We try to run a multi-

barrier approach to our drinking water here in the Northwest Territories. We have a number of

departments. We have two departments that provide testing of the water. First of all, the Department of Health usually will do some of the testing in the homes and in the water facilities. The water in the water plants is something we deal with through our community water plant operators. The testing, I believe, is supposed to be done on a regular daily basis.

I was just wondering: is there

somebody in the communities who is able to watch or even monitor? Are the community councils aware of the level and quality of the water and if it’s deteriorating? I just want to know if the councils get to see those results.

I would expect the councils

get to see the water testing results. They are the ones running the water plants, so I’m sure they are fully involved with the results, including the testing done by Health.

When there are issues with the

water quality, who would they contact in order to make a change? In one of my particular communities — I won’t mention the name — the water was quite discoloured. They were quite concerned there. They didn’t know who to contact in order to address that concern.

In normal circumstances

the water plant operator would go to the community. The community would look at contracted services to assist them. In some cases, if it’s mechanical, they may come to us through MACA. In other situations it may come through us to Public Works. There are a number of ways they can do this. In most communities, when contacted, the SAO would normally go to one of our superintendents.

Thank you, Minister McLeod. Final

supplementary. Mr. Menicoche.

I’d just like to know: can I get a

copy of the actual quality or standards of water that are acceptable that I can forward to the smaller communities?

In response to the

Member’s question, of course we’d be happy to share the national guidelines that we operate under with the Member or any of the Members who are interested.

Thank you, Mr.

Abernethy. The

honourable Minister responsible for Transportation, Mr. Yakeleya.

For the Member, the

issue of the bridge came up several times in terms of options to allow for a rail link: various options in terms of walking and different ways that this bridge could be constructed. At the end of the day it had to be based on the factor of pricing and what’s realistic. These options were screened out and not seen as an option, like the railway for the Deh Cho Bridge.

Given the real likelihood that the

price of oil is going to creep up over $200 a barrel — which means the price of fuel for both commercial vehicles and non-commercial vehicles is going to be approaching $2 a litre at some point — that just means the costs of our goods and supplies are going to be increasing in the Northwest Territories. Trains might actually be a real solution to help reduce our cost of living in the North or at least maintain it and stop it from growing anymore. Would the Minister commit to re-exploring the possibility of incorporating some tracks onto the Deh Cho Bridge?

Mr. Speaker, Hon.

Minister Bob McLeod is looking at the whole issue of energy in the Northwest Territories to reduce the cost of living. We’ll certainly have to sit down with the Deh Cho Bridge Corporation. With the reality of the increasing cost of fuel, we really have to sit down and look at the whole issue of a rail link into our communities. Anything’s possible. I’m not too sure what the likelihood is in terms of having a rail link across the Deh Cho Bridge. If that requires significantly more dollars, I’m willing to have that discussion amongst all Members and certainly amongst our colleagues to have this final result in terms of what we can do.

Item 8, written questions. The

honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Beaulieu.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In keeping

with yesterday’s question on affirmative action, I have a written question for the Minister of MACA.

1) For each of the last three years, 2006–07 to

2008–09, can the Minister provide the number of aboriginals employed in the following areas:

a) Sport, recreation and youth division, by

position and terms of hire — indeterminate full-time, part-time, term, casual — and by location, HQ or region.

b) The total number of interns hired in the

last three years, broken down by HQ or regions. Of that total, how many were aboriginal?

c) The total number of summer students

hired in the last three years, broken down by HQ or region. Of that total, how many were aboriginal?

Written questions. The honourable

Member for Great Slave, Mr. Abernethy.

Thank you, Mr.

Speaker. My

question is for the Minister of Health and Social Services and is related to Health and Social Services Return of Service Bursaries.

1) Since the implementation of the Health and

Social Services Return of Service bursaries, how many returns have been awarded to northern residents, and what is the total cost to date?

2) Of these bursaries how many Northerners

• are still in school, and what is the value,

months and dollar of these bursary awards to date,

• have completed their studies and have

met their return of service obligation, total months and dollar value returned,

• have completed their studies and are in

the process of meeting their return of services commitment, total months and dollar value returned and outstanding,

• did not complete their studies or

completed their studies and left the NWT and still owe the GNWT money? How much do they owe?

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. Item 9,

returns to written questions. Item 10, replies to opening address. Item 11, petitions. Item 12, reports of standing and special committees. Item 13, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 14, tabling of documents. Item 15, notices of motion. Item 16, notices of motion for first reading of bills. The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.

Notices of Motion for First Reading of Bills

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give

notice that on Thursday, June 12, 2008, I will move that Bill 12, An Act to Amend the Human Rights Act, be read for the first time.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Item 17,

motions. Item 18, first reading of bills. Item 19, second reading of bills. Item 20, consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters, Bill 8, Committee Reports

2-16(2), 3-16(2) 4-16(2), 5-16(2), 6-16(2), 7-16(2), Tabled Document 37-16(2), with Mr. Krutko in the chair.

By the authority given me as Speaker by Motion 10-16(2), I hereby authorize the House to sit beyond the daily hour of adjournment to consider the business before the House.

I’d like to call the

Committee of the Whole to order. Consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters, Committee Reports

2-16(2), 3-16(2) 4-16(2), 5-16(2), 6-16(2), 7-16(2), Tabled Document 37-16(2). What is the wish of the committee? Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

The committee’s wish today is to continue on with the Main Estimates for capital infrastructure for Education, then moving on to the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment and, if time permits, to the Department of ENR, Environment and Natural Resources. Thank you.

Does the committee

agree?