Thank you, Ms. Lee. To the point of order. Mr. Abernethy, do you have your hand up?

Yes.

Okay, Mr. Abernethy.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think it’s important to make clear — I mean, if you look at the context, the text, and the Hansard within the full context, the first paragraph, second paragraph and third paragraph — that I don’t believe I was imputing any motive. I certainly was not suggesting there was a ministerial sort of conspiracy. The fact that the Minister from Range Lake suggests that I was suggesting that is kind of off base.

I don’t feel I was suggesting that at all. I was talking about the motion. I talked about how I understood there were obviously going to be some people upset about this. Then I further went on to talk about how this is not necessarily a dead issue. We have an opportunity to work together as a group. For the Minister to suggest I was actually suggesting there might be some inappropriate activity going on, on behalf of Cabinet, is completely off base.

I mean, I’ll further state — I’ll make it deadly clear — I was never questioning the integrity of the Minister, certainly not questioning the credentials or the credibility of the Minister. I was talking about the fact that we were cutting $1.5 million, and it was certainly going to be affecting some people. I can clearly understand how unfortunate that is and how that’s going to adversely affect some people, specifically the Members.

I also never referred to them as Ministers. I referred to them as Members. My intent was not to impute motive in any way, shape or form.

I’m a little offended by Ms. Lee’s claim that I’m, in fact, imputing motive. I think that’s actually inappropriate.

I respect this House. I’ll treat this House with respect. I’ll treat all Members with respect. I think I’ve demonstrated I’m capable of that, and I think I’ve done that in the nine months I’ve been here, and I’ll continue to do that. I’m going to wait for the Speaker’s ruling on this. If the Speaker should rule me out of order, I’ll happily withdraw my comments and I’ll happily and sincerely apologize to the Member, but until that time I don’t believe in any way, shape or form that I was imputing motive. If I did, it was certainly not my intent.

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. To the point of order. I’ll allow the final remarks to Mr. McLeod.

Mr. Speaker, it’s an issue of somebody suggesting what my position was on an issue that I had no opportunity to speak to. Whether or not I had intended to speak to the issue is a separate issue altogether.

We heard again today four Members say it’s clear that this is a fact — pointing at me — that I was upset. I don’t think anybody across the room knew how I felt.

This is a territorial project. It is in the Deh Cho. That is a fact. Whether or not I was upset, whether I was going to defend the position, is a whole separate issue, and nobody has the right to speak on my behalf. I resent that, and I will not accept that.

This, I think, is somewhat a little bit clearer in the fact that the Member has indicated he wasn’t questioning my credibility and my integrity. However, that’s not how I felt yesterday. I felt that he was raising issues with my ability to do my job, and I had to raise it today, Mr. Speaker. I’ll await your decision.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. I have allowed some debate on the point of order. Due to the number of Members who have spoken on this point of order and issues that were raised, feelings that were expressed, I will take this point of order under advisement and come back with my ruling so I can review everything that was said in response to the point of order. Thank you, Members.

Orders of the day. Item 2, Ministers' statements. The Hon. Premier, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr.

Roland. The

honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

Mr. Speaker, I move that Minister’s Statement 62-16(2) be moved into Committee of the Whole for further debate.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Motion is on the floor. Do we have a seconder to the motion? The Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins. Motion is on the floor. Motion is in order.

Motion carried.

Minister’s Statement 62-16(2) will be moved into Committee of the Whole.

The honourable Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Lafferty.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. John B. Zoe is receiving an honorary Doctor of Laws in Edmonton for his work in community service and with government agencies in the Tlicho region. The positive impact Mr. Zoe has had on the North will be felt for many years to come.

As one of the main drivers of the Tlicho negotiations, he worked tirelessly to make sure his people were represented. Mr. Zoe was a chief negotiator for the entire duration of the negotiations. His dedication helped make the landmark agreement a reality.

He also played a big part in the creation of the Tlicho Community Service Agency. That agency is unique in the way it delivers education, health and social services within the context of the traditional cultural values and has received national and international awards for its innovative model. Mr. Zoe has been dedicated to preserving, reviving and celebrating the culture and language of Tlicho people for more than two decades. He has helped revitalize traditional activities such as canoe making with the elders and youth in the region. Getting youth out on the land, being a mentor and reviving cultural traditions has made Mr.

Zoe a true

custodian of his culture.

It would be impossible to highlight every important thing Mr. Zoe has done for the Tlicho people and for the North. He is a storyteller, a politician, a public servant, an anthropologist, an archaeologist, a musician, a husband and a father. He wears many hats and does so with a tireless work ethic, humility and respect for others. He deserves to be recognized for his passion for, and dedication to, his people and their heritage.

The honour he has received from the University of Alberta is a testament to his positive influence. His contribution to our territory should be celebrated, and I would like you to join me in applauding him. Mahsi cho.

Applause.

Thank you, Mr.

Lafferty. The

honourable Minister Responsible for the Status of Women, Ms. Lee.

In the spirit of celebrating Mining Week this week, I would to take this opportunity to acknowledge and congratulate 11 women who recently completed the Building Trades Helper Program under the Northern Women in Mining, Oil and Gas Project.

This program provides workplace exposure to women in trade occupations such as carpentry, electrical, welding, plumbing and other trades integral to the mining, oil and gas industries. The governments of Canada and the Northwest Territories, industry and Aurora College all partnered with the Status of Women Council to provide financial support, housing, hands-on site training and upgrading in preparation for them to write the trades entrance examination.

Mr.

Speaker, northern women are under-

represented in industrial trades, which means northern women are a huge untapped labour resource that the industry is eager to have working on their projects. I’m pleased to see northern women enrol in this program, and I encourage them to explore the lucrative opportunities available to them in industry.

I commend the Status of Women Council and their numerous industry partners for their insight in providing this type of program for the training of women in the industrial trades.

Mr. Speaker, I’d like to invite the Members of the Legislative Assembly to join me in recognizing 11 northern women from all regions of the Northwest Territories who have already taken a giant step forward: Sharon Gauthier, Joyce Greenland, Valerie Kimiksana, Laura Krutko, Shirley Niditchie, Stephanie Smutylo, Emelda King, Doris Rabesca, Sarah Tautuajuk, Kayla Crozier and Jennifer McDonald.

Thank you, Ms.

Lee. Item 3,

Members’ statements. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Beaulieu.

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Today’s a very emotional day for many of my constituents. I’d like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the

official apology made earlier today by the Government of Canada. That’s an important step toward healing for many residential school survivors and those family members who have passed on.

It is an historical day for Canada. As the Member for Tu Nedhe representing many residential school survivors and families of former survivors, I would like to thank the Government of Canada for taking the responsibility to officially acknowledge many Canadians, to officially acknowledge what many Canadians have known all along: the residential school experience that was inflicted was a terrible and tragic experience for many aboriginal Canadians.

Mr. Speaker, from this day forward many will be able to complete their personal journey of healing, while for many others this marks the beginning of this personal journey of healing. June 21 is just around the corner, and it is a recognized statutory holiday in the Northwest Territories. I would like to encourage all to support and honour this special day as a special day for aboriginal people as well as all Canadians.

Thank you, Mr.

Beaulieu. The

honourable Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to discuss today treatment that some of our employees who’ve been affected by the proposed budget are receiving.

Since March of this year GNWT employees have been dealing with what are effectively layoff notices and all the emotion and the angst that such notices brings. Over the last couple of weeks as we have discussed the budget, Members have been told that the government is trying to make it as easy as possible for the affected employees and to help them transition from one job to the next within the government, from the government to another employer, or to unemployment. That it is easy for these employees, however, is a statement I find quite debatable.

Mr. Speaker, I’d like to advise this House of an injustice in our pay system for certain employees, and it’s related to Donny Days. Some time ago, to make things fair for all employees, the GNWT and the Union of Northern Workers, through a collective agreement signed by both parties, agreed that 1.92 per cent of each employee’s paycheque would be deducted throughout the year so that the staff would receive pay throughout the mandatory leave days, or Donny Days, in December. Both parties have also agreed that these pay deductions are attached to the job position, not the employee, and

that’s been verified by an arbitration case. Should an employee leave his or her job mid-year and the position be subsequently filled, the new employee will still have fully paid for the December leave courtesy of the previous person’s deductions. It all works out in the end, and it does make sense, actually.

But, Mr. Speaker, what do not make sense are the pay deductions of an employee whose position is being terminated as a result of this budget. No one will fill that position; it’s gone. Poof! Yet the Department of Human Resources is advising these employees that no refund of their Donny Days deductions will be forthcoming. To add insult to injury, we are laying people off and we are reducing their salary for five days’ leave they will not be able to take. The money will not go to another employee, as the position has been eliminated. No doubt the funds could fall into general revenue, but it’s also entirely possible that the money will be used by the department as a slush fund to buy supplies or support programs, and that does not seem fair to me.

This injustice needs to be corrected, Mr. Speaker. Affected employees whose positions are eliminated who do not go on to another GNWT job should receive a refund of the 1.92 per cent of their pay that’s been deducted on each paycheque for Donny Days. I will have questions for the Minister of Finance later on.

Thank you, Ms.

Bisaro. The

honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Jacobson.

Thank you, Mr.

Speaker. Last

Friday the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs announced exploration leases totalling over $1 billion and covering nearly 850,000 hectares of the Beaufort seabed. British Petroleum paid $1.18 billion for a 380-hectare parcel, which surpassed last year’s record payment of $585 million on exploration leases. The two other leases, totalling $4.3 million, went to MGM Energy Corp. and ConocoPhillips Canada Resources Corp.

Needless to say, Mr. Speaker, we are excited in the Beaufort-Delta, as these leases require work commitments totalling $300 million. This means economic opportunities for the businesses in the communities of Tuktoyaktuk and Inuvik and employment opportunities for residents.

It’s good for the people of Tuk to see more opportunities for the community. We were a bit in an exploration slump for a while due to uncertainty over the construction of the Mackenzie Gas Project. The slump is over.

I want to urge all successful bidders to work with the people and the businesses of the Beaufort-Delta and the community of Tuktoyaktuk to ensure maximum benefit to the region.

Thank you, Mr.

Jacobson. The

honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday I asked the Premier some questions on the Arctic Research Institute. I’d like to follow that up today with my Member’s statement.

We all know climate change is happening. This is something that’s been out there for a while. We see it first-hand in the Beaufort-Delta with the banks starting to cave in with permafrost giving out and that. We see it in the ocean. The signs are all out there, and I think Mr. Bromley points out quite well that there are a lot of concerns. My colleague Mr. Jacobson spoke to the exploration that’s going to be going on in the Beaufort-Delta, which is a good thing for business in the Beaufort-Delta, but they still will continue to monitor the environment.

That brings me to the point I want to make. The federal government is looking to put up an Aurora institute as the place to conduct research and have it as the headquarters. I think I’ve tried to make my case why the facility should be in the Beaufort-Delta and, in particular, in Inuvik. The Arctic is an open textbook as to climate change and how it’s affecting the animals. If you want to study the ocean, we have it there. If you want to study the delta, the delta’s there. If you want to study whales, they’re there. If you want to study buffalo, they’ll soon be there because of the way things are changing.

I will have questions today to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, because I think the location of the Aurora Research Institute should be in Inuvik, and I think the Department of Education, Culture and Employment will be a big player in helping decide where it’s going to go. I will pose my questions to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment at the appropriate time.

Thank you, Mr.

McLeod. The

honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.