Good afternoon, colleagues. Welcome back to the House.

Item 2, M

inisters

’ statements. Hon. J

ackson

Lafferty.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Early Friday morning, Norman Wells detachment members responded to the serious situation of a man with a gun. After 40 hours of emergency action, police were able to defuse a stand-off in a local residence and apprehend a young man before he could commit harm to others or himself.

This was a very serious situation that involved RCMP specialty teams from Yukon and Alberta, as well as our own “G” Division and all the hard-working members of the Norman Wells detachment.

There was excellent co-operation from all members to ensure safety of the public, the officers and the young man.

In order to ensure public safety, emergency personnel acted proactively to secure the area and provide information to residents. The residential area was evacuated while the police conducted negotiations with the individual.

As a precaution the local school kept children inside and asked parents to pick up their children at the school so they would not be walking home.

This was yet another reminder that serious threats to public safety can occur in any community. As elected officials we must continue to find ways to ensure the safety of our families, our homes, our streets and our communities.

I would like to extend my heartiest thanks to the brave men and women who risk their lives in the line of duty to deal with violence and dangerous situations in our communities.

The RCMP officers’ training and dedication ensured the prompt and professional handling of a serious incident. I am proud of the work they do.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Recycling waste products is a way for all of us to help reduce the impact we have on the environment. It means we use fewer natural resources, use less energy to make new products, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save money.

Under the Waste Reduction and Recovery Act, government can develop programs to recover and recycle products and materials rather than put them into landfill.

In November 2005 we implemented the Northwest Territories’ first Territorial-wide waste recovery program: the Beverage Container Program. This highly-successful program continues to enjoy a high level of public support throughout the Northwest Territories.

Last year we completed research on the recovery and recycling of other waste materials. A discussion paper on expanding the types of waste we recover and recycle was widely distributed this past January. The document contains background information and an analysis of seven waste types commonly generated in the Northwest Territories, including electronics, tires, lead acid batteries, fuel drums, plastic grocery bags, milk containers, paper and cardboard.

Mr. Speaker, it is unrealistic to think we can expand the program to recover all these waste products. However, these public consultations will help us determine residents’ priority areas. Following our consultation we will prepare recommendations for

program expansion. I will have these recommendations completed by spring 2008.

As seen in the Beverage Container Program, waste reduction and recycling is very important to the people of the Northwest Territories. Expanding this program will not only help reduce the amount of material disposed of in local landfills but will also improve the quality of our environment. I encourage residents, communities, municipalities, industry and organizations to provide their input on expanding this program.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to inform this Assembly that the Northwest Territories Business Development and Investment Corporation is establishing a new subsidiary in Ulukhaktok in partnership with the Ulukhaktok Artists’ Association.

Ulukhaktok has a longstanding tradition of excellence in the creation of arts and crafts, particularly in the area of print-making. The new subsidiary will build on the community’s existing skills by providing a facility for print-making, carving and the production of qiviut or muskox wool products and by marketing these items across Canada.

The BDIC is mandated to promote economic development and employment across the Northwest Territories, especially in the smaller communities. The subsidiary in Ulukhaktok will create two full-time positions and 60 part-time or seasonal positions in the community. For this community of 400 people, this represents a significant influx of employment.

When they met on January 31, 2008, to approve the establishment of this new subsidiary, the BDIC board of directors also appointed a board of five individuals to provide administrative leadership and guidance for the new subsidiary. They are Mr. Louie Nigiyok, from the Ulukhaktok Artist Association; Mr. Joseph Perry, also from the Ulukhaktok Artist Association; Mr. Merven Gruben, the BDIC board member from Tuktoyaktuk; Mr. Paul Komaromi, the BDIC board member from Inuvik; and Mr. Pawan Chugh, the Chief Executive Officer of the BDIC.

Mr. Speaker, as the Members of this 16th Legislative Assembly we have identified the goals and priorities that will guide our work over the next four years. One of our goals is “a diversified economy that provides all communities and regions with opportunities and choices,” We have placed a priority on supporting sustainable local economic

sectors, such as arts and crafts, and on reducing disparities between communities and regions.

The new BDIC subsidiary in Ulukhaktok will make a significant contribution to a sustainable, diversified economy in that community and also in the Inuvik region.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to acknowledge the support that this initiative has received from the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation and both the current and former Nunakput Members in this Assembly. It is their commitment, together with the work of staff at both the BDIC and the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment, that have allowed this project to become a reality.

Item 3, Members’ statements. Mr. Krutko.

Mr. Speaker, at this time I’d like to take an opportunity to thank Flint Energy of Calgary for taking on the initiative of going into Mackenzie Delta communities to consult individuals and take applications for employment in the oil and gas industry in Alberta. I also would like to thank the oil and gas industry for looking at the potential resources that we have — which are the people of the Northwest Territories, especially in the Mackenzie Delta — to look for job opportunities in the oil and gas industry.

The company also committed to pay for the transportation costs of the individuals that are being hired through the application process and will fly them to Alberta to work in the oil and gas industry. Yet our own industry in the Northwest Territories, specifically the mining industry, is paying some $300 million in salaries to import people from southern Canada to work in the mining industries.

I think it’s time that this government stuck up for the residents of the Northwest Territories and made sure that we’ve fulfilled those job opportunities with Northern residents before anyone else takes advantage of those job opportunities.

I think it’s critical that this government looks up to other companies such as Flint Energy out of Calgary for taking the initiative to go into our isolated communities, take applications and find the residents from the Northwest Territories an opportunity to work in industry, especially oil and gas. But more importantly, I think the mining industry has to take note of what is happening in regard to recruiting people in the Northwest

Territories and elsewhere than simply in the North Slave.

At the appropriate time I will be asking the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment questions on this matter in regard to what the Department of Education is doing to ensure that we have our residents employed in all segments of our economy.

I recently received a list of concerns from a constituent on the Energy Efficiency Incentive Program with a specific focus on the rebates available for hybrid vehicles. In principle, the program delivered by the energy alliance on behalf of the G.N.W.T. is a really good program.

The primary intent of the program is to help residents of the N.W.T. reduce their energy costs; however, with any new program there are some hurdles that become obvious during its implementation. In the case of this program, one of the difficulties, in my opinion, is that it limits choice. For example, the program is limited to vehicles that can be purchased in the N.W.T. only. This means that any vehicle that meets the criteria for rebate but isn’t supplied by a local dealer won’t be covered.

Now, I understand the importance and value of buying North. For maintenance and servicing purposes, I personally would choose to buy a vehicle from a Northern vendor. This is not the same for everyone. Some people have preference based on brand. Some people would prefer to buy a Honda, a Nissan, a Volkswagen or even a Smart Car. If they did, they would be ineligible for the rebate.

To me, this seems to go against the primary intent of the rebate program, which is to help residents of the N.W.T. reduce their energy costs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

I believe the program should be reviewed so that the primary intent is met. This can be done by removing the restrictions on providing the rebate for Northern residents who choose to buy vehicles that are not available through local N.W.T. vendors: the Nissan, the Volkswagen, the Hondas and Smart cars. However, there is value in supporting local Northern business. To address this, the program could be modified to require that an eligible vehicle available through a Northern vendor must be purchased in the North in order for the purchaser to receive the rebate.

These changes would allow our residents the choice they desire and still encourage them to buy products which help them reduce greenhouse gas

emissions and reduce their energy costs. This is good for everyone.

At the appropriate time I will be asking the Minister Responsible for Environment and Natural Resources questions concerning the Energy Efficiency Incentive Program.

During the life of the 15th Assembly

there was much discussion in the House about the plight of the caribou throughout the N.W.T. We have pressing matters facing the 16th Assembly in

the early stages, but I’d like to again bring attention to the plight of the caribou, because I believe that we’re coming into a critical situation that needs our attention and needs some action taken quickly.

There had been much discussion regarding the caribou numbers and how we came to those numbers. Questions were asked of the government about how they came to these numbers and if traditional knowledge was used.

I’ve heard stories of hunting practices that continue to concern me. Too many caribou being killed, a lot of wasted meat — just the hind quarters being cut off — and shooting off roads and ice-roads and the highway. I do understand that caribou are a way of life to many residents of the N.W.T., and I’d never tell people not to hunt caribou. But I do ask them to show some wisdom and ensure that our grandchildren’s generation enjoys a way of life with the caribou that we’ve been fortunate enough to live through.

Mr. Speaker, harvesting caribou is part of our traditional way of life. Hunting with high-powered snowmobiles, sport hunting, hunting with trucks and hunting off the highway is not a traditional way of life. Hunting with dog teams, with snowshoes, breaking trails — now, that’s a traditional way of life. And I admit I have been just as guilty as the next guy, because I have hunted with snowmobiles; I’ve hunted off the highway. So I’m not pointing fingers at anybody.

Mr. Speaker, the caribou has sustained our people for generations. Now the caribou need our help, and we have to do what we can to ensure their survival so that our grandchildren can enjoy the way of life with the caribou that we’ve been blessed with. Let’s not hunt the caribou into a critical situation or to extinction so that all we have left to share with our grandchildren are stories and memories about the once-mighty herds across the N.W.T.

Mr. Speaker, I’ll have questions for the Minister of ENR at the appropriate time.

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. [English translation not provided.]

Mr. Speaker, today I would like to talk about the importance of getting and retaining good, qualified recreation workers in our communities. As you know, recreation staff play an important role in the positive development of our youth, as well as contribute to overall community wellness with the delivery of effective sport, culture and recreation programming.

Mr. Speaker, many communities struggle to find and retain good, qualified recreation staff. Often they hire unqualified local individuals. Often these individuals, who have the passion and athletic skills, lack the theory and practical training needed to effect the delivery of programming to the youth. Some of the reason is pay. There is no secret that many of our community recreation staff earn far less than what they are worth — or, for that matter, often earn less than many other community staff positions. For example, in Fort Resolution the starting wage for a recreation worker is $15 an hour, and in Lutselk’e a recreation worker makes $18 an hour. That’s about 30 per cent less than what other community workers make.

With the booming diamond industry to compete with as well as higher-paying jobs elsewhere, communities are constantly struggling to find and keep good, qualified recreation staff. We all know about the benefits of good sports and recreation programs. We are healthier individuals and healthier communities. We hear this from time to time in MACA’s “Recreation and Sport in the N.W.T.” report, and again in the “Northwest Territories Sport Direction 2000” and yet again in their “Partners in Action: Sports and Recreation Direction for the Nineties” — and any other reports since, Mr. Speaker. Are we doing all we can as a government to back up our words?

Mr. Speaker, I would like to seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

Unanimous consent granted.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker; thank you, colleagues.

Are we doing all we can to support our communities? It’s true the government has a number of recreation and youth programs available. What good are they if the communities cannot take advantage of them because they do not have qualified, properly trained recreation staff? Healthier individuals, healthier communities, are only possible if we have the right people working to deliver these programs.

Later on I will ask the Minister of MACA questions on this.

In my third day in this House I raised the issue of full-cost accounting: accounting that looks at all impacts and considers environmental consequences. The Premier, at that time, agreed to look closely at full-cost accounting — a quite reasonable response — but apparently has not yet implemented that. This allows costs to continue to accrue.

I have a constituent — a filmmaker, an artist — who through her work brings in considerable dollars and work opportunities to the Northwest Territories, as well as contributing to the unique Northern identity of the North, our jurisdiction and our people. She happens to be very environmentally aware, quite progressive, and has a can-do attitude. Similar to a Yellowknife city councilor, who is allowed to travel by bus to minimize his greenhouse gas emissions while on city business, this person wanted to use the support she had from G.N.W.T. to travel in the most responsible environmental way. Yet when she asked to use her support in that way, she was refused — apparently by ITI — the ability to travel by train, bus or however, rather than by air travel, in order to minimize her greenhouse gas emissions. She was willing, and stated so quite publicly, to pay any extra price, and that any extra time would be at her own expense, yet she was denied this opportunity.

The Minister indicated the most economical mode of transportation for travel was by air. But requiring travel by air ignores pollution, greenhouse gases — with the eventual climate change costs — and airport subsidies, and in fact is the most expensive form of travel that we can take. This is a poor state of affairs, and I’m hoping that full-cost accounting will become part of this government’s approach in the immediate future.

The Minister also said this was a federal responsibility. This “Atlas Shrugged” business is quite crazy. We need to all take on responsibility for this issue. I would dearly love to see this government take a leadership role on this issue. We are paying the costs up front. Let’s take a leadership role. Let’s implement full-cost accounting and support our citizens in their attempts to deal with this issue.

Over the last several weeks, as the mercury slid to minus 40 or more, our homes and

businesses were gulping fuel to keep us warm and cozy, unfortunately to the detriment of our environment. The indications of climate change are all around us — we see them throughout the North — but there's hope. Alternative energy sources are available. We just have to accept and advance them.

The N.W.T. currently has such an opportunity. Last November the community of Tuktoyaktuk hosted the Remote Community Wind Energy Conference, and by all reports it was very successful and produced a number of excellent recommendations. It’s time to put those recommendations into action.

The G.N.W.T. Energy Plan and Greenhouse Gas Strategy documents tabled in the House in April of 2007 both state that the G.N.W.T. is committed to selecting a community for wind energy demonstration projects in 2008 and also having an operating wind turbine by 2009.

Tuk has essentially established itself as the best location for this project. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has been working with the community on this idea for some time. Let’s declare Tuk the selected community and get on with it. If we're to have an operating wind turbine by next year, we must act now. Assuming that the project is successful, the right regulatory and policy framework to allow for production and selling of wind energy must also be put in place. That development, too, must be started now.

A demonstration project which shows positive results can lead to a number of other opportunities for the N.W.T.: federal support for cold-weather wind energy testing; a wind or an alternative energy training program offered through Aurora College, something that will benefit all three territories; an aboriginal-owned commercial alternative power producer; and the export of N.W.T. operations and maintenance expertise to service wind turbines at sites across the North.

This is a good-news story, Mr. Speaker. Economic development and saving the environment. It doesn’t get much better than that. I urge the government to remember this story as the budget is developed. At the appropriate time I will have questions for the Minister of ENR.

I’d like to speak today about where the Northwest Territories is at on the federal government’s agenda. I’m surprised this government seems to be taking, let’s say, a more laid-back approach to devolution and resource revenue sharing, especially given our current financial situation and our desperate need for

increased revenue streams. Our Territory has never had such a great demand for investment in transportation, energy, education, housing and community infrastructure.

Mr. Speaker, it is a shame the last government could not get substantial infrastructure investment dollars into our Territory. As we’re all well aware, they also made the decision to proceed with the Deh Cho Bridge project without any federal investment.

Mr. Speaker, on Friday our sister territory Nunavut signed a seven-year, $242 million infrastructure deal with Ottawa. I’d like to congratulate Premier Okalik and his government on delivering for his territory much-needed infrastructure dollars.

Mr. Speaker, seeing the size of investment in Nunavut makes me wonder about what our Territory is doing in Ottawa and what our game plan is to try to secure some much-needed infrastructure money. The list of projects here in the Territory is a long one: the Mackenzie Valley Highway, the extension of Highway 4 to Gordon Lake and beyond, the city of Yellowknife bypass road, the access road to gravel source 177 near Tuktoyaktuk, just to mention a few. It’s not too late for the federal government to come up with some money for the Deh Cho Bridge.

The reality, Mr. Speaker, is that Nunavut is not the cash cow for Ottawa that the Northwest Territories is and will continue to be for years to come. We need to have our infrastructure needs addressed. The last government failed to get much done. I wonder: will this government follow in its predecessor’s tracks? I certainly hope they don’t. We can’t afford to wait, as opportunities will pass us by if we’re not ready for them.

Mr. Speaker, we can’t afford to have that laid-back attitude. We need to be more aggressive in our discussions and negotiations with the federal government. We need to, as Conservatives like to say, “demand better.” Our residents here, and Members on this side of the House, are waiting for this government to deliver on substantial infrastructure dollars for our Territory. Mahsi.

Mr. Speaker, over the course of the weekend, while out and about in Yellowknife and in phone calls I have received in my office, I’ve heard from Northerners who seriously question if we need a $160 million bridge over the Mackenzie River at Fort Providence. I know the government is worried about our liability if we don’t proceed with the bridge. Obviously the government is not worried enough to have obtained a legal opinion they could

share with us, detailing the potential extent of that liability.

Mr. Speaker, I’m worried about our liability if we do proceed with the bridge. The cost-benefit analysis that was finally posted on the Transportation web site isn’t really anything to brag about. I don’t know who wrote it, but no wonder they didn’t want to give us a copy of it, despite many requests. It doesn’t represent a normal kind of due diligence and analysis that would precede a project of this magnitude. I’d be curious to know if that’s the information they took to the lender when they tried to borrow the money to build the bridge. I’d be very surprised if that particular cost-benefit analysis would have been used in making a case to borrow that kind of money.

I’m at a loss to understand the lack of leadership in protecting our government’s interests in managing this project. I have many questions about this project still, in spite of the assertion by someone in the newspaper that we’ve had “dozens of briefings.”

What has the $9 million been spent on to date that’s been guaranteed by our government? The person who is defending this project in today’s newspaper has been on the Deh Cho Bridge Corporation’s payroll since the corporation’s inception.

There are so many things asserted in there that I just don’t understand. How could the previous shareholder pulling out of the project cause the project to collapse? That’s one of the assertions that’s made. There is no minimum required; there’s no minimum for the Deh Cho Bridge Corporation. All there is, is a maximum amount of equity. So how could another shareholder pulling out have possibly caused the bridge project to collapse?

The contractor stepped up the day before the deadline. It was in their interest to do so. If there was no minimum equity threshold, why was it in their interest to do so? It wasn’t going to stop the project even if the Deh Cho Bridge Corporation had only put up $2 million.

The article goes on to say that there’s a couple of people just trying to mess it up. Well, Mr. Speaker, I have better things to do than try to mess up people’s plans. I have a duty and an obligation as a Member of this Assembly to ask these kinds of questions. I’m sorry if they mess up someone’s plans. Thank you.

Today I’d like to speak about prevention of head injuries in our youth. I had the opportunity to be home for the weekend, and while I was walking around there, Mr. Speaker, I noticed

that we still have people ski-dooing around and pulling children around without proper head gear. My condolences, of course, go out to the family in Fort Smith at the beginning of this year with their child who had sustained a head injury in a similar event. And we’re still doing that in our communities. I’d like to urge this government to start looking at prevention of head injuries in the schools and with our children and, indeed, the community as a whole.

It is standard practice now, when playing hockey, that you wear a helmet. It never used to be, but head injuries became prevalent in the NHL, so now it’s standard practice to prevent head injuries. I don’t know why that type of attention is not being given to snowmobiles.

So I’d like to urge, at this time, the public and families and parents to urge your children to wear protective head gear when they’re out ski-dooing. And also I’d like to urge this government, Mr. Speaker, to indeed strive towards prevention of head injuries in our youth and children in our communities. Mahsi cho.

In this heated economy many Northern employers face shortages of both skilled and semi-skilled workers. Allowing employers to fill their labour shortages through foreign employees, both on a temporary or permanent basis, is a win-win for our economy, and there is a role for the G.N.W.T. to play.

There are shortages in a variety of industries, and we lack the number of interested people to catch up. Eleven jurisdictions, including the Yukon, have a provincial nomination system that helps speed up the immigration process for skilled and semi-skilled workers who wish to become permanent residents of that jurisdiction. Of course, Citizenship and Immigration still have the final say, but these programs do cut the red tape and make it easier for these employers to help fill those labour shortages.

I believe the G.N.W.T. needs to take a look at setting up such a program. I’m also aware of the difficulty and expense the employers go through in the food and hospitality industry as they face trying to recruit staff. It is extremely difficult to find workers who are willing to work for the wages that they can provide. Some food service operators have had some success in hiring temporary foreign workers, but this process is expensive and very time consuming.

We need to help our employers meet these challenges, Mr. Speaker. The resulting tax revenue and increased grant from Canada that will result

from higher immigration levels could easily help with that expense involved.

Mr. Speaker, I can best describe the situation as a Scylla or Charybolis. If we do nothing, the six-headed monster will chew those hard-working small business people down, wear them out and cause them to give up. Or equally as bad, the whirlpool of bureaucracy will swallow them up in a frustration type way in a system that was designed to always help them. If we do nothing the ambition of small business will be sunk, and it is embarrassing for this government to watch that sailing ship sink without helping it.

Mr. Speaker, residents of the Sahtu were shocked to learn that on Friday, February 8, an armed stand-off was in progress in the town of Norman Wells. The incident disrupted school, business and many residents. Thankfully, the incident ended Saturday when the gunman surrendered to the police. I was in Norman Wells over the weekend and witnessed first-hand the professional approach taken by the RCMP and many others in defusing this potentially tragic situation.

I met with the released hostages and was alarmed at the trauma they had experienced during and after the ordeal. These brave citizens must be commended for keeping their nerves under very trying circumstances. Our thoughts and prayers go out to you and your families as you continue to work through this terrifying experience and attempt to get back to your normal routine.

Mr. Speaker, I want to sincerely thank the Norman Wells detachment of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for their handling of the situation. You are fortunate to have the services of Corporal Donna Rorison, Constable Scot Neuberry, Constable Mike Redmond and Auxiliary Constable Jeff Walker.

I’d also like to recognize the kind assistance of the “G” Division Emergency Response Team negotiators led by the Incident Commander Mike Payne. There were capably assisted by the “K” Division Emergency Response Team from Edmonton, and the “M” Division Response Team from Whitehorse.

In addition, the RCMP was supported by members from Inuvik and the “G” Division headquarters in Yellowknife. My constituents are grateful for your outstanding assistance provided by the dedicated men and women of the RCMP who work for us every day to keep our communities safe.

Mr. Speaker, there are many other individuals and agencies who assisted the RCMP in dealing with this alarming incident. Special thanks to Mayor

Peter Guther, staff of the town of Norman Wells, the Norman Wells Fire Department, Global Technical Services, Northwestel, managers of the Mackenzie Hotel, Heritage Hotel, Yamouri Hotel and the residents of Norman Wells. Your patience, understanding and cooperation were greatly appreciated.

Mr. Speaker, we are fortunate this incident in Norman Wells ended peacefully. I ask Members to join me in thanking the RCMP and others for bringing this dangerous situation under control. Thank you for a job well done. We appreciate your efforts. Mahsi.

Applause.

Item 4, reports of standing and special committees. Item 5, returns to oral questions. Item 6, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Beaulieu.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize some interpreters and elders that have come in from the riding. They are Terry Villeneuve and Bernadette Lockhart.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize Sabet Biscaye, chairperson of the Official Languages Board and the Aboriginal Language Revitalization Board. Mahsi.

I’d like to recognize Mrs. Villuence at the other end and also, in the gallery, Bernadette and also to Beth.

If we’ve missed anyone in the gallery today, welcome to the House. I hope you’re enjoying the proceedings.

Item 7, acknowledgements. Mr. Beaulieu.

Mr. Speaker, today I wish to acknowledge an educator in my riding, Moh Odeen, principal of the Deninu School in Fort Resolution. Recently Moh was recognized as one of Canada’s Outstanding Principals.

South Slave Education Council Superintendent Curtis Brown said that “Principal Moh Odeen is an inspiration and role model to students, colleagues and community members…his unwavering dedication to education and to young people cannot help but make a difference….”

Originally from Guyana, Moh’s perspective on education, in his own words, are “From the time they arrive in school, I want the students to dream of all the things they want to be so that they realize the world is theirs.”

Please join me in acknowledging and congratulating a very dedicated and passionate educator, Principal Moh Odeen of Fort Resolution.

Item 8, oral questions. Mr. Krutko.

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment in regard to industry, trade and investment. In regard to my Member’s statement, I mentioned a company out of Calgary that was recruiting individuals in the Mackenzie Delta and trying to find people to work in the oil and gas industry in Alberta, preferably Fort McMurray. Again, we also have other industries in the N.W.T. that seem to be lacking in that type of endeavour. So I’d like to ask the Minister: would he pass on a message to the N.W.T. Mining Association that they can try a similar arrangement by recruiting outside of the North Slave in the N.W.T.?

The diamond companies in the Slave Geologic Province have been leaders in hiring out northern employees in the N.W.T., particularly from the North Slave region. We were following very closely the announcement that Flint Energy had decided to also look at the N.W.T. in an attempt to hire skilled workers. Having worked with the diamond companies, the socio-economic agreements that the Northwest Territories has signed with them, it came up as a result of the environmental review process. Certainly, this is an area in which we are having discussions with the diamond companies, and we’re hoping to be able to work something out in the near future.

Mr. Speaker, there are some $300 million in wages leaving the Northwest Territories every year and going south in Canada. Yet for residents of the Northwest Territories to get a job, now they have to go to Alberta to find work because the companies in the Northwest Territories are not hiring Northwest Territories residents. I think that as a government we have a responsibility to ensure we take care of the interests of residents of the Northwest Territories first.

I’d like to ask the Minister again: would he make sure the N.W.T. Mining Association along with Diavik, BHP, and other companies make their best efforts to look outside the North Slave of the N.W.T.

and go to the Mackenzie Delta, to the Mackenzie Valley, and other places in the Northwest Territories to start recruiting other people from the Northwest Territories?

The three socio-economic agreements we have negotiated with the diamond companies require the hiring of employees from pick-up points at various centres in North Slave. The diamond companies have been quite successful in doing so. We are having discussions with them. We’ve expressed concern about arrangements whereby employees are being flown in directly from southern points, and we are having discussions with diamond companies to find the solution that would meet all of our different objectives.

Mr. Speaker, as a government I think we do have an obligation to the residents of the Northwest Territories I’d like to ask the Minister if he is willing to consider opening the socioeconomic agreement to expand it to include other regions of the Northwest Territories for employment in the mining industry.

The socio-economic agreements cannot be opened except by mutual consent, so we are looking at other avenues to increase the catchment area for the hiring of skilled N.W.T. employees.

Mr. Speaker, I believe that during the 15th Assembly the Minister’s predecessor opened

up that agreement and allowed more people to be flown in from southern Canada, with no consideration for other people in the Northwest Territories. Since that was the position given to the companies in the 15th Assembly, I don’t see why

this government could not also ask for an addition to that agreement, like we already gave in the previous negotiations. I’d like to ask the Minister again: will he consider opening up that agreement to ensure that there are more Northwest Territories residents working in the mining industry?

Mr. Speaker, certainly one of our objectives is to increase the hiring of Northwest Territories employees in all sectors. We think that we can achieve the objective that the Members laid out without having to open up the socio-economic agreements. We will be working towards that very end.

Mr. Speaker, I have questions for the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment.

On the news this morning there was more speculation about the Alaska pipeline and the

Mackenzie gas pipeline taking a major sidelining to the proposals and thoughts that are out there now on serving North American markets through liquefied natural gas. It seems an alternative. When it looked like there was a possibility for the Mackenzie Valley gas pipeline, we criticized this government heavily on the front of being prepared because we said when the diamonds were coming to the Northwest Territories, we didn’t get out ahead of it. We weren’t prepared.

So now, when the natural gas is coming, we encouraged our government to get involved right from the outset. Get people in positions; let’s be prepared. The government, in response to those requests, did so. Now we have people working in almost all departments, working on pipeline readiness.

In fact, I’d like to know how we are going to address all that build-up of expertise, planning and personnel should the pipeline not proceed at this time. The Mackenzie Gas Project offices have already been closed. What is the signal to the government by this other information coming forward on alternatives to our pipeline?

The government has been working very hard to be prepared for the pipeline. We realize there is significant lead time to make sure that we have people trained up and businesses ready to take advantage of the opportunities that will come with a pipeline.

I should point out that the offices in Inuvik, Norman Wells and Fort Simpson have not been closed; they have been downsized. Imperial Oil has indicated that they are doing so to wait the writing of the Joint Review Panel report, and they remain committed to the project. The Liquid Natural Gas reports that you are referring to…. This was something that the proponents had pointed out several years ago. We

were always aware that

LNG

was a real

alternative to a pipeline and that the technology was developing to the point where there are several locations in Canada where LNG terminals had started to be constructed. So this is something that we are aware of, and we want to ensure that we can advance the pipeline as quickly as the regulatory system allows.

Mr. Speaker, the eventuality of a Mackenzie Valley pipeline is something that has been debated extensively all through this process. Will it go, or will it not go? When will it go? This has been a question that has been out there.

Given the ramping up of positions and people in preparation for the pipeline on behalf of the Government of the Northwest Territories, do you have a contingency plan in place? Do you have an exit plan? Do you have something else these folks can do? Do you have other priorities they can turn

their attention to if the pipeline is postponed and deferred?

In the work that we are doing, with most of the positions for the government that would be affected, those skills are still transferrable. I would think that with the economy the way it is, there would probably be little difficulty in finding alternative employment for those affected employees. I think it would be more difficult for businesses that have ramped up in anticipation of the pipeline. Our expectation is still that the pipeline will go ahead, and we’re continuing to work on that basis.

I have been a big proponent of the government being prepared for the pipeline and making sure that Northerners are prepared, that industry is prepared, that as a government we are prepared. What kind of timelines are we looking at? You said you were waiting for the completion of the report of the regulatory bodies. What kind of a time frame are we looking at now to have that kind of information in hand?

Although we wanted this kind of preparation in place, at the same time, if there is a significant delay or postponement of the pipeline, we have financial pressures on us right now. We don’t want to be wasting money pursuing something that isn’t going to be forthcoming in the time frame we expected.

Mr. Speaker, the timelines that have been laid out indicate that the JRP report would be completed within four months after the hearings were completed. If you adhere to that, then you’re looking at early spring of 2008. If there’s any delay, it would push it back into the summertime, and as we all know, even for writing reports that would probably mean that it wouldn’t be available until the fall. That would be problematic, because it would probably push back the go–no go decision which the company would have to make probably within a year after the report has been concluded.

I’d like to know when was the most recent communication the Minister has had with the APG and the producers group and the proponents of the pipeline. When was the most recent communication that he had with them that causes him to still feel optimistic, and what is that vehicle for ongoing communication with our government and the business components of the pipeline?

We’ve been in communication with a number of people, most recently with Mr. David Hudson, the ministerial envoy for Minister Prentice, who is the lead on the Mackenzie Valley pipeline for the federal government. We’ve also had discussions with Randy Broiles of Imperial Oil and

the APG members, so we continue to remain optimistic.

Mr. Speaker, I believe quite firmly in the concept of lifelong learning, and I’ve been reading a lot of Greek mythology lately. I have to admit I did have a tongue-twister trying to describe this situation. In modern terms it’s referred to as a rock and a hard place. But in my reading it was called the Scylla and the Charybolis, and it was about that six-headed monster versus the monster that sinks your ship through whirlpools. I thought that perfectly — perfectly, I have to stress — describes the struggle of small business, where the monster of the system chews you up and spits you out and the whirlpool sinks you in paperwork.

Mr. Speaker, I find the frustration of small business is not getting the help they need when they need to try to get foreign workers and help with the paperwork of permanent residents.

My question to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment is: will he set up a program to help these small-business folks process that paperwork?

Mr. Speaker, the Department of Education does provide services and programs to assist with these immigrants in Canada. We do have various programs that we offer newcomers via Aurora College for English as a second language and also career counselling, job search assistance that the Member is asking for. And also the resume writing and job skills assistance. Those are just some of the areas that we are conducting at the department. I do believe that Industry and Tourism also provides various programs to assist businesses, but with our department we provide employment services programs that specifically highlight the individual’s needs. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I respect the Minister’s answer, but while I’m not going to say wrong, I don’t agree with him. The fact is, Mr. Speaker, I’m talking about people trying to get here. I’m talking about small businesses that want skilled and semi-skilled workers here to help do specialized jobs that they can’t get just walking out on the street and saying, “Here, I’ve got a job application. Please jump on board, and I’ll pay you.”

Mr. Speaker, we need talent. Sometimes we have to reach outside the N.W.T. That’s what I’m describing. I’m saying there’s a role for the Department of Education to play here.

Would the Minister of Education strike up a program that will help businesses so they can attract and fill out the paperwork needed to bring in

employees and possibly foreign workers to the Northwest Territories to fill those gaps created?

Our Department of Education, Culture and Employment is working closely with Citizenship and Immigration Canada, the federal government department, specifically dealing with the immigration status here in the North. There is an increasing number of immigrants to Canada and also specifically to the Northwest Territories. We are doing what we can as a department with the federal funding that we are receiving through immigrant settlement and adaptation programs. That is the program that we are initiating and that we are working with other departments to deal with the issue at hand. So we are delivering programs to assist those immigrants that are here in the North and also throughout Canada. Mahsi.

Mr. Speaker, the system, I hate to say, doesn’t exist to anyone out there on the street. The system must exist under some rock hidden in some broom closet or something, because I’ll tell you, we’ve got small businesses out there that need help filling out the paperwork . That’s what they need. They need someone to help them along with the process. They need someone to help them work with Citizenship Canada. They need that process. Not when they’re here, because when they’re here that’s not the problem. They just want to get them here. So the problem is getting them to the Northwest Territories and helping them with their temporary residency and turning them into permanent residents. Which, by the way, we get grant money of almost $20,000 a head for every one of these people. So it’s in our best interest.

Mr. Speaker, would the Minister of Education take into consideration what I’ve just said there and look at starting a program so that small business can tap into those skills to help them?

Mr. Speaker, again we do provide those programs and services to immigrants that are in the North. Also, with the business sector it does fall under Industry and Tourism, but with our department we are working with the program itself dealing with immigrants to the North. So we are doing our best with the programs that we have to assist those individuals from outside Canada that are immigrating to the North. There are various programs as highlighted, Mr. Speaker.

So we will continue to work with the federal government, within our Territorial departments, and improve and enhance our programs that we have currently in place. Mahsi.

Final supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, I am not going to say that I agree with the Minister, because I didn’t agree with that at all.

Mr. Speaker, there is no system to help a small business like a restaurant hire a professional cook who cooks a very special style. There’s no program out there that helps other small businesses bring in foreign workers so they can fill gaps for skilled and semi-skilled workers. He may have a system out there — who knows where — that helps them learn English. Yes, I know there are cases of that. I know that there are a few other things. But there’s nothing to help them with that.

By the way, if we think small business has nothing to do but fill out paperwork, we’ve got to be crazy. They’ve got a business to run. So the fact is we need a program.

Mr. Speaker, would the Minister please take the time and help me investigate this problem and solve this problem? Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, we will continue to work with the challenges that we’re faced with, with the retailers here in the North. It’s a challenge throughout the North, and also nationally. So we will continue to improve our services and programs. Mahsi.

My questions are for the Minister of ITI — Industry, Trade and Investment.

Northerners are certainly quite concerned, as are many Canadians, about the whole issue of climate change. They are aware that we need to do business a lot differently than we have been, and that it is not necessarily easy. They are willing to shoulder their responsibilities to provide leadership.

Mr. Speaker, I’m quite concerned about this policy of not allowing support to be spent in an environmentally responsible way. Will the Minister immediately review the so-called travel policy and make the change to allow environmentally responsible travel, at least when there’s no additional costs?

I guess I just want to point out to the Member that’s he’s referring to one incident that happened some time ago. I think, as a government, we are definitely responsible for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Certainly, if it can be shown that the purchase of carbon offsets will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, we would definitely find a way to put it into place. I guess a question is…. The practice of buying carbon offsets from travel agents. Does that really reduce the emission of greenhouse gases?

I had responded to the Member in response to a previous question. At that time he had indicated he would provide me with a list of travel agents he said

were able to do exactly that. We would have to satisfy ourselves that paying an extra $20 on an airline ticket to provide for carbon offsets would help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Once we were satisfied that was the case, then we would definitely bring forward a policy for the government to implement when making travel arrangements.

The Member also referenced my letter where I talked about the federal level. In a lot of our human resource practices, sometimes we look to see whether the federal government has done anything in that regard. We are definitely prepared to review that policy, and if it, in fact, will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, we would take forward a request.

I think the Minister misinterpreted my question. The situation was not that my constituent wanted to purchase an offset — in fact she did that, having been forced to travel by air. In this case the constituent wanted to travel by a means that would produce a lot fewer carbon emissions, because there is always the little bit of uncertainty with purchasing offsets. She wanted to travel by land at no additional cost to this government. She was not allowed to do it. She had to travel by air. We were forcing this person to be irresponsible in an environmental sense.

Let me expand on the question, here. I’m concerned that if this interpretation has been given to individuals, the same interpretation will be given to business, which is a big part of ITI’s responsibilities. I’d like to see this concern extended. I use this as a bit of a platform. Will this department review all of their policies with regard to identifying and encouraging opportunities for businesses, as well as individuals, to behave in more environmentally responsible ways at every opportunity when receiving support from this department?

I didn’t think I had misinterpreted, but with regard to the specific policy that he’s referring to — I guess it’s a travel policy — our objective is to make sure that the most economical mode of transportation is used. I’m prepared to review that policy.

With regard to further extending the reach of the government when it makes funding available, I’d be prepared to work with my colleague in implementing the Greenhouse Gas Strategy for the government.

I certainly agree with the most economical travel. This government has to be responsible economically, financially. Of course to do that we need full-cost accounting. Obviously air travel is, when it’s fully accounted for, one of the most expensive ways of travelling that’s possible in this world today. You need to account for the subsidies we give to the airports and so on.

Basically, we’ll let you do the necessary research and departmental self-education to engage in a full-cost accounting review in order to minimize our net costs and improve the health of our land and our people through a very aware full-cost accounting approach.

Yes, I’ll do the necessary research, and I’ll make sure that whatever we follow is consistent with the accounting treatments that are provided for by the Department of Finance.

Final supplementary, Mr. Bromley.

No supplementary, Mr. Speaker. Thank you very much to the Minister for that response.

Mr. Speaker, my questions today are for the Premier. It gets back to my Member’s statement from earlier, where I was talking about the Nunavut government signing a $242 million dollar deal over the next seven years with the federal government for infrastructure development in the Nunavut Territory. It got me wondering. I know the Building Canada fund. We’ve had much discussion here in the House about, well, I guess, what the definition of a list is. I have my own definition; cabinet seems to have their definition of what a list is.

I’d like to ask the Premier what plans his government has to secure a long-term infrastructure funding deal with Ottawa.

Mr. Speaker, we have been working with the federal government on a very similar plan to what the Nunavut government has just announced. It’s a combination of the Building Canada Fund and the municipal gas tax rebate that’s going to communities. We’ve been negotiating, and we’ll be signing an agreement in the very near future as well.

Mr. Speaker, I want to ask the Premier what resources are currently being deployed to secure this investment deal with the federal government. Is it the Department of Transportation, or is it the Department of Executive, Mr. Speaker?

Mr. Speaker, in this government we’ve given the lead to Municipal and Community Affairs and Transportation to work jointly on this initiative as the Building Canada Fund has those aspects to it.

Mr. Speaker, I’d like to request a timeline for when the Premier might have the two

departments come back to Members of this House with information pertaining to a deal with Ottawa.

Mr. Speaker, this agreement that has to be worked out has two levels of negotiations that need to be done. One is a framework agreement; following that a funding agreement. In the very near future they’ll be able to sign the framework agreement, and we’ll have an idea following that on the funding arrangement that will flow from that agreement.

Mr. Speaker, I don’t believe the funding is contingent on project-specific details. I just wanted to make that clear.

I’d like to ask the Premier: is the federal government looking for project specifics on funding, or is it just blanket funding for a period of time?

Mr. Speaker, the process that we’ve been involved with to date… Initially they were looking for us to look at a number of projects that could be attached to this agreement. We’ve had further discussions preparative to signing a framework agreement. We’ve been saying it’s fairly difficult to highlight project-specific funding when the agreement still includes the federal government having a say in what the final outcome will be on any project.

Mr. Speaker, today I talked about the importance of hiring qualified, properly trained recreation staff in our communities and the struggles many of our communities are experiencing with this. My questions today are directed toward the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs.

Geographically the North is unique in many factors, and these factors include the cost of living in each community. Taking this into account, can the Minister commit to taking the lead in developing standardized pay scales and job descriptions for recreation professionals?

Mr. Speaker, the Member’s statement regarding the challenges facing communities in hiring trained recreational workers and paying them a salary that is comparable across the board is something we’ve recognized for some time. The N.W.T. Sports and Recreation Council has recognized it. We’ve had some early discussions on it. They have been quite concerned about the level of investment that goes into the bigger events, such as our Winter Games, Canada Games, and want to have discussions about what the challenges are in the community and the possibility of redirecting finances. So my answer to the Member is: we will be entering those

discussions, and I would be glad to share that information with the Member.

Mr. Speaker, if the community is able to hire qualified, properly trained recreation professionals, that usually means the individual will be hired from outside the community, in many cases from the south. Because of this, sometimes problems can arise because of cultural differences between the new employee and a community and its residents. It would be ideal to hire local individuals who work with recreation professionals and the community. Would the Minister commit to developing standardized job descriptions and pay scales for these local recreation positions?

Over the years we have really made the attempt to enhance our investments in our communities to deal with some of the real challenging areas. Recreation, of course, has been one area that we needed to see improvements in. We’ve increased the O&M funding to all our communities across the Territories, and in some cases that has been fairly significant. However, the investments are at the community council level — sometimes recreation doesn’t come out on the top, and other priorities overcome it in terms of investment.

We have certainly tried to expand our School of Community Government programs to be able to take in training for recreation workers and people at the community level. Nunavut Arctic College, of course, has a Recreation Leaders Program. We’re still in the position where we need investment from the community. We need to be able provide support. We need to be able to take a look at the whole issue of recreation leaders, recreation workers in the communities. As I indicated earlier, I’d be willing to look at that.

At one time the Department of Municipal Affairs provided a wage subsidy to these communities for recreation programmers and facilities maintainers. But with the new funding formula for financing communities, this was done away with. Mr. Speaker, attracting and retaining good, qualified recreation staff continues to be a constant challenge for our communities.

Would the Minister commit to once again providing a wage subsidy to allow communities to have competitive wage and benefit packages for recreation professionals in communities?

I guess I should first point out that recreation workers work for the community governments and not for our government directly. We, in turn, have, through the new deal program, really tried to enhance the government funding in the communities. We also have a community recreation contribution program which all communities can apply to. We, as a government,

spend roughly $5 million in the area of sports and recreation. The N.W.T. Sport and Recreation Council spends close to the same, around $4.5 million. We have increased our money through the youth centres, the youth contribution. So there is quite a lot of support. We are moving forward to providing money for the Territorial sports organizations.

Mr. Speaker, it is difficult to make a commitment here in light of all of the reviews we are doing and be able to comfortably say that we will directly increase the support through recreation board programs.

There was a dispute regarding the numbers of the caribou count in the 15th Assembly.

I would like to pose my question to the Minister of ENR today. I would like to ask him if there was a second count using local input and local knowledge, and what was the outcome of the count?

Mr. Speaker, back in 2005, as the Member indicated, there was work done, and we were asked to redo it, just to confirm it. We made sure that we used local people. We worked with various co-management boards, and they in effect confirmed that there has been, in all the herds that had been surveyed, right from Cape Bathurst to the Bluenose, west and east in Bathurst, significant decline. We have done a small amount of work with the Beverly and Dolphin caribou, and initial concerns are there as well. It is anticipated that there will be Porcupine as well that have not been surveyed for about four years or so. This will also be down at least 20 per cent.

I thank the Minister for that. I would like to ask him, based on the dwindling numbers, how much longer can the caribou last?

Mr. Speaker, this is a very complex issue, where there are a number of key factors, including things like the changing climate, resource development, predation, increased insects, hunting. We are very concerned, as the Member is. We are going to continue to invest the funds to do the monitoring.

I’d like to point out that we are the only jurisdiction in, I believe, North America that is doing the amount of work that has been done on caribou, to try to come to a better understanding of what is happening. Clearly the signals are there. We have to pay attention and adjust the things that we can control, which are going to be access to the caribou when hunting, the type of resource development and habitat fragmentation.

So the trends and projections are that things are not looking good. We are committed to monitoring them and working with the co-management boards to make the right decisions to ensure that we don’t let this slide continue.

I’d like to ask the Minister if there have been discussions with the Yukon government as to jointly doing the Porcupine caribou herds, and when can we expect that?

There have been ongoing discussions with the Yukon. They’ve tried to do the surveys during the summers. The last three years have been unsuccessful due to a number of circumstances, be it forest fires or inclement weather. The pressure is on them again this year to do the work. They know it has to be done. We sit on that board, and we are very concerned that we do get an up-to-date census.

Final supplementary, Mr. McLeod.

I thank the Minister again for that. Last year, I believe, there was a caribou summit held up in Inuvik, and there was a lot of discussion on the demise of the caribou and actions that could be taken to help the caribou herds. People, I think now, are looking for some action. We realize that there is a decline, and now we are looking for some action.

I’d like to ask the Minister if the department has had discussions with the aboriginal governments on the declining numbers, and do they share our concerns with the numbers?

The work that's been done in terms of the caribou numbers has been done in full partnership and co-operation with the aboriginal governments and the various co-management boards that exist all the way up north, with Inuvialuit, Gwich'in, Sahtu, now with the Tlicho. We have consulted as well in the North Slave.

It’s very critical, and we have an obligation and an absolute necessity to make sure we consult with the aboriginal governments, and through the co-management boards, we've done that.

The various co-management boards have reviewed the data that's come in to them and made recommendations that have been acted on in terms of restriction of the hunt and other recommendations they’ve made to try to preserve the herds.

My questions today are directed to the Minister Responsible for Environment and Natural Resources.

As discussed in my Member’s statement, I was talking about the Energy Efficiency Incentive Program, with specific reference to the rebate available for hybrid vehicles.

In my opinion, the intent is good. The intent of the program is to help residents reduce their energy costs and, at the same time, reduce greenhouse gases. Unfortunately, it’s a new program, and there are some limitations. It does limit our residents’ choices. In order to get the rebate, they have to buy a vehicle that's available through a Northern vendor. This eliminates a lot of very efficient vehicles that fall within the intent.

I'd like the Minister to commit to reviewing this program and removing the limitations placed in the program on individual choice.

We, as well, consider this to be a good program and with a laudable intent. I am aware of the concern raised by the Member. There has been some correspondence over the lack of choice.

I have indicated, and I'll commit in this House, that I will be prepared to review this particular program — it’s been running now for a year or so — as well as to talk about this with committee in terms of whatever other amendments may be deemed necessary, looking back, now that we've had some time to see how effective this program and others are.

I'd like to follow up on a Member’s statement I made last week on the health care card imbalance issue, where there are more health care cards in our system than there are people in the N.W.T. With the pressures to reduce costs, this area should be seriously examined.

I was very pleased, though, during my research, to hear that the Department of Health and Social Services and the Minister’s office were aware of this issue. I’m really interested to know what steps are being taken, to date, to address this situation.

Mahsi.

I thank the Member for the question. We are taking steps, both on a long-term and short-term basis.

In the longer term, we will be sending out renewal forms for health care cards in 2009. We're looking at options in detail about what extra measures we could put in place to verify the residency of health care card holders, and what kind of documents we could ask for that, and to meet all the technical requirements in doing so.

We will be looking at possibly asking for tax files as well as asking for physical residential addresses in cases where the address is written down as PO box numbers.

In the short term, the department is already auditing files to look at the patterns of claims being made, where the services are being done and where the products are being bought. If many of those are happening outside of the jurisdiction for any length of time, they are being re-looked at, to verify the residency.

There are many other things being considered to make sure that we take measures to balance those numbers.

We understand that there will always be that discrepancy, but we just want to make sure that those are for the right reasons.

Of course, there are long-term and short-term residents here. It has always been felt that some received health cards because they had lived here for six months, got employment, and now reside somewhere else but still work in the mines. I don't know if the Minister’s office is able to reconcile that difference if they actually live here, like you said.

For the most part, some of it will be easy. Some living in my communities, like in Nahanni Butte and Jeanne Marie, are life-long residents. I think it would be easier to assess those. But determining the people that are not living here and if there are such people utilizing our much-needed resources for our Northern people…. That is the issue. How is the Minister going to continue to address that in the short term once again? Mahsi.

Absolutely, I don’t think any of us want to be paying for health care benefits for other than those who are residents here.

We do have a large transient population. We get about 150 applications a week for health care cards. So we are building in a process to make sure that we do monthly audits. There are audits being done of all these files on a daily basis and a monthly basis to look at any kind of pattern of out-of-jurisdiction claims, whether of services or medication for extended periods of time. Whether there’s inactive/activity on file for any length of time, we want to make sure that those residents are still living in the North.

Many of those transient populations use PO box numbers as their address, and this is why we want to put the physical address as being required information. Also, we’re looking at the possibility of requiring tax files to prove their residency in our 2009 renewal process. So that’s precisely the reason why we’re looking at these options.

Is there an existing system right now, Mr. Speaker, wherein the department can track those people that actually are non-resident, or is there a way to determine how many people that are using our existing cards are not from here?

All the cards, the people who are registered with health cards, are assumed to be residents of the North unless they are proven otherwise. I could advise the House that we get reports from Blue Cross on a regular basis for all out-of-town claims where the services are purchased from outside. We do look at inactive and irregular files to make sure that those claims are from people who live here. We do understand that there is a possibility that among those 5,000 claims we have, there is a possibility. So we’re strengthening our check and balance systems to make sure that all those who have a health care card currently are active and residents of the N.W.T.

Just for the record, I think my research said there were 46,000 health care cards and 42,000 residents. Perhaps the Minister can clarify that if she’s got the numbers in front of her.

As of October 2007 there were 41,425 residents, according to the latest census. As of February 6, 2008, we have 45,991 health care cards. I can advise you that in the last health care renewal in 2005, we did receive 5,000 health care cards returned, because when the health care cards go out there is a specific instruction that says it cannot be forwarded outside of the jurisdiction. Many of them are cancelled. We expect that we probably will have that this time around, but in the short term, we’re making sure that all claims are from residents and that they in fact live in the Northwest Territories.

In my statement I talked about the Remote Community Wind Energy Conference, which was held in December of this past year. Actually, I believe it was November; I’ll correct myself. The conference report was expected in January of ’08, and it’s now February.

So my question is to the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources. I wondered when we could expect to receive a report on the conference proceedings.

Before the end of this fiscal year.

That was before the end of this fiscal year, so I guess that will be the 31st of March. Okay,

thank you.

When can we expect to see a community identified for the wind energy demo project that was a

recommendation from the conference

? I

t also was

a recommendation in two reports from 2007.

There is work underway as we speak. There have been wind monitors put out to do wind mapping to check the patterns of the wind across the North, there is a Wind Energy Committee, and as well, Minister McLeod is the chair of the energy coordinating committee.

For the government, in this issue of responding to the recommendations that came out of the Wind Conference in Tuktoyaktuk, one of the things on our agenda…. NTPC has the RFP ready to go, to move on this subsequent to the discussion that we are going to be having here in the next week or so with the energy coordinating committee. So there is a lot of work underway.

I would just like to point out that we need to do the base work, because one of the recommendations out of the conference is the observation from other jurisdictions that if you just do a one-off project all by itself, it’s doomed to failure. We have to do the right work with the wind mapping — make sure the infrastructure is in place to support it and make sure that the utility, the community governments, the Territorial government and individuals buy into this. So that’s part of our challenge. We are moving on this, as I just indicated.

I’d like to follow up and ask the Minister when he expects there will be some sort of advancement of the development of the regulatory and policy framework that is required in regard to selling and producing wind energy.

At this point the best answer I could give would be: in the fullness of time and in due course.

Laughter.

There is preliminary work that has to be done in terms of just determining where we would do the pilot project, the kind of other work such as the net to chargeback power. We have to work with NTPC to hook it up so it’s compatible with diesel. There’s a lot of actual logistical work before we have the systems in place, but that’s one of the pieces, and the Member is very accurate in pointing out that we need all these pieces in place to proceed over the long term.

“Fullness of time” is a little difficult to define, but I will accept the Minister’s answer.

Just to clarify, will the work start on the development of the regulatory and policy framework? As well, will we be able to see an

operating wind turbine somewhere in some community in the N.W.T. in 2009?

What I will commit to is that through the energy coordinating committee we would be prepared to work with and report back to committee on the work that we’re going to do and the plans that we’re going to lay out to try to advance this initiative in a way that is going to allow full engagement at the community level, as well as with other governments, like the federal government. They need to buy into this process and hopefully put in some resources and lay out some of the steps we would have to take in terms of the infrastructure as well as whatever other legal requirements may be there to do this properly.

My questions are for the Premier, to do with Deh Cho Bridge. I must have missed the dozens of briefings that were provided….

Interjection

Check the attendance record? I think I was there.

Thirty-five years is a long time. There was a cost-benefit analysis done. There are projections. It’s a business case based on volumes of traffic that will go over the bridge that will pay a commercial toll, which will in turn help the Deh Cho Bridge Corporation make the payments on the construction of the bridge.

I would like to know if the G.N.W.T. is going to guarantee the bridge construction loan.

I haven’t been a party to any discussions on guaranteeing a loan beyond the $9 million guarantee we have in place. There is, however, a commitment, as the Members know, that above and beyond the operational money that goes into the ferry and ice crossing, the government did commit another $2 million a year so the tolls could remain acceptable and within the limits established in the Act.

Mr. Speaker, how can the Premier assure us that our contribution to the Deh Cho Bridge project is capped at $2 million per year? And I understand it is indexed. How are we going to set the money that is going to go into the bridge project that is related to the ferry operations and the creation, construction and maintenance of the ice bridge? We’ve got dollar values on those now. Are those going to be subject to increase, as well, as time goes ahead? Is there anything on this that’s capped? Are the tolls for the commercial tonnage capped? Is our contribution capped? Is the other

contribution that’s laid out capped at anything, or is this just going to turn into a free-for-all?

Mr. Speaker, the framework that is in place for the Deh Cho Bridge Project allows for indexing, as the Member has stated, whether it’s the $2 million figure that is out there, the fixed-price contract that’s established out there right now — that’s with the Bridge Corporation and the contractor that will be going ahead with the construction of that bridge…. As for any changes, that would have to occur as highlighted. The changes that would have to be approved would have to be approved in this House, once the bridge is in place and transportation starts flowing across it.

Mr. Speaker, I find it interesting that any changes to this government’s contribution would have to be approved by the House, because the $2 million we are putting in was never approved by this House. Let the record show we never approved the $2 million a year indexed over 35 years. So I don’t know what it means when the Premier says it would have to be approved by the House. What does that mean?

Mr. Speaker, I’m going to ask the Premier: who is paying the $10 million fully funded contingency for the Deh Cho Bridge?

Mr. Speaker, the contingency is part of the overall construction contract, and that would be through the loan the Bridge Corporation would be getting.

I’d like to ask the Premier: would the bridge project have collapsed if the bridge contractor from New Brunswick had not stepped up the day before the deadline with an additional $2 million equity? Would the bridge project have collapsed without that?

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Your question is hypothetical. I will allow the Minister to answer.

As the Member highlighted in her Member’s statement, the concession agreement talked about a maximum of $5 million equity. The Bridge Corporation could have come in lower than that, and we could have, in fact, as a government, looked at it if they had a dollar value. Of course, that would severely affect their rate of return. But there was a maximum — not a minimum — set, as the Member stated.

Mr. Speaker, there has been a plan on the books for a number of years to consolidate the clinics in Yellowknife to create a downtown

consolidated clinic. There has been a business case made to do this, basically on the principles that we can take our existing staff and our doctors and we can put them all together and provide more services for less money. So what seems to be the problem? There is money in the budget. Where is this plan today?

Mr. Speaker, the Member is well aware that we will be reviewing our interim appropriation in due course. I believe it is on the agenda. I would not be able to speak about what is in the detail of that.

I would be happy to talk to the Members about some benefits of consolidation of clinics in Yellowknife. It’s a project that has been going on for a very long time. It’s an idea I support. I look forward to having more discussions on that in due course, in the fullness of time.

The time for question period has expired. I will allow supplementary questions. Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I encourage the Minister, in this case, to talk about it now. What better place than this Assembly?

In a time where efficiency is…. We have a dire need to create efficiencies within our system. If we can prove the fact — which has been done already — to create a system that gives us more efficiencies, better service for less dollars, what’s the problem here?

Mr. Speaker, where is this plan in the process? There has been capital money already directed toward this project. What’s happening to date?