Good afternoon, colleagues. Welcome back to the House.

Before we begin, colleagues, I would like to point out that we have special interpreters joining us today. The Assembly is assisting in a pilot project operated through the Yamazhaku Society with support from the Department of Education, Culture and Employment to obtain interpreters in our aboriginal languages. The Assembly has agreed to provide the training experience for these students.

We have with us today students who are interpreting in the Chipewyan language. The Assembly is happy to assist in this worthwhile endeavour.

I rise on a point of order under Rule 492(1) of Beauchesne’s Parliamentary Rules and Forms, which states that a Minister is not at liberty to read quotes for dispatch or other state paper not before the House without being prepared to lay it on the Table. This is in context to the Premier’s response to my questions yesterday when I was asking questions about the concession agreement.

On page 23 of unedited Hansard, Mr.

Roland

referred to eligible and ineligible costs that could affect different firms involved and also spoke to issues of guaranteed price, fixed-price contracts, refund of contingency, bonding, independent engineer auditing in construction, project management board and numerous other things related to the Deh Cho project, which I think are matters which are contained in documents that are not before this House.

Under these circumstances, I would ask the Premier if he would be prepared to table the concession agreement between the Deh Cho Bridge Corporation and the government of the Northwest Territories.

Mrs. Groenewegen has risen on a point of order at the first opportunity and quoted the rule under the point of order. I will allow a bit of debate on this point of order. To the point of order, Mrs. Groenewegen.

As I have said on numerous occasions, both in the media and in this House and at other venues, as Regular Members, we have found it very difficult to obtain materials with reference to the Deh Cho Bridge project. I feel the Premier and the government have in fact portrayed our access to the contrary.

The concession agreement is something we have asked for on a number of occasions and only received an embargoed-type copy of it last Thursday. We were then able to look at a copy. When we finished looking at it, we must return it to the Clerk of Committees when we depart the room — I mean, it has been provided to us under very strict conditions.

I don’t believe that in the Premier’s speaking to the contents of the concession agreement yesterday, and referencing material that is covered in this concession agreement, the government is portraying it in the same light we are. We’re bound to this confidentiality, but I feel the government is portraying it as if access to it is not an issue, to the point where the Premier stood up yesterday and listed off a number of things which actually relate to that concession agreement.

My point of order, Mr. Speaker, is that in fact, if there is transparency on this project, then I would need to know reasons why this could not be made public.

To the point of order, Hon. Premier, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess, number one, I wouldn’t want to, for debate on this subject, say that the Member has raised an issue that I think falls under more debate than what’s happening. Specifically to the issue that she’s raised on this item, we know that as Members of this House we debate a lot of things in this House or respond as Ministers are required to respond to questions that Members put before us. We respond with information from briefing notes

that are done up by departments and so on and so forth with that area. Even the questions, as she’s referenced herself to this document they received under embargoed copy, is something she is referencing in the question.

So is this just another avenue of trying to make it look like this government is not doing due diligence, is not being forthcoming? I would take point to that, Mr. Speaker. Since the 16th Legislative Assembly

has taken hold in our tenure, we’ve provided a lot of information, as Members have been requesting. And we’ve left it at that, at that point. When we’re required to go before committee on specific issues, we continue to do that.

As for publically putting this forward, we know that the government has contracts on numerous initiatives, whether it’s a water treatment plant, a school, a vehicle. When bids go out, we open them. They open bids publically and give you a price. But the rest of the business piece of it stays in context of the department. When a company has not been satisfied, for example, with the results of that and they request information, they’re only given as to why their piece didn’t qualify. They don’t get a chance to review all of the other information that other bidders may have put forward. That would be the context of where we’re coming forward and putting our position forward.

So, Mr. Speaker, in this area I think we’ve tried to be open and transparent. Obviously that’s not to the satisfaction of Mrs. Groenewegen. At this point we still stand by the fact that in referencing or responding to questions, I’ve done so whether it’s an information item or a briefing note I have from the Department of Transportation or FMBS, in that area. What we have done is due diligence. I didn’t reference a page. I didn’t reference a section or anything like that.

So I would go back to yourself, Mr. Speaker, and say that with this area, I don’t believe we’ve contravened any sections. I would wait to hear back from yourself on what’s your position.

To the point of order. Seeing no more debate on the point of order, I will take the point of order under advisement and review it through Hansard. I will come back with my ruling at a later date.

Item 2, Ministers’ statements.

I would like to provide the Legislative Assembly with an update on

provincial and territorial activities currently being undertaken in the area of housing.

Mr. Speaker, the housing challenges facing this Territory and this country are great. The challenges are further compounded by the uncertainties surrounding federal housing funding.

On March 31, 2009, all federal funding for homelessness and repair programs as well as for new construction is scheduled to sunset. This also includes the three housing trusts, including the Northern Housing Trust, which provided $50 million towards our three-year Affordable Housing Initiative. This is in addition to the fact that CMHC funding for public housing continues to decline at a rapid pace.

The impact of this decline in funding is enormous. It will lead to a total shortfall of $339 million over the next 30 years for the N.W.T. alone. Nationally the shortfall is well over $20 billion. As of today the Government of Canada has made no commitment to renew programs that are scheduled to sunset and has given no indication that they are willing to revisit the issue of declining funding. This is despite the fact that the federal government has enjoyed large surpluses in recent years, partly due to savings accrued by CMHC as social housing mortgages are retired.

On February 6, 2008, provincial and territorial Housing Ministers met in Vancouver to discuss the state of social and affordable housing in Canada. Though this was the first meeting of provincial and territorial Housing Ministers since 2006, I’m pleased that this meeting resulted in a unified response to the housing issues facing our territories, provinces and, indeed, the entire country.

Provincial and territorial ministers were disappointed that the federal government, while invited, did not attend these important meetings. Provincial and territorial Ministers are, however, taking action to engage the federal government to address the country’s critical housing issues and are urging the federal government to respond quickly to support the four million Canadians in need.

During the forum, I, along with my fellow Ministers, reaffirmed our collective support for principles adopted in White Point, Nova Scotia, in 2005 that define an effective federal-provincial-territorial partnership to meet the housing needs of Canadians.

These principles include that provinces and territories have responsibility for the design and delivery of housing quality and programs within their own jurisdictions; respect the special relationship and fiduciary responsibility of Canada with First Nations, Metis and Inuit people; recognition of the federal role in housing, such as

mortgage insurance, and its pivotal role in research and knowledge transfer; federal consideration of each province and territory as its primary delivery partners on any new and existing federal housing funding; and that the federal government will provide each jurisdiction with the opportunity to participate in cost sharing or delivery or both through bilateral agreements.

It is my desire to see the federal government sign on these principles as an important step to establishing a national housing framework.

I would like to take this opportunity to convey the high level of frustration at the provincial and territorial levels with the lack of federal presence at the forum despite being invited. Minister Solberg rejected an invitation to attend the meeting, despite the fact that a federal Housing Minister has not met with their P-T counterparts in over two and a half years. Along with many of my colleagues, I expressed my strong concern with the lack of federal engagement on this matter at the meeting.

Mr. Speaker, as a result of the pressure placed on the federal government by provinces, territories and third parties to meet on this issue, Ministers received a last-minute commitment for a delegation of Ministers to meet with the federal Minister in Ottawa within 60 days.

If this meeting does in fact take place, I will be attending this meeting and insisting that at a minimum, the federal government make an immediate commitment to increase the level of funding for housing programs, including those set to expire in March 2009. I’m also hopeful that Minister Solberg will agree to establish a federal-provincial-territorial partnership based on the principles agreed to by all provinces and territories.

I left the meeting of Ministers more convinced than ever of the need for all levels of government to place a greater focus on the role housing can play as a contributing factor to improve many social problems. As a result, I feel it is an issue that should be raised in discussion between federal, provincial and territorial Finance Ministers, as well as among First Ministers.

I’m also prepared to take an assertive approach to lobbying the federal government to re-engage with provinces and territories on housing. The province of Newfoundland and Labrador have assumed the chair of the provincial-territorial housing forum, under the leadership of Mr. Shawn Skinner.

I would like to publicly express my support for the more assertive approach to dealing with the federal government that the forum will be taking under the leadership of Mr. Skinner and his officials. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Air transportation is a critical service in the Northwest Territories. In many N.W.T. communities, airport support is the only real mode of transportation for residents and for bringing community re-supplies. Having a runway of the appropriate length provides the opportunity for air carriers to use the most appropriate type of aircraft to serve the N.W.T. communities.

Recognizing the importance of continuing to look at means to improve air services and to ensure continued compliance with Government of Canada aviation regulations, I am pleased to advise Members that the Department of Transportation recently completed the N.W.T. Airport Runways Optimal Lengths and Issues Study.

Work on the study was supported by consultations with communities, air carriers, the Northern Air Transportation Association, Transport Canada and the N.W.T. business community. I thank all these parties for making a valuable contribution to this study.

This timely study considered a number of complex factors to determine whether runway extensions could significantly improve specific community airports in our system.

Air services in the North are very expensive. Runway extensions can, in some cases, result in the use of more efficient aircraft types which in turn will assist in lowering the transportation costs. The N.W.T. Airport Runways Optimal Lengths and Issues Study helps us prioritize the pressing need to extend runways at selected N.W.T. airports.

The department is currently assessing the study’s recommendations and will consider how to implement priority airport extensions in consultation with the Northern Air Transportation Association, N.W.T. air carriers and Members of this House.

Completion of this study is just one of many ongoing initiatives carried out regularly by the Department of Transportation to ensure that the N.W.T. transportation system continues to evolve to support safe, reliable and effective services for all N.W.T. residents.

Mahsi cho.

Before we proceed, colleagues, I’d like to draw your attention in the gallery to the presence of a former Member of the House, of the 14th and 15th Assemblies. The former Member for

Great Slave, Mr. Bill Braden, is in the House.

Applause.

I understand Bill is leaving tomorrow on his new endeavours, and we wish him well in that.

I wish to advise Members that the Hon. Jackson Lafferty will be absent from the House today and tomorrow to attend the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Justice Ministers’ meeting in Ottawa.

Item 3, Members’ statements.

It’s been some time since the community of Aklavik has been endeavouring to get connected to the rest of the world via a connection to the Dempster Highway from the community of Aklavik.

There have been discussions over the years with the Department of Transportation, the hamlet, the municipality and the Association of Municipalities by way of motions that have been passed to investigate the possibility of connecting the community to the Dempster Highway.

A road to a quarry for gravel, such as the one at Willow River, is about 5 kilometres from the community, yet in light of the floods of two years ago and shore erosion and climate change, it is now becoming more apparent that the need for access to a better road to the quarry site is an essential service.

My colleague from Tuktoyaktuk and his community face a similar challenge in terms of global warming and shoreline erosion. As a government we are responsible for protecting our people, our property and, more importantly, the government assets that are in those communities.

I find it amazing that we are going through a process of looking at red-flagged projects, but there is no mention of these projects. Also, in light of a municipal strategic budget item that has been presented in regard to capital for tax-based and non–tax-based communities, there is only one non–tax-based community, Nahanni Butte, which is receiving money from this project, and no other non–tax-based community.

There's also talk about a Canadian building fund in regard to accessing funds from the federal government of some $25 million a year. But again, when will the communities of Aklavik and

Tuktoyaktuk have access to these important dollars, to meet the challenges we face because of the lack of access to quarry sites and gravel, which is urgently needed to improve the infrastructure in our communities?

At the appropriate time I will have questions for the Premier, asking exactly what this government is doing to ensure that we have this critical piece of infrastructure in place for our communities.

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

Mr. Speaker, today I would like to talk about the issue of preventative maintenance programs for seniors and disabled persons. Many seniors and disabled persons who own their own homes are already burdened with a limited ability to properly maintain their homes. Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, since the amalgamation of the Seniors and/or Disabled Preventative Maintenance Initiative program by the NWT Housing Corporation, seniors and disabled homeowners have now had to carry more of the burden of preventative maintenance duties for their homes. For example, Mr. Speaker, under the new program the seniors and disabled persons can now only access assistance for major maintenance work needed; preventative maintenance assistance is no longer there. I think we all know the benefits of preventative maintenance.

The Seniors and/or Disabled Preventative Maintenance Initiative program is now part of the CARE program — one of four NWT Housing Corporation programs that have replaced 14 programs. Seniors and disabled homeowners must now meet the new set criteria for assistance. Again, Mr. Speaker, these programs are for maintenance matters only; preventative maintenance work of any kind would no longer qualify for assistance.

Mr. Speaker, there are approximately 150 seniors and disabled homeowners in the South Slave region including my riding of Lutselk’e and Fort Resolution. With many of their homes already considered to be older homes, it is critical for these homeowners to be able to access assistance to do regular preventative maintenance on their homes. Under the old program an annual assistance of less than $1,000 was provided to these homeowners towards preventative minimum costs. Mr. Speaker, this annual minimal assistance goes a long way to benefiting both the homeowner and the government. It prevented extraordinary maintenance repairs on the home, giving the homeowner peace of mind, and it also extended the life of the home, allowing the applicant enjoyable

ownership rather than living in government subsided housing.

Mr.

Speaker, according to the current housing

market in the South Slave region, the average cost of a home is $300,000. So for the cost of less than half a house….

Mr. Beaulieu, your time for Members’ Statements has expired.

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

Unanimous consent granted.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues.

Mr.

Speaker, according to the current housing

market in the South Slave, the average cost of a home is $300,000. So for the cost of less than half the cost of an average house in the South Slave region, we can once again provide this very important annual assistance to seniors and disabled homeowners.

I will have questions for the Minister Responsible for the Housing Corporation later this afternoon. Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker.

Mr.

Speaker, the cost of

attending post-secondary institutions continues to rise. With the exception of funding for travel, our Student Financial Assistance Program does not have any mechanism to review these costs on a regular basis and adjust funding levels available to students. For example, Mr. Speaker, the University of Alberta has announced that for the 2008-2009 academic year, the cost of tuition will go up by 4.6 per cent, and the cost to stay in student residence will go up by 8.75 per cent. This is fairly representative of what occurs every year at most southern post-secondary institutions and translates into $215 more for tuition and $335 more to stay in residence. This means that an N.W.T. resident will be paying roughly $550 more to attend and live on the U of A campus in September 2008.

When you add in the inflation factor for food, books, school supplies, personal care items and clothing, it would not be out of line to state that students attending the University of Alberta next September will be facing between $750 to $1,000 in additional costs. Students not living in subsidized university accommodations could conceivably face even higher rental cost increases given Alberta’s red-hot economy.

Mr. Speaker, we all want Northerners to excel in their post-secondary studies, but for this to occur, we have to ensure supports are in place and that the Student Financial Assistance we provide is adequate to ensure success. I believe that just like the annual food basket price review done for Income Support program clients, we need to review the funding that we provide under the Student Financial Assistance Program to post-secondary students on, at the very least, an annual basis.

Mr.

Speaker, we like to say in the Northwest

Territories that we have the very best student financial system in place anywhere in the country. I believe that in order to stay current with the ability to say that, we need to be consistent in the way we assess needed increases to the Student Financial Assistance program, because we definitely want to encourage our students to seek post-secondary education.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I will have questions for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

Mr. Speaker, businesses across the Northwest Territories spend years building up their capacity to compete in an open market. G.N.W.T. has an obligation to ensure a fair and transparent process for awarding G.N.W.T. contracts.

I don’t agree with the practice of calling for public tenders and cancelling the tender without a justifiable reason. A prime example is the highway maintenance contract for five years on the Dempster Highway. A public tender was put out. Contractors submitted prices as per the scope of work. The contract was then cancelled, re-scoped, and put out more quickly than I’ve ever seen this government do before.

After making some inquiries, I was informed that the prices were higher than budgeted for and bid bonds were wrong — and bid bonds are usually not required for maintenance contracts, just on capital projects. During a meeting with the Minister and the deputy minister, I was informed that the prices were reasonable based on the scope of work.

Mr. Speaker, this is exactly what the contractors based their prices on. They based them on a scope of work that’s given to them by the department. They don’t just pull numbers out of the air. The fact that there was a 2 per cent difference between the two low bids proved that the estimates could have been wrong, and the submitted prices were closer to the actual costs. The contractors submitted prices. They have to make sure that their pencils

are sharpened, because this is what they do for a living.

I have heard too many contradictory versions as to why the tender was cancelled. This is causing me and the business community to lose confidence in the department and the direction they are heading. We have too many examples in G.N.W.T. where work is tailored to certain businesses or individuals. I understand that we do have agreements, and I respect that fact, but I also respect the fact that people who compete in an open market need to be protected. This government has an obligation.

I for one, Mr. Speaker, will not stick my head in the sand and wait for all this to pass and just leave it at that. We have to do what we can to not allow this to happen too often. Thank you.

Today I’m going to speak about an issue that I’ve raised numerous times with the last government. That issue is the boards and agencies review that was done by the last government.

Some of the best work I’ve seen as a Member of this House was done via that review. The review was shelved before decisions were to be made. The last government wasn’t interested in pursuing the review, because I don’t believe they had the intestinal fortitude to carry through with the work and the decisions that were required to make a difference. So to the shelf it went.

Here we are three years after the review was mothballed trying to find ways to reduce spending. This government should immediately dust off the agencies and board review and get to work addressing the legitimacy, requirements, governance and competence of these boards and agencies.

My colleague Mr. Hawkins spoke a couple of days ago about the need to find board appointees from amongst residents of the Northwest Territories. I agree with him. If you do not live in and contribute to our economy here in the Northwest Territories, then sorry: go find a board appointment in B.C. or in Alberta or wherever you are residing.

As a government we need to address the competency of boards and the governance they should be providing. We should not have boards that simply rubber-stamp annual budgets and reports. There has to be a more conscientious effort on behalf of this government to ensure that boards and agencies are fulfilling their mandates.

Mr. Speaker, given our current financial outlook, we need to look at more focused community services boards. I’d go so far as to suggest today that we look at amalgamating the health authorities across

the Northwest Territories into one territorial body with representation from each region. If we did this, we could save ourselves $7 million per year. Plus the authorities would not have to compete for staff, and the staff could work in different communities without the hassle that they currently have to go through.

Mr. Speaker, I’ll have questions for the Premier at the appropriate time.

Today, Mr. Speaker, I would like to talk about three of our extremely talented brothers who brought great pride to our home community of Tuktoyaktuk and all of the N.W.T.: Bill, Eli and Joe Nasogaluak.

Bill Nasogaluak is a world-renowned, self-taught sculptor and painter. His work is based primarily on interpretations of what he knows best of his Inuvialuit culture.

Mr.

Speaker, the myths and traditions of the

Inuvialuit people, their relationship between the land, wildlife and our cultural heritage provide Bill an endless source of inspiration. Bill’s professional focus is mainly carving and painting, where he can be found working on large stone carvings outdoors and many murals in the North. We’re familiar with ice and snow sculptures. Bill has studied throughout his life. He is considered to be well-educated in the arts and techniques. Although Bill has never received a formal education in art, Mr. Speaker, he is well respected by all the art community. Bill currently resides in Toronto, Ontario.

Like Bill, Mr. Speaker, Eli finds a great source of inspiration for his works from his culture but also more from the contemporary situations such as modern-day life and everyday living. Eli was born in Tuktoyaktuk, attended school in Akalvik, Tuk and Inuvik and in Fort Smith. Eli is a member of many art boards and has attended many exhibitions in Canada and overseas. Eli has won numerous awards for his artwork in Canada and overseas and has been a regular at the Caribou Carnival ice sculpting contest here in Yellowknife over the years. Eli’s amazing work can be found worldwide. He currently resides as a full-time artist here in Yellowknife.

Along with Bill and Eli, Joe Nasogaluak is considered….

Mr.

Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to

conclude my statement.

Unanimous consent granted.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues.

Joe Nasogaluak is considered to be one of the top carvers in the North. Although Joe’s the youngest of the three brothers, he’s been a professional artist the longest, starting his career in 1987 and quickly making a name for himself with mythical carvings. Since then, Mr. Speaker, Joe’s works have been sought after by collectors and distributors worldwide.

Of all of his achievements, his most favourite is when he worked with his brothers, Bill and Eli, on the seven and a half-tonne marble carving and when they participated in a family snow carving competition held annually in the Winterlude Carnival in Ottawa. Joe still resides in Tuktoyaktuk.

Mr. Speaker, Bill, Eli, and Joe Nasogaluak are truly inspirations in their own right to the people of Tuktoyaktuk and the Northwest Territories. The brothers have represented the N.W.T. at numerous Winterlude Carnivals, winning competitions in ’02 and ’07 and second-place finishes of the Winning Artists Choice Award selected by their peers.

Today, Mr. Speaker, I am very proud and honoured to recognize the tremendous achievements and many successes of the boys from Tuktoyaktuk: Bill, Eli, and Joe Nasogaluak.

Applause.