Good afternoon, colleagues. Welcome back to the Chamber. Orders of the day. Item 2, Ministers’ statements. The honourable Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Mr. Bob McLeod.

Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories is committed to sustainable economic development in the Northwest Territories and to encouraging the development of a healthy private sector.

This commitment has been supported by the Business Incentive Policy providing local preference to registered northern companies on all procurement contracts entered into directly by the Government of the Northwest Territories.

These procurement dollars have had a residual and positive impact on our territory and our communities. Small businesses have developed in number and capacity and our Northwest Territories business community is now vibrant and competitive. Our economy has matured and with it, the role of the Government of the Northwest Territories procurement in this environment has also changed.

As a government, we must ensure that our programs and services reflect these changing times and balance the need to provide effective support to our community with the reality of higher costs and tightening budgets. We are currently seeking the input of our aboriginal business community stakeholders on amendments we are proposing to the Business Incentive Policy.

These proposed changes have been developed to address concerns by community governments that the Business Incentive Policy is restricting their authority over funding they receive for operations, to strengthen support to Northwest Territories resident-owned small businesses and improve competition on major infrastructure projects in the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, our government maintains that the principle of supporting Northwest Territories business or local preference for the Business Incentive Policy remains firm. Changes that have been identified are designed to maximize benefits for Northwest Territories residents and provide all communities and regions with opportunities and choices while ensuring best value on government procurement.

These proposed revisions have been developed to support ongoing Government of the Northwest Territories efforts to refocus areas of service delivery and infrastructure management to ensure affordable and effective government operations.

Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories is committed to working in partnership with Northwest Territories communities and supporting our business community through our contracting practices. Once we have concluded this consultation, I plan to return to the committee this fall to provide our findings and recommended next steps to get my colleagues’ feedback.

I would encourage all of our partners and interested individuals to embrace this opportunity to provide input on this very important economic policy. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Robert McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I am pleased to provide Members with an overview of the Northwest Territories Youth Development Strategy and outline some of our planned initiatives designed to help support the development of our youth.

The 16th Legislative Assembly has identified several

key priorities related to the development of youth. These include a focus on prevention by promoting healthy choices and lifestyles, the role of personal and family responsibility and the importance of working with families, communities and schools to improve the physical and mental well-being of our youth.

The Department of Municipal and Community Affairs delivers a variety of programs and services that foster positive development of youth in communities. A Territory-wide Youth Development Strategy will improve our efforts by continuing successful programming and developing new tools to ensure that the priorities identified by youth, community residents and Members of the Legislative Assembly are addressed. The strategy will also ensure that existing coordination of youth programs and services will be built on and enhanced.

Mr. Speaker, some of the elements contained in the Youth Development Strategy that I wish to highlight for Members include an expanded Youth Ambassadors Program. The program offers NWT youth opportunity to receive training and volunteer experience at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics and Paralympics while serving as ambassadors of the Northwest Territories.

Prior experience with the Youth Ambassadors Program at the 2007 Canada Winter Games, the 2008 Arctic Winter Games and the 2008 North American Indigenous Games has demonstrated the positive outcome experienced by youth through this experience. My colleagues may recall that at the 2008 North American Indigenous Games, our youth ambassadors received a special recognition award for their outstanding contribution to the games.

Other initiatives included in the Youth Strategic Plan include a stable source of funding for the operation and maintenance of community youth centres located across the NWT. I am also pleased to advise that MACA is providing the SideDoor Youth Centre in Yellowknife with funding assistance to support the hosting of a youth centre conference that is scheduled for later this spring. This conference will allow program delivery staff from all across the Territories the opportunity to exchange ideas and receive information from a wide range of youth service and funding organizations.

Other elements included in the Youth Development Strategy include:

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a youth program officer position in each of the northern and southern regions to provide ongoing support to community-based youth initiatives;

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the development of a youth website to serve as a one-stop shop for GNWT youth programming;

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the development of a new after-school physical activity program to engage communities and schools to encourage healthy lifestyles;

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support for a variety of youth forums including an NWT youth conference and youth role model tours to guide the development of future programming; and

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the introduction of the Next Generation

Initiative that will engage enthusiastic youth in a wide variety of initiatives with a view to recruiting them as the next generation of community development leaders.

The success of youth programming is dependent on strong partnerships between communities, local organizations, and government departments working together to identify local needs and implement viable solutions. Through the Youth Development Strategy MACA will continue to make wise investments to ensure all parties involved succeed in developing our youth.

I would like to express my thanks to all the Members for their continued support as we move forward with the Youth Development Strategy in the coming months.

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

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. If we want northern students to be successful, we know that our schools need to reflect the unique needs, cultures, languages, and learning styles of our northern students. Curricula for all Northwest Territories grades is developed using current research and theory that we gain through participating in the Western and Northern Canadian Protocol, while staying relevant within our unique cultures, languages, and environment.

Recently we have completed a variety of new curricula and materials that provide additional northern relevance in the classroom. Experiential science is a new course at the grades 10 to 12 level that gives high school students credit for getting out on the land and encourages students to participate in community monitoring. Our communities form the foundations of experiential science and incorporate elders meetings and traditional knowledge. Experiential science was developed in consultation with elders from around the Northwest Territories to reflect those values. This course will encourage students to get involved with science and

environment related careers North of 60 and to apply their knowledge to their everyday experiences in the northern environment.

Our social studies have their roots in Western and Northern Canadian Protocol where citizenship and identity are core concepts. They include Dene, Inuvialuit, and Inuinnait perspectives. Our social studies curricula were advised by a sample of Northwest Territories teachers who used their experiences in teaching to shape courses that would be relevant to northern students.

The Grade 4 Social Studies curriculum was written in the Northwest Territories from northern perspectives. This course has many resources, including northern artefacts and materials such as furs, kimberlites, models of northern topographies, and print and audiovisual materials from First Nations perspectives.

Grade 5 Social Studies is being developed right now and will be informed by the needs of our students in becoming our future leaders. The impact of First Nations on this country will be highlighted from a historical and contemporary point of view.

At the Grade 7 Social Studies level students explore themes related to the circumpolar world. Because the Northwest Territories is the only jurisdiction to study these themes, Education, Culture and Employment redeveloped and published a resource called “The Northern Circumpolar World.” The updated version explores each country north of the 60th parallel and includes

Internet resources. The history, geography, climate, economies, people, and environment of the circumpolar world are all covered in the text and a large selection of maps. The book is available to teachers on-line at the department’s website.

Many Northwest Territories schools rely on the expertise and guidance of their community elders in organizing and facilitating any on-the-land experiences, as well as for storytelling, skills teaching, and more. Many schools include elders as regular contributors, guest speakers, and support staff in aboriginal language and culture programming.

In addition to what is provided through curricula, the aboriginal language and culture-based education directive provides guidance to education councils and authorities on the use of aboriginal language and culture funding and supports. This is based on research and understanding that shows that students will learn better and have higher self-esteem if they can see themselves and their world in what they are being taught.

We are dedicated to culture-based education. Only when our students’ northern cultures, languages, and perspectives are reflected in their education can they gain a full understanding of the world around them.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Item 3, Members’ statements. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My Member’s statement today is concerning the Grollier Hall Residential School Settlement Agreement with the GNWT. In the opinion of some of the claimants, the GNWT has not honoured the educational component of our agreement. This has offended some of the members of the claimant group and has prevented them from making use of their educational component. Some view this as a re-victimizing of the survivors.

In the final meeting of the parties in the spring of 2002, promises were made to the claimants negotiating group that an educational fund provided to claimants would not require repayment. This condition was not in the final document presented to the claimant groups for signing. Rather, the standard of the GNWT education funding terms were included.

There were significant disagreements between the parties about the extra terms of the educational component of the agreement. The GNWT then undertook, prior to signing, to hold individual meetings to resolve issues with the individual claimants once their particular education requirements were determined. None of this has been resolved. In my opinion the GNWT unilaterally and in breach of the agreement made changes to the legislation and policies that did not reflect the Grollier Hall Residential School Settlement Agreement.

Since that time the GNWT has tried to force certain claimants to accept the GNWT’s unilateral interpretation of the changes. I’m very concerned about this matter and I’ll have some questions for the Minister at the appropriate time.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like today to talk about wages or, more properly, lack of appropriate wages in some instances. Last October in a Member’s statement I spoke about the NWT minimum wage; how we lag far behind the minimum wages established in other Canadian jurisdictions and of the need for the NWT to increase the minimum wage dollar amount. Has anything changed? Well, I don’t know. In October the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment advised that he would investigate the issue, so I look forward to his update and answer to my questions later on.

Women make up over half of our population and these days, especially in the North, most women are employed in the workforce. Eighty-six percent of women between the ages of 25 and 54 are in paid jobs. Yet women still do not have wage parity with men. In fact, it’s getting worse, not better.

A woman performing the same full-time work as a man will earn only 70 cents for the same dollar earned by a man. Women do not receive equal pay for work of equal value.

Most people know that a massive economic stimulus bill is being considered by our politicians in Ottawa at the moment. It’s being fast tracked and is close to passage. Why am I talking about the federal budget? Well, included in this Omnibus Budget Implementation Act is a bill called the Public Sector Equitable Compensation Act with amendments which, if passed, will put the hard-won rights of Canadian women back 40 years. It transforms pay equity into an equitable compensation issue, one that must be discussed at the employer-union bargaining table.

It will remove the right of public sector workers to file pay equity complaints with the Canadian Human Rights Commission and it would actually impose a $50,000 fine on any union or union member for encouraging or assisting their own members in filing a pay equity complaint. Since it is women who, in most cases, earn less than men, this change will knowingly impact the financial situation of women. All non-monetary amendments to acts, especially the Public Sector Equitable Compensation Act, must be removed from Bill C-10 and debated separately.

So what can be done in the NWT to improve the lot of women who work? We can ensure effective pay equity laws and use them to bring women’s wages to the same level as men’s. We can lobby for a national publicly funded not-for-profit daycare program. Statistics show that women working part

time earn considerably less in wages and pension benefits than men and suffer from an economic inequality. We can reinstate or enhance funding to women’s organizations, organizations which effectively fight for fairness for women. And last but not least we can increase minimum wage to $10 per hour and index it to inflation. That brings me back to where I started today, Mr. Speaker. I will have questions for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment at the appropriate time. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Jacobson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Over the year and a half I have been here, I have identified lots of problems and unique challenges in Nunakput communities. But today I am very proud of some students. In November and December, Mary Ruben-Bennett, a Grade 3 and 4 teacher, Justin Kenny, a high school teacher, and students of Angik School in Paulatuk raised over $1,000 in just a few short weeks to purchase 10 fruit trees, two goats, two rabbits, eight hens and four roasters for needy families around the world.

The students were divided into four teams: Team Nanuk, Team Ookpik, Team Amagok, and Team Kavik. Bernadette Green and Team Nanuk instantly raised $250 and challenged the other teams. Brian Trottier donated a mini hockey stick and raised $350 in raffle tickets. The money also goes to the education of two little girls, nine soccer balls and the equipment to provide clean drinking water for several families.

I find both encouragement and irony in the fact that our students help poor families to have safe, reliable drinking water. There was a great response from the community, Mr. Speaker. So many others volunteered or came out to support them.

Furthermore, this has turned out to be an annual event. Our small and remote communities and residences often restricts the limits supporting a wide number of fundraising projects due to the high cost of living, participation of youth activities such as travelling to the communities and during sporting tournaments. When you see a small community like Paulatuk has put so much effort into helping others around the world with the basic necessities of life, it must be truly celebrated. I am very proud of my students in the school in Paulatuk. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Jacobson. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Beaulieu.

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday I gave an update on items I was working on in Lutselk’e. Today I would like to update the

people of Fort Resolution on issues that I as MLA have been working on.

Mr. Speaker, working with the Minister of Transportation, it was agreed that the department would spend $6 million on a highway between Fort Resolution and Little Buffalo River, a very dangerous and rough part of the highway to Fort Resolution. Mr. Speaker, the local government has been working with the Department of MACA to construct a youth complex which will house, among other things, a summer swimming pool and a soccer pitch. In addition, Mr. Speaker, I have been working with the Minister of MACA and the Minister of infrastructure to discuss some additional capital dollars to be allocated to the municipality so that the entire community of Fort Resolution can be chipsealed. Some money has been allocated in 2010-11 by the municipality to start the chipsealing project.

Mr. Speaker, like most communities in the NWT, housing issues consume the majority of my time. I have brought over 100 housing issues to the Minister of Education since my election. Mr. Speaker, ITI is continuing to provide support to trappers. I have discussed a few small business opportunities in Tu Nedhe with the Minister. With the new SEED money, it gives me some hope that some new businesses could start in Fort Resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I have discussed the need to provide proper industrial arts and home economic areas for the students of Deninoo School with the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. There will be a meeting with the local DEA soon. The cost of living is not as big an issue in Fort Resolution as it is in Lutselk’e, but with limited incomes in the community and the ones that cannot afford to travel to Hay River to buy their food, gasoline and other items, find it very costly in Fort Resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I have had a few meetings with the Minister of Health and Social Services to discuss better use of the great elders’ facility and will continue discussing the use of this building by the residents of Fort Resolution. I also feel the Department of Health and Social Services should have a rehabilitation aide that would be stationed in Fort Resolution to assist the therapist that is working in Fort Resolution from time to time to create continuity.

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

---Unanimous consent granted

Thank you, colleagues. Mr. Speaker, the Department of Justice advises me that the NWT will get its fair share of the Community

Policing Program, which used to be called the Special Constable Program previously. My intention is to continue my advocacy to have an officer stationed in Fort Resolution. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I want to speak again about the BDIC and its future with this government. Mr. Speaker, over the past seven years we have analyzed and reviewed the delivery of business related services in our territory to the point where these reviews have recommended some major changes. We have spent over $250,000 on reviews by Dargo and Allen and also there was the Banker’s Commission that called on government to create a one-stop loan and service delivery mechanism for clients. As these reviews and the many public meetings have indicated, this was the desired course of action. This was done to save the public purse for paying for one organization rather than two and to give residents the one-window approach that they desired.

Mr. Speaker, I supported the creation of the BDIC because I believed that was where the government intended on taking the corporation. Mr. Speaker, here we are four years after the establishment of the BDIC and it seems to me that we have forgotten what the intent of the creation of the BDIC was all about. How many of the recommendations contained in these various reviews and analyses have ever been implemented? Why did the department of ITI maintain their control of the BDIC? This government has not followed through on recommendations or the BDIC Act itself. We have not consolidated anything. Clients still have to go through different windows to receive service. If the BDIC was allowed to do its work, why is it that the BDIC loan portfolio is shrinking over the past three years?

Mr. Speaker, on February 24th , in answering a

question on the same subject matter, the Minister of ITI actually asked me a question: Is the Member suggesting to take all of the economic development outside of the department? Well, Mr. Speaker, in response to that question from the Minister, what I’m suggesting is that we revisit the reviews commissioned by the Department of ITI and the spirit and intent of the BDIC Act and take the required steps to get a one-window service delivery model for businesses in our Territory. This government says it’s looking at ways and areas of our operation where we might be able to achieve

efficiencies. Well, Mr. Speaker, here’s one area that I believe we can get efficiencies and improved and better access to the clients that are out there. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to speak about the tragic facts of suicide in the NWT. I will also speak to the importance of suicide prevention.

The NWT suicide rate is twice as high as the national average. For persons who are between 15 and 64 years of age, suicide is the leading cause of accidental death in the NWT. More men than women commit suicide. In 2007, 80 percent of suicides were committed by teenagers and young men under the age of 34.

Mr. Speaker, each suicide means tragedy for an entire family, for family and friends who grieve the loss of a loved one and often feel guilty for not having been able to help the victim to stop their pain. Years ago the GNWT had a Suicide Prevention Strategy that was part of the 2004 Mental Health and Addictions Services Action Plan. In 2005, a status report on its implementation reported on suicide prevention initiatives. At that time, a Suicide Prevention Training Program for community support workers was in place. The GNWT also supported the Dreamcatcher Conference and developed two educational brochures.

Mr. Speaker, unfortunately the NWT suicide facts have not changed since 2005. Suicide is preventable. The government needs to continue and renew its Suicide Prevention Strategy. Interventions and actions must include a variety of community members; for example, family, leaders and elders. We need to build capacity within our primary health care system. We must provide counselling at a clinical level and increase counselling and skill building at the community level as well. Mr. Speaker, far before a quit smoking hotline, we need a suicide hotline.

Mr. Speaker, suicide and suicide attempts is not our culture, it’s not our tradition. Let’s work together to prevent suicide. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Abernethy.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I’d like to draw attention to Ecology North and the work it does for the well-being of people in the Northwest Territories. Ecology North is a non-profit, charitable organization that supports sound environmental decision-making on individual and community levels. Ecology North’s central focus is public education. Its programs address three priorities: public awareness of environmental issues, sustainable living and climate change. It enjoys productive partnerships with community organizations such as the Centre for Northern Families, the Native Women’s Association, the Yellowknife Community Garden Collective, NWT Recreation and Parks, as well as local schools.

Ecology North organizes a full schedule of events to recognize Earth Week in April and a sustainable living fair at Yellowknife’s annual Trade Show. It’s Youth Ecology Club promotes awareness of environmental challenges and possible solutions among the upcoming generation of northern citizens.

Throughout the year, Ecology North offers workshops on energy efficiency, sustainable living tours that showcase ways to increase energy efficiency in homes and business. Its rent-a-plate services featured at Folk on the Rocks provides a means of reducing the amount of waste created by disposable dishes at large social gatherings. Natural history events help Northerners gain a better appreciation of our physical surroundings.

The Northwest Territories is not a cold and inhospitable wasteland but a network of delicately balanced and perfectly adapted ecosystems. Ecology North frequently organizes workshops, film screenings and school presentations on climate change and helps local and regional governments find practical means to respond to climate change.

Mr. Speaker, the ultimate goal of Ecology North’s programs is to promote environmental and social well-being. In our technologically advanced society it’s easy to neglect our relationship with the natural world. It would be impossible to meet in this House or debate or even conduct the activities of our daily lives if it were not for clean air and drinking water, an adequate food supply and a means of transport and heating our shelters. These are extremely basic elements of life, but the ways that human activity encroaches on wild spaces and fresh water supply are becoming increasingly apparent as is the need for sustainable energy sources.

Mr. Speaker, volunteers are at the heart of Ecology North. I would like to thank the many Northerners

who have offered their insight and expertise to the organization since its beginnings in 1971. It is a prime example of a group of people who think globally and act locally. Let’s show our continued support for their initiatives and make the North a leader in sustainable living. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.