Good morning, colleagues. Welcome back to the Chamber.

Orders of the Day, item 2, Ministers’ statements. The honourable Minister Responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to provide the Legislative Assembly with an update on provincial and territorial activities currently being undertaken in the area of housing.

As Members may be aware, federal/provincial/ territorial discussions on housing nationally are focused in three areas. Firstly, provinces and territories have been aggressively emphasizing the need for Canada to reinstate the O&M funding that is declining under social housing agreements signed by most provinces and territories.

Secondly, Canada has also been asked to reinvest so-called legacy savings, surplus funds available to CMHC as the mortgages for public housing dwellings are paid, into new affordable housing. The Northwest Territories receives approximately $30 million annually from Canada to operate and maintain the public housing stock. This funding is currently declining annually and will lapse completely in 2038. The cumulative impact of this decline between 2008 and 2038 is a loss of $348 million.

Thirdly, the financial uncertainly created by declining funding is compounded by the short-term nature of federal housing programs. All federal housing initiatives, including the housing trusts along with federal funding for renovation and repair

as well as homelessness funding provided directly by the federal government to community groups, will lapse as of March 31, 2009. As of today the federal government has made no commitments to extend funding for affordable housing programs past this date.

These three areas of focus of the provinces and territories clearly demonstrate the need for a long-term housing strategy. Canada is the only major nation in the world without a comprehensive strategy. According to the Wellesley Institute, Canada currently spends only $56 per capita on housing. This is compared with $156 per capita in the United States and $226 per capita in the United Kingdom.

In February 2008 provincial and territorial housing ministers collectively reaffirmed their support for the principles adopted in White Point, Nova Scotia, in 2005 that would form the basis of a national housing strategy.

We need the federal government to come to the table and discuss issues such as the lack of long-term predictable funding for new construction, declining funding for the operation and maintenance of social housing, the definition of the roles and responsibilities of provinces, territories and the Government of Canada in the delivery of housing, and the need for a national housing strategy.

The Government of Canada has been resistant to meeting with provinces and territories to discuss any of these issues. Despite this hesitancy, provincial and territorial ministers have opted to schedule a meeting in October 2008 and will proceed with or without the participation of the federal government.

As part of a national effort to elevate public awareness of these issues and to attempt to convince the Government of Canada of the need to meet formally with provinces and territories to discuss the housing issues facing Canadians, I will be introducing a motion later today. This motion will call for the federal government to immediately extend programs scheduled to sunset on March 31, 2009, and commit to discussing a long-term strategy as well as roles and responsibilities with provinces and territories.

As I have mentioned before in this Assembly, it is critical 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. I am hopeful that a strong message sent by this Assembly will help convince the Government of Canada of the need to make affordable housing one of its priorities.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Ministers’ statements. The honourable Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to take this opportunity to recognize World No Tobacco Day tomorrow, May 31, 2008. This day provides us with an opportunity to acknowledge the many activities aimed at the prevention and cessation of tobacco use in which the Government of the Northwest Territories has invested. These actions will create long-term benefits for Northerners and will help them make healthy and productive lifestyle choices.

Since 2002 the GNWT has made tobacco reduction a priority, and we have invested significant resources into tobacco use reduction, focusing particularly on youth and community-based programs. Since the implementation of the communications strategy and anti-tobacco legislation two years ago, vendors have been found to be compliant with the law requiring all tobacco products be hidden from view of the public. There has been one conviction and several warnings since the implementation of this legislation.

We have been guided by the 2002 Action on Tobacco strategy and informed by the report Smoke Alarm, which demonstrated the urgent need to take immediate and prolonged action to reduce the rate of smoking in the Northwest Territories and to prevent youth from starting smoking.

This year’s World No Tobacco Day theme highlights tobacco-free youth. In line with this theme, I want to take a moment to reflect on the progress we have made towards our goal of creating a smoke-free society by celebrating those youth who are leading us into a smoke-free future. We believe the commitments made by youth in the prevention campaigns such as the Don’t Be A Butthead campaign. School-based prevention activities, the introduction of workplace smoking bans and territorial tobacco control legislation, alongside other tobacco reduction programs, are making a difference.

The 2006 NWT School Tobacco Survey shows that the number of young smokers between grades 5 to 9 has declined significantly from more than 17 per cent in 2002 to 12 per cent in 2006. The rate of smoking among aboriginal youth has declined the most, down to 17 per cent from 25 per cent. While this rate is still too high, it demonstrates that progress is being made, but we need to continue our work in this important area.

I’d also like to announce that each year the Butthead campaign recruits youth to be smoke free. All youth who sign up are entered into a contest, and winners are chosen randomly. This year’s winners of an iPod nano are Logan Drader, age 11, of Norman Wells; Cheyanne Andre, age 9, of Tsiigehtchic; Evan Tordiff, age 11, of Fort Smith; Tameika Steinwand, age 8, of Behchoko; and Dalton Simba, age 11, of Kakisa Lake.

This year we have 400 new youths and 1,400 youths who have recommitted to remain smoke-free. We have expanded the Butthead campaign this year by encouraging 200 NWT Arctic Winter Games athletes to sign lifetime commitments.

A pan-territorial initiative called Smoke Screening brought 12 anti-tobacco ads from around the world to the NWT, where they were viewed by NWT youth in grades 6 to 12 who voted based on what they thought to be the most effective. The winning ad will be shown on northern television in the fall.

We continue to invest in preventing tobacco use in our youth, with our payoff being a healthy, vibrant population free from the devastating effects of tobacco.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Ministers’ statements. The honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Lafferty.

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

Mr. Speaker, this government understands the importance of building partnerships with aboriginal governments, municipalities and industry. In the Beaufort-Delta in particular, such partnerships have achieved great things. I recently had the opportunity to participate in the opening of the Aurora College student residence in Inuvik last month. The residence could not have been built without strong support from the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, the Gwich’in Tribal Council, the Town of Inuvik, Aurora College staff and students, and the people of Inuvik.

The residence fills an immediate need in the region as there was a lack of appropriate lodging for single students studying at the college. For the past few

years single students have been sharing family residence spaces in the community. The partners in this project had the foresight to see that meeting the immediate need of the students from the region would have a much broader benefit to the community.

The facility itself was designed in consultation with the student community. The residence is bright, modern and located in close proximity to classes. It includes four large, well-kept kitchen-dining rooms, a lounge, recreation room, laundry facilities and 30 single rooms, including two barrier-free units on the first floor as well as barrier-free common areas on the first floor.

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank our partners as well, FSC Architects & Engineers and Dowland Contracting Ltd. Both companies worked on this project in partnership with the GNWT Department of Public Works and Services to ensure the design was appropriate and the project on schedule. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Item 3, Members’ statements. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In regard to the situation of low dust control in communities we are now realizing that communities are going out of their way to set up roadblocks to raise money to chipseal roads in their communities. I think that’s a pretty drastic step to take, but in this case people have to take that step to bring attention to the dismal situation communities find themselves in, especially dealing with dust control.

Over the last number of years communities have requested from this government programs to deal with dust control, to look at main street chipseal, yet I notice that has been excluded again from the budget. I believe that this government has to do everything it can to improve the quality of life in communities, especially dealing with dust control.

Yesterday in a rally that I took part in, this was heard loud and clear from the young people who were taking part in the protest, raising the issue with regard to N’dilo and the condition of roads in the city of Yellowknife’s boundaries. I think it’s important, being the capital of the Northwest Territories, to do everything we can to let people realize there are not two sides to the capital city. There are the urban dwellers on one side and the people living in Third World standards by way of roads and services. As a government we’re responsible for improving the quality of life for all

residents and being fair to all residents when it comes to programs and services.

I believe that this is a trend that communities have to take to get the message out, and start, you know, establishing roadblocks. I think that tells us that we have a problem.

I think it’s important that this government tries to find solutions to solve this problem and work with the affected people in those communities in being able to give them what everyone else is taking for granted, such as the chipseal or basically some sort of surfacing for those communities.

I know we’ve raised this issue in regard to committees of this House. There was the committee on small communities. This was an issue that was raised in their final report.

So, Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister to ensure that he does whatever he can to work with these communities to solve this problem.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Members’ statements. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.

[English translation not provided.]

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My constituents throughout the Nahendeh riding have made it very clear to me through petitions, letters, phone calls and conversations that they do not support the proposed contracting-out of the operations of the Fort Simpson airport.

Today I want to go on record as being opposed to these proposed reductions. Contracting out services that were once provided by public service employees have longer-term impacts that go beyond this cost-cutting exercise.

There’s no guarantee that the Department of Transportation will realize any savings through contracting out the operations and maintenance of the airport. We have all seen escalating costs associated with contracts for road maintenance and construction projects.

Contractors face the same pressures as government in terms of their costs, plus they are in the business to make profit. That profit will likely be made up through higher business contracts and lower wages for employees. There’s also no guarantee that jobs with the private contractor will benefit the residents or the families of Fort Simpson.

The current operations and maintenance staff at the airport have been with the government for a long time and provide good quality service to ensure our airport is safe and secure. The community and the region have been well served by these government employees. Not only do they provide quality service, they and their families contribute to the economic and social fabric of our community.

The government has not provided my constituents or me with a good business case for contracting out these services. I urge the government to rethink these reductions and maintain airport services in the Nahendeh region. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Members’ statements. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I’d like to share with all Members the comments in regard to the budget that I’ve been hearing from constituents. Not many are positive, unfortunately.

My constituents are asking for justification in public to explain the job reductions, to show why certain positions have been targeted. Most feel that the departments and/or managers did not do any analysis prior to determining which positions should go. Some decisions seemed to be based on a narrow view of personal opinion. Some used the eeny, meeny miny, moe method. Others took advantage of the opportunity presented by the reduction exercise to rid their department or section of employees that they think — that they think, Mr. Speaker — are underperforming. All of these cases indicate no analysis, no forethought, no planning. I think we can coin a new term: the “instant decision.”

Some people applaud the government for taking action to be more efficient and to match expenses to revenue. They agree, for instance, that the Arctic Tern facility costs too much for too few inmates.

Many people question the numbers and comparisons in the budget. They find it hard to understand how we can be in such poor financial shape in such a short time. They see the government’s comparisons of the 2007–2008 budget figures to the 2008–2009 budget figures as comparing apples to oranges.

Sometimes the Main Estimates from ’07–08 are used; sometimes the Revised Main Estimates from ’07–08 are used. How can our residents get a true picture from that?

Several people have commented to me that if the financial picture is as bad as the Finance Minister says, why are we investing in new things? They

advise us to get our house in order first and then invest.

They ask about the estimated surplus for the last fiscal year. It’s now expected to be about $25 million more than budgeted. We will likely have a surplus of $69 million instead of $44 million. What plans are in place for the unexpected surplus? Last but not least, they cite a lack of consideration for the environment in this budget. It’s not only MLAs on this side of the House who are having difficulties swallowing this budget as presented. Many of the NWT residents are frustrated as well. They don’t see evidence of comprehensive planning in the budget and they don’t feel that there was adequate consultation. I can only agree.

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Members’ statements. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Beaulieu.

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

During my last constituency visit to Fort Resolution and Lutselk’e many residents were concerned about the lack of industrial arts, home economics and physical education teachers in their school. Aspiring trade students may not pursue journeyman status without getting some experience in those trades. These days with the robust diamond and mining industry, the importance of exposing junior and senior high school students to trades cannot be overemphasized — particularly increasing their employment opportunities, as I mentioned a couple of days ago.

With more and more studies coming out about health impacts of the increased inactivity of today’s younger generation, due to the advent of computer and computer-related entertainment, it is more important than ever to have schools provide a quality physical education program. With many young mothers in our communities, every school, particularly in these smaller communities, should be able to have basic resources to provide quality home economics classes and education.

We talk about healthy, vibrant communities, community wellness, healthy choices and healthy lifestyles. Yet in my communities, the youth are unable to get a good start because they cannot participate in a structured physical education program or they are not able to learn about safe work practices, budgeting for food or learning the basics of cooking. Many of their student counterparts in larger communities can. We need to ensure that we can provide these basic yet

important opportunities for our children and youth in all schools and in all communities.

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Members’ statements. The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I’d like to make a statement regarding the budget process and affected employees. I still am not clear on where Cabinet got the direction or the brainwave to send out notification letters to employees without first properly consulting Regular Members. We’ve talked of this before: it took them three weeks — and I’d like to know what happened in that three-week period — where Regular Members were left out there answering phone calls from constituents without any knowledge of the notification letters and where they were going. This was also months before the actual budget and reductions were even to be discussed and voted on. Sure, it’s nice to let people know that they could be affected, but is it not a classic case of putting the cart before the horse?

I’m to understand that the government is already in the process of moving affected employees around. Some have resigned. Some have left the North. Is it just me, or is it not very presumptuous of the government to be operating and making decisions as if the budget has already been approved? I hope the government was paying attention when six Regular Members stood up and voted no to the budget at second reading. Others, as they have indicated, have serious concerns with the document. You will continue to hear these concerns as we move forward with the debate during Committee of the Whole.

It is unfair to our employees, it’s unfair to the Members of this Assembly, and it’s unfair to the public when government presents a budget that is so obviously flawed. Parents are always telling their children to do their homework and make sure their homework is done. If I was grading the government on whether or not they’ve done their homework on this budget, they would get an F without question. If you’re moving people around, you should be fair to those that are affected. Are all of the affected employees being given fair access to positions? And shouldn’t employees inside a department have the opportunity to stay within that department?

In closing, I believe that this government is continually taking the Regular Members of this House for granted. Again, we’ve not been a part of the government’s plan, and this has got to change in order for this budget to get off life support.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Members’ statements. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr.

Speaker. As I

always like to do on Friday, I like to make a special mention of the fact that it’s Red Friday so we can support our troops.

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death and injury to children of all ages. But those aged between four and nine years old are currently the most vulnerable. Canadian data shows that the death rate from car crashes has dropped in all other age groups, but not for the children between the ages of four and nine. Data also tells us that the majority of Canadian children aged four to nine are riding in seat belts, which puts them at risk for serious injury in car crashes.

Seat belts are designed to fit adult proportions. Children don’t generally reach the right size for seat belts until at least the age of nine. When a child is too small for a seat belt, it crosses the wrong places, such as their neck and their stomach. In the event of a crash, a child who is too small for a seat belt can suffer spinal injuries, internal injuries or what the doctors sometimes call seat belt syndrome.

The risk of serious injury and death can be significantly reduced by the use of a booster seat, a simple safety device that raises a child so the seatbelt fits correctly across the shoulders, chest and hip bone. Unfortunately, research shows that less than 30 per cent of Canadian parents who have children between the ages of four and nine use booster seats. Most parents think their children are too big or too old for those seats.

We need to work to address this gap in the protection of our children that are between the ages of four and nine by implementing a public education campaign to give parents good information on the importance of booster seats and on how to tell their children that they need this seat and that they’re not too big or too old to have one.

Secondly, we need to pass legislation that requires booster seats. Quebec, Ontario, Nova Scotia, P.E.I., Newfoundland and New Brunswick have all passed booster seat legislation. British Columbia will be implementing new booster seat legislation this summer. The Government of NWT should follow suit and make booster seats mandatory.

In closing, we protect our children with car seats when they’re infants, toddlers and pre-schoolers. I urge the Minister of Transportation to extend the same degree of protection to our children between

the ages of four and nine by implementing legislation that would cover them. Putting children first is something we should always do. Let’s not let this gap continue.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Members’ statements. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to clearly state my support for the government’s decision to move forward with the construction of the Aven Cottage Territorial Dementia Centre.

I also want to acknowledge the excellent work of a group of volunteers who serve on the board of the Yellowknife Association of Concerned Citizens for Seniors, YACCS. They have given freely of their considerable experience, knowledge and time to bring this much-needed centre and other facilities to reality. Our government is providing $15 million in capital funding for the centre. Additional fundraising is being done to raise money for furniture and fixtures.

The YACCS will operate the Aven Cottage Territorial Dementia Centre, which will house 28 residents from all parts of the NWT and offer daytime recreational activities for five to eight people. Greg Debogorski, executive director of YACCS, says they want the centre to have as much of a home-like environment as possible. People across the North will be very pleased that our seniors with dementia will now be able to stay in the North with appropriate care and closer to family and friends.

Working with the community of Yellowknife, YACCS resolved cost and logistical barriers through an agreement for project management and construction. The efficiency and savings gained have allowed this project to move forward on an affordable basis. But — and there is often a but — I also want to draw Members’ attention to the forced-growth costs that YACCS has been experiencing in the operations of another seniors’ centre, the Aven Manor. In the fiscal year ’07–08, YACCS submitted forced-growth costs of $38,000 to Health and Social Services to cover the rising costs of utilities, maintenance, taxes, food and insurance. They received zero dollars from the government. In this fiscal year, YACCS submitted for $83,000 to cover these forced costs in operating the Aven Manor. Again, this government has refused to fund these costs.

Other non-government organizations face identical situations — for example, the YWCA — while the government establishes multi-year flat-funding

despite the rapidly rising costs. Government’s commitment to building a new dementia centre is a good thing…. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

Unanimous consent granted.

Mr. Speaker, government’s commitment to building a new dementia centre is a good thing, but our government must recognize that forced-growth costs accumulate for non-government organizations just as much as they do for government. We’ve seen very significant forced-growth figures for government operations in the budget before us today. Putting these same costs on the backs of non-government organizations is hardly fair.

If this government can wipe out over $11 million in over-expenditures for one institution in Yellowknife — albeit not lightly done — surely they can look after this modest dilemma. Once again, YACCS is a volunteer organization of highly skilled and committed people serving on behalf of all residents.

Mr. Speaker, a big “Yahoo!” to this government for the commitment to build a territorial dementia centre. Now, on the shameful lack of action on providing for forced-growth costs, let’s correct this situation. As Mr. Jacobson says: “Let’s get it done.” Mahsi.

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

Thank you. Mr.

Speaker,

today I’d like to talk about something that is a pet peeve of mine. I don’t know if anybody’s ever seen those pet peeve surveys, but this is a pet peeve of mine. I was reminded of it when Ms. Lee was giving her Member’s statement on cigarettes, on smoking.

Mr. Speaker, there’s only one thing that amazes me more than the fact that people smoke, and that is the number of smokers who throw their cigarette butts on the ground. Most people understand that littering is not a good thing. We teach our kids that they shouldn’t toss litter out the car window and they shouldn’t toss their litter on the ground. Occasionally it’s been interesting for me to sit outside of a store, like Canadian Tire here in Yellowknife, and watch smoker after smoker after smoker walk up to the door of Canadian Tire and flick their butts on the ground. I just sit there in amazement. I guess they don’t think anybody’s watching or paying attention.

Mr. Speaker, each year when our snow melts we see the incredible amount of debris and litter on the

ground. Some of it’s easy to pick up, but one thing that’s not very easy to pick up is those annoying cigarette butts. I think that society has finally got the message that second-hand smoke is not acceptable. I think that most building owners who offer accommodation and service to the public can appreciate not having to deal with all the maintenance associated with cigarette smoke. I don’t think that cigarette butts are very biodegradable — they’re litter. So if someone can tell me why a person who wouldn’t dream of tossing a candy wrapper on the ground wouldn’t hesitate for one minute to flick a cigarette butt on the ground, I’d be very curious to hear that answer.

Maybe someone should invent a butt receptacle that could fit inside a smoker’s pocket or on one side of the cigarette package and they can carry them around with them. If someone can tell me why I should be expected to facilitate or clean up someone else’s cigarette butt, I would gladly receive that explanation, Mr. Speaker. It is something that I surely do not understand.