal government has to offer." The project, Mr. Speaker, is going to cost in excess of $130 million and judging from the Premier's sessional statement today, it would seem to me that the government isn't waiting. The Department of Transportation is marching headlong into making agreements in the absence of any federal dollars becoming available for this project. If the project does cost in the magnitude of $130 million, what will that do to tolls -- which, by the way, Mr. Speaker, we're never supposed to go over $6 a ton -- what will this do to the price of consumer goods in Yellowknife and in the North Slave region?

Mr. Speaker, everybody wants a bridge and I just want to ensure that the entire process is as open and transparent as it possibly can be. Mahsi.

---Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to invite Members of this House to attend the first ever Council of Sport and Recreation conference in Hay River. The Town of Hay

River will host this joint partner conference this summer from the 12th to the 17th of June. This meeting is important because it brings partner organizations together for the first time. These partners share the belief that recreation, physical activities and sports programs are very important for the health and well-being of the residents and the communities of the Northwest Territories.

The NWT Council for Sport and Recreation is a fairly new forum created in the summer of 2005. Its 13 members represent the regions as well as the sport and recreation field. The goal for the council is to assist with the development of a collaborative, inclusive approach to sport and recreation in the Northwest Territories. Conference partners are the NWT Parks and Recreation Association, the Mackenzie Recreation Association, the Beaufort-Delta/Sahtu Recreation Association, the Aboriginal Sports Circle of the Western Arctic and the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs. So there is buy-in for collaboration, inclusion and discussions about common goals and challenges and many reasons to celebrate our successes.

The NWT Recreations and Parks Association works with communities across the territory to promote living, to promote healthy living through active recreation. The Beaufort-Delta/Sahtu Recreation Association alone covers groups and organizations in 13 communities, promoting a broad definition of recreation, maximizing equal opportunity for all to participate in activities of their choice. Another partner is the Mackenzie Recreation Association representing the Deh Cho, supporting cultural activities and sporting events.

Hay River will be recognized as a leader in sports and recreation while the town provides an ideal meeting location to recognize and celebrate the efforts of the five partner agencies and their many members who strive to promote and deliver sport and recreation throughout the Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker, I hope that many Members of this House will come to Hay River in June and participate in this ground-breaking event. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Members' statements. The honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I just recently travelled back to my home and held a constituency meeting. I thought I would take this opportunity to relay the messages that I heard in the community at my recent constituency meeting.

May 2nd I had an opportunity to hold a constituency meeting in the Inuvik Centennial Library and, as at a number of my recent constituency meetings, the turnout was low, but it gave me an opportunity to have a good discussion with the people who did show up. A number of the issues that were raised we hear around this Assembly coming from other communities, but I thought I'd take the opportunity to highlight them here.

Elders' issues are one of the prominent things that came up in that, right from transportation to see the doctors or doctors' appointments to seniors in public housing and the rent set up, as well as singles in public housing and that area. So it again was an avenue for people to raise their issues and speak to Members about what needs to be done and what they see as challenges they face. Hopefully as a government, as we sit down, we continue to work, and as I had pointed out, we'll bring those issues to the table and hopefully work to try to resolve some of them, including all Members of this Assembly.

So I just wanted to stand up here -- I haven't taken the opportunity to do a Member's statement for a while -- and just raise the highlights of my constituency meeting. From those that think it was just me and my wife at the meeting, no, it wasn't.

---Laughter

I had other constituents there, but the number was low who turned out. It's not necessarily a bad thing, but just giving the fact that you can come out, raise your issues and they will be raised in this forum. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Braden.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to recognize family of my constituents who moved from Edmonton area to my riding. Even though we don't have VTA, the father came here to work for the GNWT and mother's working at the bank here. Parents are not here, but I'd like to recognize Mr. Clemens Park and Mr. David Park and with them are my assistant Cathy Olson and her husband Mike Olson. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to recognize teachers and students from Nahanni Butte. I'd like to recognize Meagan Bertrand, Jarvis Tsetso, Logan Matou, Melvin Vital, Josh Bertrand, teacher Wayne Ingarfield, assistant Martin Pritchett, and as well as chaperone Mr. Bruce Dauphinee. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It's a pleasant surprise to see a number of constituents in the gallery, especially now that the ferry is not operating.

---Laughter

From our smallest community in the North, Kakisa, we have a number of people here, a number of students. We have Dalton Simba, Waylon Simba, Shyanne Chicot and Sheila Hilliard. I'd like to welcome them to the gallery, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Bell.

Mr. Speaker, I'd like to raise awareness of a couple of issues, Mr. Speaker, and acknowledge the presence of Arlene Hache, who is in the gallery today. We talked about the Bailey House and local advocates who've really raised this issue of homelessness. I want to thank Arlene for her work in this regard.

I'd also like to acknowledge Mike Olson, who's already been mentioned, but he is emceeing a trade show or a fashion show at the trade show that a number of MLAs are involved in. We'll be modelling some of the Arctic Winter Games clothing. As many of you know, Mike's very active in the chamber and works for First Air, but I very much look forward to that event. I think it will be a lot of fun and I want to thank him for the work that he's doing. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. If we've missed anyone in the gallery today, welcome to the House. It's always a pleasure to have an audience observing the proceedings in here. Acknowledgements. Oral questions. The honourable Member for Thebacha, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are directed to the Minister of Transportation. It's in regard to a letter written on April 4th by community leadership in Fort Smith talking about and requesting that now that there's $24 million in new money in the budget for infrastructure, that Highway No. 5 finally be put back on the priority list for chipsealing; and not only that, but that they look at repairing the serious deterioration of the existing chipsealing. So I just want to ask the Minister if he could indicate in this House what is planned in that regard. Thank you.