Good afternoon, colleagues. Welcome back to the Chamber. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to raise a point of privilege.

The Member for Hay River South has risen on a point of privilege. What is your point of privilege, Mrs. Groenewegen?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last Friday your Committee of the Whole considered a motion to delete funding from the Department of Justice for planning towards the renovation of the Territorial Women’s Correctional Centre in Fort Smith. In a very unusual step a Minister other than the Minister responsible for the department whose estimates were before the committee spoke to the motion. Mr.

Miltenberger is the Member for

Thebacha, which includes the community of Fort Smith.

In speaking to the motion, the Member made the following remarks, and I quote from the unedited Hansard of May 30, 2008: “And as we keep open minds to look at all the options, one of the options that hadn’t been considered is we’re talking about repatriating a bunch of adults into a supportive living structure that has yet to be built. Has that been considered as a possibility for Arctic Tern? I don’t know. But clearly it’s a circumstance that strikes me as interesting and somewhat ironic.”

Mr. Speaker, under section 2 of our rules the privileges enjoyed by all Members and the House as a collective are defined. One of the fundamental privileges that each of us as Members enjoys is freedom from obstruction and intimidation in relation to our duties as elected representatives.

Mr. Speaker, the comments made by the Member for Thebacha last Friday are a great cause of concern for me and should be cause for concern for all Members. While it is very unusual for a Minister to speak in favour of a project in his or her riding, it is a mystery to me why the Minister would make reference to a completely unrelated project in this debate. The adult supportive living facility referenced by the Member is a project that has already been approved by this House and has no relation to the project in Fort Smith. I am concerned that residents of Hay River listening to the debate now may be wondering whether the supportive living facility is now in question because their MLA dared to speak against a project in a Minister’s riding based on the merits of that project at this particular time.

We cannot do business this way. As 19 Members in this consensus system of government we owe it to the people of the Northwest Territories to carry out our debates with integrity. We adopted a code of conduct at the outset of this Assembly. This included a vow to do our utmost to distribute resources fairly and justly. How are we to do this if we cannot question the allocation of those resources if some resources are off limits because they are in a Minister’s constituency?

We have an obligation as Regular Members to hold the government to account. We need to be able to weigh the proposed spending of public dollars and infrastructure projects on their merits. This involves asking questions and sometimes voting against the government proposals if they do not bear up against that scrutiny. This is our responsibility and our duty.

I believe the Member for Thebacha’s comments were made to intimidate me as I attempted to carry out my duty and my right as a Member to vote the way I wished on this potentially contentious motion. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mrs.

Groenewegen.

Before I rule on your point of privilege, I’m going to allow some debate on the point of privilege. To the point of privilege, the honourable Member for Thebacha, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you,

Mr. Speaker. I, too, have reviewed Hansard. I’ve also reviewed Hansard from last February 18, when we were in Committee of the Whole. The Member for Hay River South called me on a point of order when I was speaking, stating — if I could quote from page 387 of Hansard: “I have a point of order. Is Mr. Miltenberger speaking to this as a Minister of the Cabinet, or he is speaking to this as the MLA for Thebacha?” The chair at the time, Mr. Krutko, said, “Mrs. Groenewegen, you do not have a point of order, since you didn’t specifically state your order. But to be fair to all Members, this motion is before the House, and every Member has the right to speak to the motion. To be fair to everyone, everyone has had the right to speak.”

When you look at the Hansard from Friday, clearly there’s a context here. The Social Programs Committee had come forward with a motion, in fact a number of motions. They had spoken about Arctic Tern. They spoke about the need to look at all options. They asked the Minister what plans were there for Arctic Tern. They made comments about thinking outside the box.

My one comment on that issue was that there’s an option that hasn’t been considered that I think is fully valid, and in fact, other Members, when it was discussed with them, agreed that it should be worth at least looking at.

In the course of the debate, which is the place to bring this issue to the floor, I raised that comment and I raised that option. It was done within the context of the broad debate. It was no threat. It was stated very calmly, quietly, briefly as something that should be considered.

The irony, if you look at the whole text of my comments, speaks not to that but to the other issue of the comments and concerns I had about this issue being brought forward by a Member for Yellowknife. So while I respect the Member’s right to stand up and raise those issues, very clearly I do not agree that there’s a point of privilege. It’s part of the debate, and I believe it was entirely within keeping within the context of that debate.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. To the point of privilege?

Members, the Speaker’s role when a point of privilege has been raised is to determine whether the matter was raised at its earliest convenience, earliest possible opportunity, and to decide whether a prima facie breach of privilege has occurred.

As the events that are brought out under the point of privilege happened during Committee of the Whole, I will take the point of privilege under advisement and come back to the Members at a later date with a ruling. Thank you, Members.

Orders of the Day. Item 2, Ministers’ statements. The Hon. Premier, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On May 28, 29 and 30 I attended the 2008 Western Premiers’ Conference in Prince Albert Saskatchewan. As I stated in my Budget Address, I intended to focus my attention on delivering the message of our territory and our people to those that need to hear it. The Northwest Territories had the full attention of western Premiers and succeeded in getting their support for issues important to us.

The Premiers from British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Nunavut and the NWT, along with the Deputy Premier from the Yukon, talked about the strength of the western economy, our collective accomplishments and our shared sense of optimism for the future. Over the last few years we have witnessed tremendous economic growth in the west, a region quickly becoming the economic engine of this country. The North is clearly part of the new west with little doubt that the economic development of the Northwest Territories is important to the west and ultimately to Canada’s future.

There is a genuine interest by all western Premiers to lend their support to do their part to make sure that the territories are part of the unprecedented growth of the western economy. My fellow Premiers joined me in my call to the federal government to provide strategic federal infrastructure investments for the North. I reminded Premiers that this country has a long history of making large investments in infrastructure in support of a broader national vision, and it is only fitting to articulate that support in the hometown of John Diefenbaker, who had plans to open up the North for development through the construction of basin opening infrastructure.

At the meeting all western Premiers also expressed strong support for Jordan’s Principle — the principle that jurisdictions should not get in the way of providing health or other services to aboriginal children in need, no matter where they live. Premiers are committed to do their part and look to the federal government to do theirs. In fact, the example of the NWT was cited, where the cumulative shortfall for health care funding provided for services to aboriginal people on behalf of the federal government is equivalent to one-third of our annual health budget. Premiers agreed that this is unacceptable and called on the federal government to meet these responsibilities for health care services. To show their continued commitment to advancing aboriginal interests, Premiers also joined

leaders on the National Day of Action and participated in their efforts to raise awareness of the issues affecting aboriginal people across this country.

Mr. Speaker, during our discussions Premiers also discussed the need to consider alternative energy sources to reduce the dependency on diesel as a fuel source for communities in the North. Premiers were receptive to our message about the great work that is being done in our territory to develop our rich hydro potential and to be a leader in the area of wind technology. In considering clean alternative energy, there is widespread recognition that we are sitting on huge resource potential that will eventually be tapped through the development of the Mackenzie Gas pipeline.

Overall, Mr. Speaker, this was a very successful meeting in advancing the priorities of the GNWT with our western counterparts. Investment in infrastructure, seeking health funding from Ottawa and development of new energy resources are just a few of the important priorities that all Premiers supported at this year’s Western Premiers’ Conference. Building and maintaining strong partnerships with our provincial and territorial neighbours is a key component to achieving the goals of this Assembly.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Ministers’ statements, the honourable Minister responsible for Industry, Tourism and Investment, Mr.

Bob

McLeod.

Mr. Speaker, today is the first day of Tourism Week in Canada. It is a chance for us to highlight the tremendous importance of this sector to our national and local economies and to our lives as Canadians.

In the Northwest Territories tourism is a $113 million a year industry. More importantly, it is an area of investment that offers many spin-off benefits and has the potential to establish and grow viable and sustainable ventures in almost every one of our region’s 33 communities.

As a government we are acutely aware of the importance and significance of our tourism industry and the economic opportunities that it offers, particularly at the local level. Our Tourism 2010 Plan and the $15 million it represents in direct and leveraged investment is designed to capitalize on this potential and is one of the most significant commitments that has ever been made for tourism in the Northwest Territories.

The new Tourism Product Diversification and Marketing Program is a good example of Tourism 2010 in action. It is providing our industry and its operators with the insight and means to reinvent or expand their products and operations to meet the trends and demands that we anticipate will provide growth for our tourism industry in the future.

Meanwhile, the LookUp North campaign, sponsored last year by the NWT, Yukon and Nunavut governments, heightened the profile of Canada’s North to a new level and resulted in a significant increase in visitor traffic to the NWT last summer.

These tourism-based initiatives and others are the tools with which we are working to balance and increase the diversity of the Northwest Territories’ economy, maximizing opportunities and contributing to an improvement in the quality of life for all NWT residents.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take the time today to recognize the board, staff and members of Northwest Territories Tourism, NWTT, who in their role as our destination marketing organization are an important and valued partner in our efforts on behalf of the tourism sector. In particular, I would like to offer best wishes on behalf of this Assembly to David Grindlay, whose guidance and vision have allowed the NWTT to significantly advance its role and resources in the last seven years and who will be leaving his position as executive director this summer.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize and salute the men and women who work in our valued tourism sector, individuals at every level whose service and reputation are building our industry and who are the face of our tourism industry to the world.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Ministers’ statements. The honourable Minister responsible for Persons with Disabilities, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr.

Speaker.

Disability Awareness Week is from June 1 to 7, 2008. This year’s theme is Disability Is Not a Choice…Your Attitude Is.

One of the priorities for the 16th Legislative

Assembly is to improve support for children and adults with special needs and disabilities. The week is an opportunity for us all to recognize the contributions that persons with disabilities make in our communities and to consider how persons with disabilities can contribute or participate in the

social, recreational and educational lives of communities across the Northwest Territories.

The July 2000 report Living with Disability… Living with Dignity told us that approximately 13 per cent of the population of the NWT has a disability and that many of these individuals have multiple disabilities. For many years the Government of the Northwest Territories has worked closely with the NWT Council of Persons with Disabilities, the Yellowknife Association for Community Living and the YWCA through the Disability Steering Committee Partnership to consider how we can best meet the needs of persons with disabilities in the NWT. This collaborative work has led to the completion of many of the actions in the 2004 NWT Action Plan for Persons with Disabilities and has been invaluable.

One of the greatest needs for persons with disabilities is the need for supported living options. For many years the GNWT has had to send many persons with disabilities to live in the south due to the limited housing options in the North. The Hay River Territorial Supported Living Initiative as a part of the Strategic Initiative Committee on Building Our Futures will enable us to offer additional supported living services to residents of the NWT. The cost of the facility operation will be offset by repatriating clients currently in the south. This initiative fulfills one of the action items in the NWT Action Plan for Persons with Disabilities, in which the GNWT committed to develop additional supported living options for persons with disabilities.

Mr. Speaker, I’d like to highlight the work of the staff of the NWT Council of Persons with Disabilities and their local committees across the NWT. The council has been an active and consistent advocacy group working on behalf of persons with disabilities for many years.

With support from the Department of Health and Social Services the council has been able to initiate such programs as the Disability Information Line, the successful Parking Placard Program and community outreach programs. With the support of the Department of Education, Culture and Employment and the Yellowknife Health and Social Services Authority the council operates the successful Early Childhood Intervention Program.

The executive director for the council, Ms. Cecily Hewitt, will soon be leaving her position with the council. Ms. Hewitt has been very dedicated to the work of the council and of bettering the lives of those with disabilities. I would like to personally thank her and wish her luck with her future endeavours.

There are many other vital organizations dedicated to working on behalf of persons with disabilities in the NWT. I would like to acknowledge the work of

the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, the Canadian Hard of Hearing Association, the Canadian Mental Health Association, the Yellowknife Association for Community Living, the YWCA, the Autism Society, People First, the NWT Literacy Council and the Learning Disabilities Association. These organizations make a difference in the everyday lives of persons with disabilities and have a long-term commitment to enhancing the future quality of life of all persons with disabilities.

I encourage everyone to watch for activities that highlight Disability Awareness Week in their communities. We honour and thank persons with disabilities throughout the NWT for their contributions and strength that they provide to our friends, families and communities.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. The honourable Minister of Transportation, Mr. Yakeleya.

Mahsi, Mr.

Speaker.

[English translation not provided.]

Mr. Speaker, I am encouraged by the interest in the Arctic gateway that I've recently heard about from various leaders and my counterparts in other jurisdictions.

I am pleased to report that on April 8, 2008, at the Council of Ministers Responsible for Transportation and Highway Safety meeting in Gatineau, Quebec, the federal Transportation Minister committed his department to undertake a feasibility study on the Arctic gateway and trade corridor. This study is expected to commence later this year.

I am also pleased with the support we received from the Arctic gateway at the recent Western Canada Transportation Ministers meeting in Victoria, B.C. The federal government recently released the National Policy Framework for Strategic Gateways and Corridors. This framework defines the elements of a national strategic gateway and guides federal investment. Factors such as economic efficiency and competitiveness, sovereignty and security and environmental sustainability are considered within this framework.

I would like to provide Members with an update on the proposed NWT Arctic gateway and trade corridor through the Mackenzie Valley. This NWT gateway has the potential to re-arrange logistics for major resource developments in western Canada and in the North. The centrepiece of this gateway is the Over the Top marine shipping route.

An Arctic gateway and trade corridor through the Mackenzie Valley will provide efficiencies and

savings. The shortened distance from Asia and Europe would reduce current weight and dimension restrictions now experienced on delivery routes from either Atlantic or Pacific gateways. An Arctic gateway also provides the advantage of relieving congestion for the southern ports, highways and rail links.

The importance of developing an Arctic gateway will continue to expand due to the rise in the demand for imported goods and exports from Canadian commodities, climate change and technology advancement.

Over the past year the Department of Transportation completed an initial assessment study of the route, held meetings and information sessions on the route with proponents, oil sands stakeholders, various regulators, interested territorial, provincial and federal departments, including Transport Canada, and Alberta Infrastructure and Transportation. This work has helped generate national interest in the concept of an NWT Arctic gateway and trade corridor.

Industry has also been busy promoting the NWT Arctic gateway concept. Recently Arctic Module Inland Transportation Ltd., or AMIT, was established, a new joint venture between the Inuvialuit corporation, NTCL and Mammoet Canada, to focus on planning, testing and promoting the Over the Top marine shipping route. In March of this year AMIT started an engineering study for a major resource developer. This study will look into logistical aspects of this long-used historical route, as well as technology, vessel and regulatory requirements. AMIT will also be investigating an option that involves shipping modules up the Mackenzie River through the port of Hay River and via surface transportation to sites in Alberta and Saskatchewan. It should also be noted that NTCL completed a successful run of the Over the Top route in 2006 and is also proposing to test a barge delivery via Lake Athabasca to a site in Saskatchewan later this summer. These activities speak to the high level of interest and support for this transportation route.

The Department of Transportation view an Over the Top marine shipping route as an opportunity to promote additional economic opportunity in the Northwest Territories and to further assert Canada's sovereignty over the North. An Over the Top marine shipping route could improve the sustainability of our current marine transportation industry and further develop the communities of Tuktoyaktuk, Hay River and Fort Smith as significant marine service centres.

As the Over the Top route gains momentum, opportunities for development of the Mackenzie Valley all-weather highway also increases. Together, the Mackenzie Valley Highway and the

Over the Top marine shipping route have the potential to become a major national strategic gateway.

In conclusion, I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues, AMIT and other proponents of an Arctic gateway and Over the Top marine shipping route. This work is a good example of how industry and government can partner to improve our transportation system.

Advancing the NWT Arctic gateway and trade corridor is both in the national and Northwest Territories' interest. An Arctic gateway and trade corridor should provide long-lasting benefits to the residents and businesses and communities of the Northwest Territories.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Before we go on, colleagues, I would like to draw your attention to the presence in the visitors’ gallery of His Excellency Jose Brilliante, Philippine Ambassador to Canada. Accompanying him are Joseph Angeles, Minister and Consul General, and Miss Rhenita Rodriguez, Consul. Welcome to Yellowknife. Welcome to the Legislative Assembly.

Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.

[English translation not provided.]

Mr. Speaker, I want to speak to you today about the serious delays in housing repairs and construction programs undertaken by the NWT Housing Corporation in the communities in my riding.

A number of houses are in serious need of repair, and there are many units that have not even been constructed yet. I have heard over and over again from my constituents that timelines to repairs and construction are not met. This can cause a great deal of disruption to clients.

When major repairs are needed, people are required to either move into a vacant house or move in with family and friends who often are already living in overcrowded conditions.

In one case an elderly couple in my riding has been waiting for over a year to move back into their house. This situation creates a vicious circle. The longer the delay, the less housing is available as people are moved into temporary units while they wait for these repairs or for new construction to be completed.

Timely repairs and construction schedules lead to fewer costs down the road. I call on the NWT Housing Corporation to work with the local housing organizations to review a commitment to tenants and clients, and to improve its repair and maintenance program.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr.

Menicoche.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to speak about programming at North Slave Correctional Centre. I believe that it is inconceivable that the Department of Justice would look to programming as a way and a means to appease the government’s reduction exercise.

The Northwest Territories has four times the national average in the areas of sexual assault and incidents of family violence. It is hard for me to comprehend why we would look to reduce program delivery officers at our largest correctional facility. It makes absolutely no sense. The government’s own strategic goals talk of safe communities and strengthening treatment of addictions and mental health. The actions proposed by the Department of Justice fly directly in the face of both of these goals.

I just do not feel comfortable without the adequate resources available at North Slave Correctional Centre to ensure that those inmates who require treatment and programming get that service in a timely, coordinated and professional manner. We can’t slough off the delivery of family violence and sex offender programs to other personnel. It took nearly three years to recruit a psychologist to the centre, and the caseworkers are busy with other duties. The affected positions are entitled “program delivery officers,” because that is their role and that is their function, not someone else’s.

The safety of our community is at stake, Mr. Speaker. I don’t want to see us shortchange our community’s safety by offering programming on a substandard basis. The department has also collapsed the deputy warden of programs position, which is also very, very unsettling. Those duties are now in the hands of a sentence administrator, who obviously would not be an expert on the programming that would be required at the centre. The department has chosen to take these measures, and I am left wondering what is next — the teachers at the centre or perhaps even the chaplain? Again, this is a classic case of reductions that are just not well thought out. Certainly the safety of our families and our communities should

have gotten a higher billing from this government than it obviously has.

Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Members’ statements. The honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. For too many years the people of the NWT have had little say into the decisions affecting our territory, decisions that were made on exploration rights, land issues, traditional territory issues, royalty sharing agreements — too many decisions that are made for us by Ottawa. Everybody seems to have an opinion as to what is in our best interests. We have seen too many examples of people outside the NWT telling us what is best for us.

The most recent example, Mr. Speaker, is the World Wildlife Fund call to postpone the sale of oil and gas exploration rights until an environmental plan is done for the region. Do they think that we have no idea what we are doing up here and need someone to tell us that we need a plan? This has been going on for too long. Do they actually believe that we would let exploration happen without concerns for the environment? We do appreciate people’s concerns, but we are not going to just stand by and watch our land being pillaged for the sake of a few barrels of oil.

I continue to be frustrated by groups outside of the NWT using our issues up here to advance their own agendas. I think this government, along with working with the aboriginal governments, knows and can decide what is best for us. For too long we have had decisions made for us that are supposed to be in our best interests, and I think we know what is in our best interest. There must come a time when we have to say that enough is enough and take the future of the NWT into our own hands. I believe we do have the capabilities of making our own decisions.

Mr. Speaker, Ottawa is always using our resources as a piggy bank, thinking we owe them something. The time has come. We have to put a stop to that. When the resources and the money they generate run out, then Ottawa will say, “Okay; decide for yourselves” and they will give us that power. We must not continue to watch our wealth leave the NWT. We can’t always allow outsiders to stick their nose into our business and decide what is best for us and the NWT. We are quite capable of sticking our own noses in there. We have to take a hard line and protect the NWT and our grandchildren’s future. I think we do have the capabilities up here. I

think it’s time that this government, along with the aboriginal governments in the Northwest Territories, decides to unite and let Ottawa know that we’re not going to be putting up with this anymore.

Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr.

Speaker. World

Wildlife Fund of Canada, a long-term northern conservation partner, has been attacked by Inuvialuit leaders and, most disturbingly, by our own Premier. The attacks are based on false premises and completely ignore the point — a valid point, I might add. World Wildlife Fund of Canada has called for a postponement of the lease sale in the Beaufort until a comprehensive measurement plan is available for the region and the capability is in place to quickly clean up oil spills.

Mr. Speaker, planning is as yet unfinished in the conservation of the Beaufort. In fact, the World Wildlife Fund is a partner with Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Inuvialuit Game commission. They’ve all agreed that it’s unfinished and need to take those things into consideration.

Secondly, an Arctic Council report has just been published that confirms that we do not yet have the capability to clean up oil spills, and I’d like to give you a quote from that: “Oil spills under ice or in ice-covered waters are the most challenging, simply because they cannot be contained or recovered effectively with current technology.” This is a report out last month from the Arctic Council, of which we are a member.

Federal Minister Lunn has also made a comment, saying, “We are a long way from resources development, but we need to make sure no project proceeds unless the proper protections are in place.” Clearly, there’s mutual agreement on that.

Finally, the Canadian public has said the same thing. Over 55 per cent have said that environmental concerns are the number one priority for Canadians, and in fact, only 7 per cent of Canadians say that economic development is a top priority in the Arctic.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to make clear to everyone that many, many people in the Northwest Territories, in the Beaufort-Delta as well as in the Deh Cho and the Tlicho and in Yellowknife — in fact, in all regions — support sustainable development. The World Wildlife Fund is talking about sustainable development.

Sustainable development means that any economic development must incorporate an effective response to environmental and social concerns — not a new statement for me here today. I’m frankly quite disappointed that our Premier is so quick to state his opposition to the perspective of the World Wildlife Fund.

I support the Inuvialuit and their strong interest in protecting their land. I support their land-use planning process. I support their social well-being initiatives. These are all components of sustainable development.

A fanatic focus on mega-development projects benefits some…

Mr. Bromley, your time for your Member’s statement has expired.