Good afternoon, colleagues. Colleagues, it is with great sadness that I inform the House of the passing of former Deputy Commissioner Mr. Cal Mains. Mr. Mains was appointed Deputy Commissioner of the Northwest Territories by the Privy Council of Canada on October 25, 2001, and served until June 11, 2004.

Mr. Mains passed away on October 9, 2008. Services will be held for him today at 2 o’clock at the Anglican Church in Hay River. On behalf of all the Members of the Legislative Assembly I wish to offer the sincere condolences of this House to the family and friends of Calvin “Cal” Mains.

Orders of the Day. Item 2, Ministers’ statements. The honourable Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Mr. Bob McLeod.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to inform this Assembly that the Northwest Territories Business Development and Investment Corporation, in partnership with the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada and Aboriginal Business Canada, will be hosting the third biennial Northern Economic Development Practitioners Conference in Yellowknife from December 1 to 4, 2008.

The theme for NEDP 2008 is Building Northern Capacity — an excellent fit with this Assembly’s goals and priorities for the development of our economy and our people.

Northern economic development practitioners — including community economic development officers, Community Futures staff, and federal and territorial government employees — all play a vital

role in meeting the needs of residents across the territory through the promotion and delivery of programs and services to our business community.

This conference will bring together approximately 100 economic development service providers from across the Northwest Territories. Participants will receive relevant training, increase their awareness of the programs and services available, and learn about future business prospects in the territory.

Mr. Speaker, NEDP 2008 will be an opportunity for practitioners to communicate directly with industry representatives and to make sure that the programs and services available to northern entrepreneurs are relevant, coordinated and focused on helping them to take advantage of development opportunities as they emerge.

In addition to the four host organizations, the conference planning committee includes the NWT Community Futures Association, the Rural Secretariat and the NWT Regional Program Management Advisory Committee. This project, Mr. Speaker, is an excellent example of how we are working together to ensure that our business community has the skills, knowledge and resources to realize its full potential.

I would like to thank the staff from the BDIC, the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment and each of our partner organizations for their ongoing efforts to make this year’s Northern Economic Development Practitioners Conference a success.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Robert McLeod.

Mr. Speaker, a priority of the 16th Legislative Assembly is to work with

families, communities and schools to improve the physical and mental well-being of our youth. An investment in the development of one of our most important resources, our youth, will help us achieve that objective.

The Youth Secretariat, within Municipal and Community Affairs, continues to promote healthy choices and lifestyles by improving youth programming in the Northwest Territories. Two new youth officer positions have been created in regional centres to provide support for all NWT communities and improve our ability to deliver on this commitment.

Mr. Speaker, MACA continues to deliver the Positive Role Models Program. This program involves positive role models from a variety of sectors travelling to our communities to deliver healthy lifestyle and positive choice messages to youth. In addition to the two new regional youth positions, existing staff, such as four-time Olympian Sharon Firth, are an integral part of this program.

The department is supporting additional regional youth conferences to provide a forum for youth to discuss important topics such as leadership and making healthy lifestyle choices. It is anticipated that several hundred youth will have the opportunity to participate in these events.

Mr. Speaker, one of the unique new elements of our youth programming will be the involvement of participants from prior youth initiatives. Over the past three years MACA has supported the participation of hundreds of youth from across the Northwest Territories in initiatives like the Youth Ambassador and the Northern Youth Abroad programs.

Many graduates of these programs have expressed an interest in being involved in future projects and helping other youth seek out positive opportunities for their own development. The department will now be actively recruiting these young leaders to participate in upcoming role model tours, youth conferences and other youth related events. While we assist these young people in achieving their goals, we will help develop the next generation of community leaders.

I ask Members to join me in expressing our appreciation and continued support to all youth of the NWT.

Applause.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Lafferty.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. The past several months have been very busy for the Apprenticeship and Occupational Certification program. In 2007 a review of the program was

initiated by the Department of Education, Culture and Employment. This review was commissioned to ensure the system remained responsive to the demand for tradespeople in the North and across Canada.

The review provided 22 recommendations, some of which were initiated immediately upon completion of the report. An executive summary and an action plan addressing these recommendations were recently released to the public. These actions include changes to administrative and legislative processes, data collection, analysis and communications. These changes are streamlining activities, making the system more efficient for employers and tradespeople.

There is evidence of results, with the number of registered apprentices climbing by almost 25 per cent this fall, from about 320 for the past several years to just over 400 as of September 1, 2008. This increase in numbers may be in part because of changes to the apprenticeship system, but it also speaks to the increase in demand for tradespeople by employers.

Our apprenticeship program can be successful only if northern employers have jobs to fill. The Apprenticeship and Occupational Certification program is a natural and essential partnership between this government and employers. One of the first actions resulting from the review was the establishment of trades advisory committees for five key NWT trades. The employers and tradespeople who give their time to these committees will be key to maintaining current information about the needs and demands in specific trades.

I would like to thank all the stakeholders who participated in the review and whose recommendations have proved invaluable in maintaining the efficiency and effectiveness of the Apprenticeship and Occupational Certification program. I believe the review will have a real impact in ensuring that trades opportunities for Northerners continue to improve and flourish.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Item 3, Members’ statements. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I will devote my Member’s statement to the life and memory of Cal Mains. Mr. Mains is survived by his wife of 55 years, Alice, his daughters, Catherine and Anne, and his son, Sandy. Our condolences are extended to them at this time.

There is much to be celebrated of his life and his contribution to the North. Mr. Mains first moved to the North in 1950, serving as an RCMP officer in the communities of Aklavik, Herschel Islands and Tuktoyaktuk before retiring from the staff sergeant position in 1969 in Fort Smith. He also served for a time in the Yukon.

After retiring from the RCMP, Mr. Mains served as the deputy clerk of the Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories in Yellowknife. Mr. Mains is a veteran and a member of the Royal Canadian Legion, having served in the Canadian Navy during the Second World War.

Cal Mains is one of those quiet treasures whose presence made a significant impression on the people of the North for almost 60 years. During his 34 years in Hay River he was well known for his beautiful garden; his backyard was an oasis of colour and fragrance, with a screened gazebo where he and his wife, Alice, were able to enjoy the warm subarctic summer evenings.

He was an avid follower of local, territorial and federal politics. He had strong opinions about the issues of the day. He took his involvement in community and country very seriously. In that sense I would characterize him not only as a notable Northerner but an amazing Canadian who captured many of the things that we as Canadians are known for and take our greatest pride in.

This past Canada Day I took a photograph of him with his wife and his daughter Catherine at the high tea sponsored by the Hay River Museum Society. He was a very tall and striking man, very photogenic and often photographed at Legion Remembrance Day services and community events. It didn’t enter my mind that day that this could be the last picture I would take of him; he enjoyed relatively good health until his recent illness.

His family, friends and neighbours in Hay River will miss him. He was a gentleman, devoted partner, dedicated father and friend who lived his life with integrity, honour and a serving nature. I will personally miss his support, encouragement and sense of humour.

His funeral will start in Hay River at 2 o’clock, where his family and friends will gather. I wish I could be there, but I know that Cal would understand my commitment to my duties here today. May he rest in peace.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to discuss the issue of diamonds and diamond policy today. The Northwest Territories produces almost 15 per cent of the global production of diamonds. We are the third largest producer of gem diamonds in the world today.

The city of Yellowknife is known as the Diamond Capital of North America, and rightly so, as we’ve been mining diamonds just north of the city for over ten years. We have four operating diamond mines in our territory. Yet as a government I believe we have been failing to ensure that our territory can benefit as much as possible from our diamond resources.

The last government made a number of bad decisions. One of those was to do away with the diamond division at ITI. We need to get to work on updating and enhancing our diamond policy. And here’s a news flash: the Northwest Territories is not the only jurisdiction mining diamonds in Canada. Ontario, Saskatchewan and Quebec are moving forward with projects. The Victor Mine in northern Ontario has made Ontario a player in the diamond industry. Unlike the Government of the Northwest Territories, the Government of Ontario is taking the opportunity in diamonds seriously. They are looking at cut and polish plants in places like Timmins and Sudbury, and there’s also a great deal of interest in the establishment of a diamond bourse, or exchange, which is well underway in southern Canada. Town hall meetings were held recently in August in Vancouver, Montreal and Toronto to discuss the feasibility of a diamond bourse in Canada.

On June 19 of this year I predicted that other jurisdictions would pass us by. Mr. Speaker, this is happening, and we should be ashamed of ourselves. For a jurisdiction that has four operating mines, this is inexcusable.

After ten years a review of policies, objectives and strategies is long overdue. I’m afraid we just don’t get it or we just don’t understand what our potential is here in the Northwest Territories. There is no reason why we cannot set up a diamond bourse, or exchange, here in the rightful diamond capital of North America. If you have the diamonds, people will come, and there are examples of this around the world.

The fact remains that we are not progressing in this area. We need more value added industry in our territory. Why is it we are just sitting back and letting Ontario steal our thunder? I get the feeling that the Government of the Northwest Territories just does not care about diamonds and what their potential means to our economy and to our territory.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Beaulieu.

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Today I’d like to talk about the RCMP Special Constable program and the important role it can play in community justice. In the past I can remember that this program was an excellent way of recruiting aboriginal police officers. Also having local individuals serve as special constables worked well for both communities and the RCMP.

Unfortunately, because of the mobility nature of RCMP members relocating from one community to another after only a few years, it can present a challenge to the RCMP to maintain continuity. With the Special Constable program this situation can be resolved.

In smaller communities it is not uncommon to find residents who are quite happy to live in these communities. They grew up there; their families and friends are there. These individuals have no plan to leave their community. Some of these individuals may have aspirations to work as RCMP members. Many can already be counted on to volunteer for security when it comes to helping out with community events.

With the Special Constable program these community individuals can now pursue their aspirations with the RCMP and not have to leave their communities. In addition to these individuals, the Special Constable program can be an excellent way to recruit new regular members as special constables. They can get real, on the job training, work with members and learn all about the RCMP. With this experience they are able to make a better decision about taking the next steps to become regular RCMP members or to remain in the community as special constables.

Here in the Northwest Territories I believe there can be a real benefit to the communities and the RCMP by having a Special Constable program. I have been waiting for an announcement on this. I believe that announcement was to be made this fall. However, with the recent federal election I’m not sure when the announcement will be made. Later on today I will follow up my statement with questions for the Minister of Justice.

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.

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Mr. Speaker, one of the biggest issues for my constituents in Jean Marie River and other small Deh Cho communities is that they cannot afford to become homeowners, even with the program the Government of the Northwest Territories has in place.

There are not a lot of economic opportunities in my region, making it difficult for people to take on the responsibility of home ownership. Even if they qualify for a mortgage, Mr. Speaker, it is often beyond their means when you factor in their other monthly costs like groceries, vehicle payments and other expenses.

As I travel to the communities in my constituency, there are houses that sit empty while many families have serious housing needs. People want to be homeowners, but the cost of living makes that goal out of their reach. One of the challenges is the way the Housing Corporation calculates the core needs income threshold.

As I understand it, the way the income threshold for the home ownership program assistance is calculated is based on the construction costs, land costs, interest rates and shelter costs of a particular community. What isn’t factored in to this is an extremely high cost of living in all our smaller communities. If the core need income threshold included an adjustment that took into account the cost of living differentials between communities, it could bring the cost of home ownership down to a more affordable level for many residents in our small communities.

Interest rates are another part of the core needs income threshold calculation that could be examined. If a percentage of the mortgage rate were subsidized by the Housing Corporation, it could be used as another tool that could make home ownership more affordable for NWT residents.

The NWT Housing Corporation is trying to promote home ownership, but for many people the costs are just too high. We all agree that having a good home is the foundation to a healthy, secure and independent lifestyle. We need to make sure that the programs that are in place to support this goal actually work. I urge the Minister responsible to review the way in which home ownership assistance is calculated to make home ownership more affordable in our smaller communities. Mahsi Cho, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Jacobson.

Calculating and comparing the cost of food in communities such as Sachs Harbour — it’s a large centre — can often be complex and tedious. Various models can be used along with certain programs. However, results of these are always the same: it is impossible for an average family in Nunakput in the NWT on an average income to practise healthy eating.

Mr. Speaker, my region of Nunakput is by far the most expensive in the region. If it comes to the cost of eating healthy — the situation being equal dollar for dollar — people in Nunakput live in poverty conditions more than any other riding in the Northwest Territories because of this high cost of food. This has to change.

While travelling through my region, I see many people at the airport stuffing their bags full of groceries even after paying $5.77 per kilogram for excess baggage. This means that a carton of milk costs $4 in Inuvik, and in the communities it would be $10. Other purchase options such as food mail possess a unique set of challenges and costs. I think this is a great shame, for many of our elders in Nunakput have to choose between food or various health care related expenses.

While visiting elders across Nunakput, I see a growing trend: empty cupboards and refrigerators in our great territory. This is unacceptable. Many communities in the North have food banks and alternative access to healthy eating. We are not so fortunate in my small communities. As I have mentioned during our previous sittings, the cost of living in Nunakput is around 81 per cent higher than in Yellowknife, but when it comes to specific consumables necessary for healthy living, the difference can be as high as 300 per cent.

This government has a choice. Are we going to treat those who are in small isolated communities the same when it comes to tackling active, healthy living? Mr. Speaker I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

Unanimous consent granted

The large community and small isolated communities are the same. Has it come to active living barriers, or is this government going to seriously implement realistic measures to obtain affordable, accessible and reliable food for all Northerners? We owe this to our elders, our residents and our communities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Jacobson. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to talk about the core challenges being faced by our communities.

You may have been listening to the radio during the last day, this morning and this afternoon, in regard to the housing crisis we have in our community, providing housing to our professional people who are supplying services from education to policing to health care, mental health, social services, SAOs, band managers — you name it. Without adequate housing in our communities for professionals to provide those services, those services will not be acted on.

Mr. Speaker, a critical component of any society is to ensure that the social and economic well-being of the community is sustained by ensuring that programs and services operate, such as education, health care, policing and municipal services. Yet we find ourselves in a predicament that was dealt with several years ago in regard to a government initiative called market housing in communities to provide housing where there was a non-market community.

As we hear in the news, teachers have to face the challenge of finding housing and the high cost of operating and maintaining units in our communities. The situation is not unique to any particular community or region, but it is essentially clear that those communities that are affected most by this scenario are the non tax based, non market communities. As a government we have a responsibility to find unique initiatives, unique ways of dealing with these challenges.

I don’t want to use the bad words by saying staff housing, but we might have to face the reality that that’s what it possibly will be. This government decision, made in the 13th Assembly, to sell off staff

housing has come back to haunt us. As a government we have a responsibility to ensure that everything is done either through Market Housing Initiatives, assistance through loan guarantees — such as corporate loan guarantees, which are provided to the Housing Corporation — and any other initiative that can be there to assist communities.

Mr. Speaker, I will be asking the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment questions on this matter later. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Over the Thanksgiving weekend I spent some time in Fort Providence with my father-in-law, and there we spent some time on the Mackenzie River. I thought about that the time I was there, when we put the net in and we caught some fish. I thought about the Mackenzie River in terms of the type of protection that the Mackenzie River is receiving now, the type of protection that it should receive if we are not protecting it.

I was looking at the Deh Cho Bridge. I’ve been on the Mackenzie River and the Sahtu. We have to use that portion of the Mackenzie River as a highway, because we do not yet have the highway to drive into our region. I thought about this with my little boy as we were on the Mackenzie River: what types of protection, at the end of the day, are we giving to the Mackenzie River in terms of the fuel spill that happened on the Mackenzie River?

The transportation route as proposed by ATCLand another company in terms of barging down huge supplies for the Alberta tar sands…. Even the tar sands is coming up in our discussions many times in terms of when it will stop and how it is affecting the people on the Mackenzie River.

The Mackenzie River is homeland to Inuvialuit, the Métis and the Dene people. It is rich in culture, rich in history. It has lots of animals: fish, caribou, lynx. We live off the land. Mr. Speaker, we do have a tool that is in front of us right now called the Protected Areas Strategy. This tool is to help us protect our land and water. At the end of the day that is going to sustain our life for generations to come, and I want to state that this area has been talked about by many elders in the past in terms of how we protect water and land.

We cannot drink oil; we cannot drink gas or money, but the water is the containment. The second tool that we have is called the NWT Water Resource Management Strategy. There is lots of pressure on our water system. It’s very sacred and very sensitive and very culturally rooted to our lives in the Mackenzie Valley.

I would have questions to the Minister of ENR in terms of how he proposes to protect the Mackenzie Valley. I would like our people in the Mackenzie Valley to be put first, before development, so we know that we could put this into our books of history — a thought that it is very good for our children. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In 2006 two fuel spills occurred in the community of N’dilo as a result of old leaking fuel tanks at the private residences of elders. Neither of these elders had house insurance, and the Yellowknife Dene First Nation now faces a bill of $163,000 to remediate the spill.

These spills could easily have been prevented, which makes the environmental and financial costs that much more regrettable. The Yellowknife Dene First Nation has been in contact with the Housing Corporation on two separate occasions over eight months and has not received a formal response to the request for fuel tank replacement.

As of right now the Housing Corp has still not taken a proactive response to fuel tank replacement through the Contributing Assistance for Repairs and Enhancements program, or CARE. Both of the elders who had spills on their property had low incomes and would have been eligible for the CARE program. The Yellowknife Dene has shown its own initiative to prevention by replacing ten aging fuel tanks in public housing and buildings in their communities.

The Housing Corporation has failed to show a similar commitment of its own by implementing similar measures for private residences eligible for the CARE program. The policy is only useful if it is implemented in a way that actually benefits those who are under its mandate.

The Yellowknife Dene Housing Division has conducted an inventory of the fuel tanks of low income elders from the two communities, which they have submitted to the Housing Corp. The Housing Corporation has a responsibility through the CARE program to fund and implement a program to replace the aging tanks in these communities before there are more costly fuel spills. There are about 18 elders that might fit the bill there.

Unnecessary spills represent a huge waste of financial and human resources at a time when both are in short supply. Also, there is significant destruction to the elders’ lives with each event. This government is supposed to be about prevention. Instead of choosing to deal with leaky fuel tanks as and when they occur, let’s choose to be progressive, replace these tanks immediately and show the elders the respect and leadership they and our land deserve.

I will be asking the Minister of Housing questions on this. Mahsi.