Good afternoon, colleagues. Welcome back to the Chamber. Orders of the day. Item 2, Ministers’ statements. The honourable Minister of Transportation, Honourable Michael McLeod.

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to rise today to give Members an update on the Drive Alive Transportation Safety Program.

The Department of Transportation is dedicated to promoting safety on our roads, trails and waterways. By making safety a priority, this program delivers on the government’s commitment to build our future. Drive Alive supports the Assembly’s priority to build sustainable, vibrant and safe communities.

Drive Alive is a program based on collaborations and partnerships. Through our partnership with heal care providers and RCMP, Drive Alive recently recognized the first members of the NWT Survivors Club. This initiative celebrates residents who made wise decision to wear their seatbelt, helmet or lifejacket, thus sparing them or their passengers from serious injury or death.

Mr. Speaker, through a partnership with Northern Stores, Drive Alive recently released a children’s activity book. This fun and educational document introduces young people to thinking about the choices they need to make to travel safely.

Through a collaboration with CKLB Radio, the department released the new Drive Alive rap song which was written and performed by Aaron Hernandez, also known as Godson. The rap song was performed by Godson at the most recent Super Soccer tournament in Yellowknife and is being used on CBC TV as a public service announcement. It will be an integral part of our ongoing youth Outreach Program.

Drive Alive recently launched a “Be Safe This Summer” poster campaign which promotes safe

travel choices during the busy summer travel season. Bicycle helmets, acquired through a partnership with BHP Billiton, have been distributed throughout the NWT in time for the summer bicycle season.

Over the coming months Drive Alive will launch a boat safety and lifejacket awareness campaign to our communities. I’m very pleased to announce that as part of our Drive Alive lifejacket awareness campaign, the Department of Transportation has made a three-year commitment to provide the NWT Recreation and Parks Association with lifejackets for the Mackenzie Youth Leadership Tour. Participating youth and their instructors will promote water safety in Fort Simpson, Wrigley, and Tulita. Drive Alive will work closely with this organization to identify other opportunities to deliver boat safety and lifejacket awareness information to all NWT communities.

We are near the start of a busy summer boating season, so the matter of boat safety awareness is one of great urgency. Each year lives are tragically lost to drowning. Unfortunate accidents are almost entirely preventable. The following three tips if followed will save lives:

1. Wear your lifejacket. Don’t leave it at home or

on the floor of your boat.

2. Tell a responsible person where you’re going

and when you’re expected to return.

3. Enjoy the outdoors without alcohol. Remember

that driving any vehicle under the influence is dangerous and also against the law.

I encourage all Members to set a good example while travelling on our roads and trails or when boating. Wear your seatbelt, wear your lifejacket, and wear your helmet. Please have a safe summer on our roads, trails, and waterways, and drive alive.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Minister responsible for Human Resources, Mr. Bob McLeod.

Mr. Speaker, each year the Government of the Northwest Territories commits to maximizing a northern workforce through the hiring of summer students and interns. The Summer Student Employment Program, along with the

Northern Graduate Employment Program, is part of the Maximizing Northern Employment Strategy.

To follow up on questions raised in the House, I want to assure Members that there is a fair and equitable process for hiring summer students. I have committed to review the concerns raised by Members to ensure procedures are being followed.

The Summer Student Employment Program increases the number of northern students who find relevant employment in the Northwest Territories as well as within the Government of the Northwest Territories. The program also helps create and maintain an ongoing relationship between northern students and the Northwest Territories, regardless of where the students go to school.

I am pleased to announce today that as of June 1, 2009, the government has hired 245 students. The Government of the Northwest Territories is committed to creating a public service that is representative of the public it serves. The Affirmative Action Policy is applied to summer student and intern hiring. Departments hired 83 students who are indigenous aboriginal and 130 are indigenous non-aboriginal.

Student hiring is expected to continue throughout the summer. Students interested in applying can go to the Human Resources website for more information or email their resumes to [email protected].

In 2008 the government provided 282 students with summer work experience. On June 12, 2009, the Department of Human Resources will hold a summer student orientation in Yellowknife which will provide students with an overview of the workings of government, the advantages of being a Government of the Northwest Territories employee, employee responsibilities, and worker safety. The department will offer regional orientations during the summer.

The Northern Graduate Employment Program helps northern post-secondary graduates obtain relevant work experience. The Graduate Internship Program assists northern post-secondary graduates gain work experience by working one-year internships within the public service. The department anticipates 34 interns will be hired during the 2009-2010 fiscal year. This is an increase from 2008-2009 when 24 interns were hired.

The Graduate Employment Program guarantees northern teacher, social worker, and nursing graduates employment within the Northwest Territories. The government health system will employ nine Northwest Territories nurse graduates in 2009-2010 through the Graduate Nurse Program. Five northern social work graduates are eligible for placement in 2009-2010 through the Graduate Social Worker Program.

I invite my colleagues to join me in welcoming all the interns, summer students, graduate nurses, and social workers who are working with the Government of the Northwest Territories this year. The summer student and intern employment opportunities offer these individuals insight into the public service work environment as well as valuable work experience. The Department of Human Resources will continue to work with Government of the Northwest Territories departments, boards and agencies to find new ways and even better means of providing such opportunities.

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

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Partnership is a key priority in developing a strong and effective government. The importance of partnerships with aboriginal governments, non-government organizations, and community agencies, industry, communities, and families has been highlighted in the priorities of this 16th Assembly and in Education, Culture and Employment’s strategic plan. Today, I would like to highlight some recent development in education that involve cooperation and collaboration with many of these key groups.

One particular example of success is the Lutselk’e Dene School. The Lutselk’e Dene School has made great strides in improving student literacy and incorporating the community into the school. A dedicated and creative group of teachers have created a genuine culture of learning in the school. They have incorporated parents, elders, on-the-land activities, and with the help of Aurora College and ECE, have streamlined programs for high schoolers and adults.

The South Slave Divisional Education Council’s Leadership for Literacy Initiative, along with the placement of a full-time literacy coach, has resulted in almost every student at the school experiencing significant gains in reading achievement. Ninety percent of students achieved more than what is average in a full year of learning. The Lutselk’e Dene School is a shining example of how teachers, parents, students, and education authorities can come together and effect positive change in a school and community.

During the last session I spoke about the Aboriginal Student Achievement Initiative. Since then a committee has been formed with representation from the Dene Nation, industry, corporate business, the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, the Metis, and the Native Women’s Association, the NWT Teachers’ Association, superintendents of schools,

and the GNWT. This committee met in early May and reviewed our consultation and research work to date, and determined some broad areas for focus in the coming year around public awareness of the education system, tutoring, and focused research.

The northern diamond mines have allowed us to extend our adult education and training resources in many ways. Our memorandum of understanding around the northern workforce ensures that Northerners across the NWT have access to skills training and job opportunities in mining. The Mine Training Society, which is made possible through a funding partnership with the federal government and Diavik Rio Tinto, De Beers, and BHP Billiton, is an organization that builds projects with other partners, including government departments, aboriginal governments, and Aurora College, based on targeted needs. We would not be making the in-roads we have made in developing a strong and prosperous society without the work that is done through these and many other partnerships with families and communities, aboriginal governments, non-government organizations, industry, and other governments.

I would like to close by thanking all our partners for their shared commitment to the future of the Northwest Territories.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Item 3, Members’ statements. The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Jacobson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today my Member’s statement is on income support concerns. My riding of Nunakput is dealing with a legacy of neglect regarding income support to the residents. The high cost of living has limited services, for one reason or another. Healthy living in the communities is a lifestyle for only part of the population. I cannot understand how this government expects a person living in the small, isolated community, where a carton of milk is as high as $10 for two litres, to live on $400 a month.

Mr. Speaker, there is a huge disconnect between the department, between the way the support is delivered and the services that are needed to be paid for, the policymakers in Yellowknife to the remote communities. In the communities, people, families and elders are literally going hungry. Healthy living in the communities go hand in hand. When people are living healthy, every aspect of the communities are impacted in a good way.

At times, when harvesting is close for caribou or any other big game close by, residents can live off traditional food and compensate. Mr. Speaker, this

is not a privilege all year round. Communities that are lucky to have a food bank have been stretched to the limits. The longer the government waits, it becomes a bigger problem. People try to get help but often get the run around and the blame game when dealing with government departments and financial problems in the communities. We need a true one-stop shop where the people can deal with all of their issues, where residents can get help so people can feed their families, Mr. Speaker.

I often visit residents in the communities. When I see the cupboards are bare or when they cannot afford to buy basic foods, it makes me wonder why this government is letting this happen, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the appropriate Minister at the appropriate time. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. During the week of April 20th to 24th , the Legislative

Assembly and the Speaker hosted the Youth Parliament. It was a great opportunity to meet these young Northerners and listen to them make their Members’ statements and debate their issues on the floor of this House during the official Youth Parliament. I believe that all of the participants should be applauded for their involvement and all of their hard work.

During the actual session, I was quite pleased to see that many of the Members’ statements were very timely and raised concerns that are very real to the residents of the Northwest Territories. I was very happy to hear the Member’s statement from the youth parliamentarian from Great Slave, Mr. Alex Smith. His statement was as follows. He said, “Today I would like to bring up the issues and concerns of youth homelessness. The concern I have with youth homelessness doesn’t affect just Yellowknife, it affects everywhere in the Northwest Territories. Once youth age out of foster care at 16, they have nowhere to go and no support until the age of 19. Still they have very limited support between the ages of 16 to 19. Yellowknife and NWT residents are forced to live in underfunded shelters, friends’ houses or, in the worst circumstances, they have to live on the streets.

“These shelters these youth run to consist of the Sutherland House in Fort Smith, the Family Support Centre in Hay River and the SideDoor in Yellowknife. There are also more shelters across the Northwest Territories but still very little help to

support the smaller communities. All these shelters are underfunded and can only do so much.

“When these youth have nowhere to run, they turn to drugs and alcohol because they think it will fix their problems. We need to help these youth who are in need, because they are our future.”

I would like to thank Alex for his statement on an issue that needs to be dealt with. Youth aged 16 to the age of majority seemed to have slipped through the cracks of this government. Once they are too old to receive non-voluntary support through the Child and Family Services Act and before they are eligible for income support, these youth are left to fend for themselves, as Alex outlined.

Mr. Speaker, this is an important issue. At the appropriate time, I will be asking the Minister of Health and Social Services some questions on the topic. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like today to talk about a unique residence in the Frame Lake riding. Aurora Oxford House Foundation is a non-profit organization providing housing and services to individuals recovering from alcohol and drugs in Yellowknife. This foundation has been in existence since 2005. It runs a house for men and just recently opened up an Oxford House for women in my riding. These houses provide an alcohol and drug-free environment for their residents. They are self-supported and self-administered. They operate on a cost recovery basis. The rent paid by the members of each house covers the cost of operating the house. Because each house is sustainable on its own, these houses generally operate without government funding.

Due to the opening of the new ladies’ Oxford House, the foundation incurred one-time start-up costs for that house, furniture, pots and pans, linens and so on. I want to express kudos and appreciation to the Department of Health and Social Services for their $15,000 contribution to the Oxford House Foundation to get the ladies’ house set up and operational.

Yellowknife now has a housing option for women with addictions, which will provide previously non-existent opportunities for them and help them change and make positive choices to improve their lives.

At the Aurora Oxford House Foundation, the success is due to two things. Firstly, their three charter principles which are: (1) that the house must be self-run on a democratic basis; (2) that the house must be financially self-supported; and (3)

that any resident who drinks alcohol or uses drugs must be immediately expelled. Secondly, the success is due to the hard work and dedication of the foundation’s executive director, Mr. Byrne Richards. Thank you, Byrne, for the Oxford House Foundation and the option it provides to NWT residents. I anticipate that we will hear of the opening of more Oxford Houses in the near future. Job well done. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to speak today both on environmental stewardship and this government’s plan of action. First, Mr. Speaker, I think we can all take a moment for cautious congratulations. During this Assembly, we have taken a more aggressive approach to confronting our environmental challenges and we have made some good progress.

We have begun to consider and invest seriously in alternative and renewable energies through wind power and investigation of increasing large and small scale hydro use. As I have said, I want the current energy deliberations and reviews to incorporate these opportunities in its work. We are developing a Biomass Strategy. However, we know little about what is happening with the sustainable yield of our forests or how we can manage this. This insight has implications for costly fire control and is essential if biomass is to realize its vast potential for decreasing our reliance on oil.

I look forward to a critical review of the Biomass Strategy. We have made excellent progress in protecting species at risk. We need to address the gap of migratory birds under the Wildlife Act. I look forward to reviewing the bison and woodland caribou management plans and a new Wildlife Act.

We have devoted significant sums to helping people make their homes and businesses more energy efficient and we are developing an adaptation plan to belatedly counteract the expensive harms now being caused by climate change.

Mr. Speaker, this wide variety of activities boils down to two truths. It costs money to damage the environment; money we can spend on addressing our social ills and other priorities. Second, when we spend money in ways that protect the environment, we will get it back many times over in lower costs for our residents, good jobs in local small scale industry, reduced vulnerability to world market swings and, above all, by protecting the priceless quality of our northern way of life.

We have made some good progress on the environment but there is much yet to do: action on

mini-hydro implementation, solar opportunities, ground source heat, connecting our incentives to actual greenhouse gas reductions, greening our economy, aggressive implementation of biomass and other opportunities. Our leadership must provide an example that strengthens our call for national and global change.

Mr. Speaker, I look forward to the ongoing effective collaboration of Members in meeting these challenges. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In regards to the government’s responsibility for devolving programs and services to communities, a lot of times, Members from the smaller communities ask questions to the government in regards to particular activities that we would like to see an improvement on in our communities. And yet, Mr. Speaker, those program responsibilities still lie with this government: education in regards to our schools, our health centres and also including the policing services. It is services that are still being delivered by government departments. Yes, we transferred responsibility to local municipalities in regards to municipal services, but yet we still have programs and services that need attention in our smaller communities such as replacement of skills, improvement to our health care centres and, more importantly, improving the infrastructure that this government still has responsibility over.

The other area I think this government still has a clear responsibility for is in regards to water treatment plants in our communities. Mr. Speaker, in regards to the situation that happened in Walkerton, Ontario, in which the major municipalities were found liable in regards to those...(inaudible). So were the operators and so was the Ontario government. I think that this government cannot loosen its responsibility for those water treatment plants in our communities. If anything, I personally would request the communities to allow the government to retain that asset as a government asset, ensure that they are responsible for all liabilities associated with water treatment plants, the treatment of water and also the testing of water in our municipalities.

Again, Mr. Speaker, I think it’s critical that this government does not say, well, sorry, we gave the money to the community, it’s no longer our responsibility. This government is responsible for the assets that were put in place in our communities regardless if it happened 10 years ago or 20 years ago, because there are liabilities that

are associated with it regardless if its environmental or structural or there will be a need at some point to replace those assets as we’re seeing in the Mackenzie Delta in regards to pilings on our buildings. More importantly, climate change and the implication it has on public infrastructure.

Mr. Speaker, with that, I’d like to remind the government that they do have an obligation to our communities and not continue to say sorry, we gave the money to the communities. Mr. Speaker, I will be asking the Premier questions on this later. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Member from Tu Nedhe, Mr. Beaulieu.

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] Mr. Speaker, thank you. Mr. Speaker, the people from Lutselk’e School, they don’t have very much to play with games and that. [Translation ends]

The youth have nothing to do. However, the youth have good ideas on the things that they would like to do. The youth would like to swim in the swimming pool, play foosball, play computer games, do homework with a computer in a quiet environment. Mr. Speaker, these are all things that the youth can do if they had a centre or a swimming pool. However, Mr. Speaker, none of these things are available in Lutselk’e today. Mr. Speaker, myself and all of Lutselk’e, especially the youth, would like to see the youth of Lutselk’e be able to do the things they desire to do.

Mr. Speaker, I have received a proposal from the community that voices their concerns for the lack of youth programs and the desire to open a youth centre. This proposal includes letters from 31 youth where they write about the support for opening a youth centre and some words. I would like to read some of their words today.

“I want a youth centre to be safe and keep out of trouble.” Alayna, 11 years old.

“I want a youth centre to be safe, I want a youth centre, a place for kids that have nothing to do or a place where kids can stay out of trouble.” That was Alexandria, 11 years old.

“A youth centre will be a good place for kids to stay out of trouble and keep kids safe from violence, drugs and alcohol.” Miles, 13 years old.

“A youth centre would provide youth opportunities to learn and practice responsibility.” Rebecca, 11 years old.

Mr. Speaker, the youth have spoken. Now we need to listen. I have raised youth concerns in this House on many occasions and although some progress has been made, I’m sure more can be done. Mr.

Speaker, I’d like to read one more excerpt from a letter from the older youth, and I quote: “I know it will cost a fair sum. You ask yourself is it worth it? Of course. The youth, they would have a place to eat, cook, watch movies, et cetera. Let them be kids while they’re still young.” Michael, 16 years old.

Mr. Speaker, a simple, very perceptive and almost profound insight from the Lutselk’e youth on the benefits of a youth centre in Lutselk’e. Later I’ll have questions on this very important topic for the appropriate Minister. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. The honourable Member from the Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to talk about something I feel strongly about. I think we need to go back to building log homes. These would be log homes that a young couple or a single person could build when they are starting out to make a life for themselves. The NWT Housing Corporation has a pilot project called A Basic Unique Approach. The corporation is looking at testing a couple of units that would be built for people who are living a traditional lifestyle. The owners could leave their homes to go trapping without any problems with regards to water freeze-up. This sounds like it could be developed into a good program. I believe if there is some consideration of using log construction, I would urge them to go ahead with it. I would go a step further, Mr. Speaker, and provide log housing packages, something like the former HAP housing package to people who are willing and able to build their own homes.

If we design a log home building program we would be demonstrating to our people what we meant and what we mean in the 16th Assembly priorities. When

people choose to build their own log home, it will be strengthening the awareness of everyone’s northern identity. If these homes are heated by wood or woodchips, our communities would be more sustainable and we would be advancing alternative energy methods. We would be walking our talk. We have a very young population in the Sahtu. Constructing log cabins in our communities would give extreme value to those who decide to build their own homes.

Building a log cabin or home is a great learning experience, Mr. Speaker. For example, Mr. Speaker, I was approached by Colville Lake Chief Kochon and he is looking forward to having log homes built in Colville Lake for his people. He would like to see some indication of getting a green light from the NWT Corporation so they can get their chainsaws going.

Mr. Speaker, like the song I heard by the Barenaked Ladies, if I had a million dollars I would buy a log house package for each willing family to build their own home in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Mr. Speaker, today I would like to talk about housing in Nahanni Butte. Almost every house in Nahanni Butte is privately owned. In 2004 the NWT Community Housing Survey indicated that 40 percent of the households were in core need. Many of the homeowners have problems with the physical structure of their house, but cannot afford to pay for the repairs. In 2008 the NWT Housing Corporation responded to these homeowners’ needs and proceeded to arrange for the completion of renovations and much needed repairs.

Nahanni Butte residents were very pleased. The NWT Housing Corporation Assistance Program provided funds to renovate the homes and the renovations were to take place last winter. The renovations did get underway but, unfortunately, due to a number of different reasons, the work was incomplete. Although residents were happy that the work was begun, it needs to be finished. Residents have directed their chief and me to see that these repairs continue. The homeowners should be living in the homes that meet acceptable levels of health and safety.

Mr. Speaker, this work needs to be finished for the comfort and safety of the families, single parents and elder households of Nahanni Butte. They have been waiting a long time to have their needs addressed. Once the project is completed, we will need to continue to concentrate on new and future housing projects.

Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Minister of Housing at the appropriate time. Thank you very much.

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