Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. The

honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The

Premier explained how he has involved himself in closed door discussions on our future constitutional development with an exclusive gathering of people mysteriously funded. I’d like to offer my view towards involving all the people of the NWT in an open, inclusive, public, and transparent process to develop new and effective governance for all the people of the NWT. First, the process has to be carried out not at a remote wilderness retreat, but across the NWT in a way that values public participation. There should be special efforts to involve the diverse peoples of the NWT with the involvement of youth and elders. I don’t think there were any representatives of aboriginal governments at the table at Blachford Lake. It is essential that the effort be based upon recognition of the special status and rights of aboriginal peoples of the NWT. I believe the people who gathered at Blachford Lake were almost entirely men; just as too many of our forums are. Our democratic process must consider and recognize the value of gender balance

and how the promotion of equal participation by women and men can be promoted in our future government structures. The vision of a politically, socially, economically, and environmentally sustainable future must guide our formation of new government. The NWT is still a largely natural area where its residents have an unparalleled opportunity to develop and implement ecologically sustainable communities with the opportunity for every citizen to strive for their full potential. We must focus on identifying a path that we can follow together, recognizing and accommodating our individual and cultural uniqueness, but subscribing to a group effort toward common goals. Finally, new discussions to further our political maturity must recognize and draw on the previous work done by the Western Constitutional Forum, the Bourque Commission, and similar bodies. A lot of time, money, and good faith of people who participated in previous processes have already gone into this work. Let’s begin by recognizing the value and teachings in this work and use this as a basis to bring our people together for fruitful discussions. Echoing Minister McLeod: Let’s get Northerners working together.

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The

honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The

Sahtu Dene and Metis Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement came into effect in June of 1994. Although in many ways my constituents celebrate this major achievement, we still have reasons to be angry. We celebrate the fact that much of the land in the area is clearly owned in law by the Dene and the Metis. We celebrate the fact that ours is the first land claim in Canadian history where two aboriginal peoples, the Dene and the Metis, came together in one land claim. However, we get angry about how the Government of Canada and industry don’t get it. They don’t understand our rights. Maybe they just don’t care. They just don’t understand that we are the landowners. They need to respect our rights, plain and simple. Our people have successfully claimed legal ownership to a lot of the land in the Sahtu Settlement Area and our rights cannot be ignored. Yet, too often when industry and the federal government undertake activities on our land, they ignore their duty to consult. They need to consult with our people and the Sahtu leadership on what they are planning to do and they need to give our

people the time to understand the impact of the activities. This is the Law of Canada, as several recent decisions in the Supreme Court of Canada have said. I have suggested that in addition to the duty to consult, there is an obligation to consult. This is a demonstration to respect. It shows respect for our people. It recognizes that we exist. It also acknowledges that we have rights. This moral obligation to consult extends to all the lands of the Sahtu region, whether they are on Sahtu settlement area lands or not. We can only trust the federal government if they demonstrate respect for the Sahtu people as historical landowners. We were on this land long before the Government of Canada came into being, long before any oil and gas companies. Encana did some work on our land this past winter where our rights were ignored. We were not consulted. The federal government seemed to think that no consultation was necessary because the activities were allowed under an old permit, four years old. The leaders of the Sahtu say that this is no way of thinking. If you want to access our right, show us respect and we will understand.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The

honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I’d

like to talk about the effects of climate change and the effects on our communities; especially the community of Tsiigehtchic, who have seen, over the last couple of years, some major erosion by way of ground movement. The church in Tsiigehtchic, which is usually a poster of the community, and more importantly the threat to its local gravesite. Now the residents of Tsiigehtchic are stating that their homes are now being threatened by movement of the ground. Tsiigehtchic sits on a hill and now we are seeing the ground starting to move. Also a lot of the construction of our houses were built on permafrost. With the global warming and the effects that we’re seeing by way of erosion and ground movement is a direct implication of climate change. I noted the Minister of Environment in his highlights stated that there is a draft NWT Climate Change Adaption Plan they are hoping to release in the near future to address problems concerning climate change. It’s too late. It’s already here. We’re already seeing the effects in our communities. We are seeing the effects on our highways. More importantly, our communities are now being threatened.

In an in-depth report which was done on the impacts of climate change, the estimate is $400 million in regards to the effects it will have on the public infrastructure throughout the Northwest Territories, Yukon, and Nunavut. I think as a government we have to realize that we are already seeing the effects, especially in the community of Tsiigehtchic where people are now asking the Housing Corporation for assistance to possibly move their homes away from the banks, away from where the areas are being eroded, but, more importantly, to deliver programs and services within this government which can assist people when this threat is occurring. I think it’s important that government not only looks at putting out a plan, but make clear changes to the programs and services that we do deliver such as the program which was delivered a number of years ago because of the threats of public infrastructure in Inuvik in regard to pilings. I think we have to start looking at those type of programs and services regarding programs delivered by the department, Housing Corporation, or other programs and services to combat this problem, which is real, which is affecting communities and residents of the Northwest Territories. With that I will be asking the Minister of Housing questions on this matter later.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The

honourable Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Bob McLeod.

Mr. Speaker, today I want

to share with Members the successes of a young group of talented athletes: the Yellowknife Bantam Wolfpack hockey team. ---Applause These young 13 and 14-year-old athletes have accomplished some very significant results for sport in the North, results that we should all be proud of. During this past season the team captured an amazing six tournament titles and in doing so, they captured two consecutive Alberta tournaments during the Christmas break. They won the Northern Bantam AA Challenge hosted by Whitehorse and the A Team Lloydminster Invitational Tournament. Locally these boys also won the midget tournament, playing against athletes up to four years older than themselves, and they finished second in the men’s Easter tournament, and along the way defeated the honourable Premier’s team. I am sure Premier Roland can confirm to the speed and skills of these boys. The determination of this team to be the best and play the best was displayed when the team hosted

the Arctic Showdown, which included top teams from Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia. In this tournament the team went undefeated in the round robin and defeated Canada’s number one and most historical hockey school, Notre Dame. ---Applause Unfortunately, the team lost to the Hounds in the most exciting final game. Last week the team competed in a major California tournament. Parents of the opposing San Diego team were so impressed they sent along compliments. I’d like to read an excerpt from one of the compliments received. “I have watched my son play many teams over the past seven years. Some very classy and some not very classy teams. However, the Yellowknife team was the classiest team I have ever seen. They had class on and off the ice. Their kindness was refreshing and heart-warming.” The Wolfpack team has an amazing record of nearly 50 wins and only three losses in regulation time. However, it is the dedication, team play, and sportsmanship that these young men have brought to the game that I am so proud to share. As one Yellowknife fan was quoted as saying in the local newspaper, “every Bantam Wolfpack player is my hero.” I seek unanimous consent to complete my statement. ---Unanimous consent granted.

The Wolfpack team

captured the hearts of many and succeeded through a dedication to improve and a desire to succeed. They have been great ambassadors for the North. Later, at the appropriate time, I will be recognizing many of the members of the Wolfpack team in the gallery.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Item 4,

returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Monfwi, Mr. Lafferty.

Mahsi, Mr.

Speaker. It is with great privilege to recognize the corrections grads I spoke of earlier. I’d like to highlight their names, because I think it’s important to highlight: Nicole Bonnetrouge, Gregory Bradford, Nora Doig, Ivan Gloden, Michael Henry, Nathan Kogiak, Alan Kopec, Laura McLeod, Kyle Pond, Matthew Simms, Linda Thiel, Steven Underhay, and Gordon Villeneuve. Welcome. I’d also like to recognize a special guest that’s here with us, Ms. Chantal Alarie. She’s the national coordinator for the Ministerial Conference on the Canadian Francophonie. Also, our staff from ECE, Benoit Boutin, senior advisor French language

services. Ms. Alarie is here in YK as part of the planning activity for the Ministerial Conference on the Canadian Francophonie to be hosted in Yellowknife in June 2010. Looking forward to that.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The

honourable Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.

It’s my honour today to be able to

recognize some of the very accomplished Wolfpack team members who happen to be constituents of my riding. I haven’t got all the names, so I’m going to recognize the Dent family, the Miller family, and the Nilson family. If I missed anybody, my huge apologies.

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. The

honourable Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Bob McLeod.

I’d like to recognize some

members of the Yellowknife Wolfpack hockey team and their parents. I’ll start with Tyler Dent, Tye Hand, Keegan Hnatiw, Storm Hubert, Reggie Kaip, Ryan McCauley, Aaron McDonald, Matthew Miller, Kent Nilson, Fraser Oliver, Joss Round, Jacob Schofield, Cody Villebrun, Colby Wallace, their coach Clem Hand, manager Marlene Nielsen, and the parents: Charles Dent, Clem and Shannon Hand, Marlene Hnatiw, Gary Hubert, Bill and Lizette Kaip, Evan McCauley, Ken and Maureen Miller, Marlene Nielsen, Jeff and Coralee Round, Kim Schofield, Lorna Villebrun, Stewart Wallace; all members of the Yellowknife Wolfpack. I also wanted to recognize Ter Hamer and Julianne Hamer. Ter was one of the original proponents of the Deh Cho Bridge, now living in Peace River. Also, my Yellowknife South constituent, Matthew Simms.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The

honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.

I’d like to begin by recognizing

Chief Edward Sangris of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation. Also, we’ve been talking a lot about official languages in the last few days. I’d like to recognize the students from the Language Skills for Newcomers to Canada Program at Aurora College, who have come to the Chamber today with their instructor Lynne Zentner. These students now have permanent residency status in Canada and are working hard to improve their English language skills. They are Hiroko Matsuo, Julieta Baziyan, Melanya Grigoryan-- sorry, Melanya -- Natasha Salodkina, Suchitra Yadev and, finally, Rama Pakhrel.

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The

honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, Mr. Roland.

I’d like to, as well,

recognize from the Akaitcho region Chief Ed

Sangris, as well as the president of the NWT Metis Nation, Betty Villeneuve.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. The

honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Jacobson.

Today I’d like to recognize one

of my good friends Mr. Ivan Gloden.

Thank you, Mr. Jacobson. The

honourable Member for Thebacha, Mr. Miltenberger.

I, as well,

would like to recognize Betty Villebrun, president of the Northwest Territories Metis Nation; one of the executive board members from Fort Smith, Mr. Ken Hudson; as well as Gord Villeneuve from Fort Smith. Welcome to the Assembly.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The

honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.