Good afternoon, colleagues. Welcome back to the Chamber. Orders of the day. Item 2, Ministers’ statements. The honourable Minister responsible for Aboriginal Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to take this opportunity to report on the results of last week’s meeting between federal, provincial and territorial Ministers of Aboriginal Affairs and leaders of the five national aboriginal organizations.

This meeting marks the renewal of a national process involving all levels of government and national aboriginal organizations to advance aboriginal issues. Aboriginal Affairs Ministers and the leaders of the national aboriginal organizations came together for the first time in more than four years to find ways of working together in an effort to address a broad range of issues facing First Nation, Metis and Inuit peoples today.

At the 2009 Council of the Federation meeting, provincial and territorial Premiers held a pre-meeting with national aboriginal organization leaders and announced their intention to form a ministerial working group with national aboriginal leaders and the federal government.

This working group was directed to examine how governments and national aboriginal organizations can work more effectively to improve the quality of life for aboriginal peoples living in all parts of Canada. At this time, the focus of this working group is on results-oriented action in the areas of education and skills training and economic development, with the intention of having this action serve as the foundation for a possible First Ministers meeting on aboriginal issues in 2010.

I believe that this meeting marks a significant milestone in addressing the difficult and complex socio-economic conditions often encountered by aboriginal people in Canada. Participants acknowledged that the area of health and well-being is fundamental to achieving progress in education and economic development. It will be of utmost importance that the federal government works with its provincial, territorial and aboriginal partners for this process to success.

At the meeting I was pleased to share some of our success stories, showing how we are working with our northern partners to support the aspirations of our aboriginal population. I also took the opportunity to learn from others about the good things going on all over this country. It was agreed that we will meet again early next year to advance work in the identified priority areas and I look forward to reporting further progress at that time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. The honourable Minister responsible for Industry, Tourism and Investment, Mr. Bob McLeod.

Mr. Speaker, today I am pleased to provide an update on the mining industry in the Northwest Territories.

Economic activity relies strongly on the use of natural resources. We live in a global era with a rapidly expanding world population dependent on the sustainable development of resources. Fortunately, in the Northwest Territories, we are blessed with an endowment of non-renewable resources and have been successful in using these to sustain economic growth.

Mineral exploration has brought significant economic opportunities to our Territory.

In 2007, almost $200 million was spent on mineral exploration in the Northwest Territories. This means contracts to fly planes and helicopters to exploration sites and camps. This means jobs to unload supplies, prepare camp meals, carry out geological and geophysical work and walk the exploration grids. We have the local capacity to fulfil what is required by this sector. However, the exploration sector has been very challenged during the past two years. For 2009, forecasted spending

on exploration has dropped from almost $200 million to less than $30 million.

We are engaged in positive work to support industry and our economic growth of income and competitiveness. For example, the territorial and federal governments are partnering to gather new geosciences data. It is estimated that every $1 million of government investment in the geosciences knowledge base stimulates $5 million in private sector exploration. This, in turn, could result in the discovery of an estimated $125 million worth of new resources. We will continue to do our utmost to realize sustainable Northwest Territories opportunities from this development.

Developed mines have also brought significant opportunity to Northwest Territories residents and businesses.

Since our first diamond mines began construction in 1996, we have seen almost 14,000 person years of northern resident employment. Since 1996, the diamond mines have bought more than $7 billion of goods and services from northern businesses. More than $3 billion of those purchases were from aboriginal northern businesses.

In our experience, partnerships are integral to successful resource development. Like the exploration sector, mining in the Northwest Territories has been challenged in the last few years. In 2008-09, the Diavik and De Beers Snap Lake diamond mines planned temporary shutdowns and the BHP Billiton Ekati Diamond Mine reduced expansion plans in response to the global economic downturn. Diavik and De Beers implemented their temporary shutdowns planned for this summer. I am pleased to report, however, that the temporary shutdowns planned for this winter will not be taking place due to improving economic conditions.

Throughout this, the diamond mines have remained sincere in their original commitments to the North. As a mark of this sincerity, as I mentioned last week, they are working with us under the Workforce Memorandum of Understanding to increase their northern resident employees.

Northern spending by the mines is exceeding predictions. Reported purchases from northern businesses in 2008 ranged from 74 percent to 83 percent of all purchases at each of the three diamond mines.

What is needed now is for the federal government to live up to their responsibilities and regenerate mining and exploration in the Northwest Territories. The federal government receives handsome royalties from these developments so it is in their best interest to make this commitment. The Government of the Northwest Territories will be doing its part. We will be lobbying the federal government to remind them of this responsibility and the importance of this investment. And

investment will fuel national income growth and is essential to the sustainable economic growth of the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Today marks the beginning of Career Week and I am very happy to share details about some of the many events and activities going on across the Northwest Territories. Regional education authorities, community groups and the Department of Education, Culture and Employment have workshops, career fairs and other activities taking place throughout the Territory to mark the importance of career development planning.

The South Slave region is kicking off this week with a chilli luncheon and career presentation by Thebacha Business Development Services at the Fort Smith Career Centre. Later in the week, the career centre is hosting the Condensed True Colours Workshop, which helps people build understanding of which careers may be best for them.

During a presentation today from northern student services advisor Nona German, Grade 12 students at Samuel Hearne Secondary School in Inuvik will learn about post-secondary education in Alberta. Thursday features the Guiding Circles Workshop at the Inuvik Centennial Library, which is designed to guide people toward possible career paths.

This week in Yellowknife, the department’s North Slave office hosts a resume writing workshop and information sessions on career development and apprenticeship programs in the Northwest Territories. Aurora College learning centres in Ndilo and Behchoko feature career planning workshops and apprenticeship information sessions.

Mr. Speaker, Aurora College students and residents of Fort Simpson are working on a career-themed mural to be displayed at the Open Sky Creative Society Friday at the Coffee House and wrapping up the week in Fort Simpson also on Friday is an open house and luncheon at the career centre.

Mr. Speaker, in addition to these activities, Wednesday is Take Our Kids to Work Day. Throughout the Territory, kids have the chance to experience working life and develop interest in possible careers with their parents and guardians. On Wednesday, my daughter Cheyenne and I are spending the day together and I am sure she will appreciate the opportunity to learn outside of her school. I encourage all parents to bring their Grade

9 children to work to benefit from this important work experience.

Mr. Speaker, in addition to our plans for Career Week, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment is pleased to share with you an exciting new partnership with BHP Billiton that helps prepare students for post-secondary educational pursuits. Our department values and respects diversity. This new partnership is a three-year pilot project called Career Focusing. Career Focusing is a great program that recognizes everyone’s uniqueness and celebrates the strength in diversity.

Career Focusing provides a clear process for students to learn what motivates them and focus on their personal goals. This information then helps students make career decisions by matching their focus with opportunities in the work world.

As the lead financial partner, BHP is covering all costs related to training instructors to administer Career Focusing in schools and communities throughout the Northwest Territories. Both teachers and career development officers are getting trained to deliver the program and enable Northerners to reach their full potential, lead rewarding lives and contribute to a strong and prosperous society.

Mr. Speaker, BHP will also support a three-year licence to “Career Cruising,” an on line career planning and information tool for all Northwest Territories schools, libraries, career development offices and Aurora College campuses. The department is pleased to work with BHP in equipping our educational facilities with increased access to information and resources and appreciates the company’s commitment to our students.

Career Focusing is a process that targets students at different grade levels. The program has been implemented in many jurisdictions throughout Canada and is extremely successful. This past September, Mr. Speaker, the developers of this program were in Yellowknife high schools supporting the first phase of the program’s implementation. They also led a select number of teachers and career development officers through the first phase of Career Focusing instructor training.

In closing, I want to emphasize the importance of lifelong learning and career development. These programs and activities support our most valuable resource, our people, in contributing to a strong and prosperous society. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Item 3, Members’ statements. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise to speak on the urgent situation facing the Centre for Northern Families. Every night up to 23 women have had to flee their homes and find safety at the centre. The centre further provides a prenatal nutrition program, a family support program, a daycare and early childhood development program, a weekly drop-in medical and sexually transmitted infection clinic for women, and a youth suicide prevention and addiction treatment program to name only a few, all important priorities of this government.

GNWT funding to the centre totals about $400,000 a year in return for this amazing array for vital services, which are nationally and internationally as well as locally recognized. Right now the centre faces a financial crisis, a deficit of about $350,000 including about $200,000 to Revenue Canada largely built up due to an unfortunate accounting failure, but no ill intent. This amount is roughly equal to the rent they pay the Housing Corporation for their building, which they cannot afford to purchase.

This House has been reviewing capital estimates and show significant cost overruns in some departments’ projects, some in the millions of dollars. It is not good, but these things happen and sometimes we have to look at how we fix critical problems and not point fingers of blame. While we casually approve millions of dollars for such overruns under the variably interpreted category of forced growth or unexpected expenditures, the Centre for Northern Families has asked for and been refused emergency funding to manage its deficit so its doors can remain open and its services continued.

I will be calling on the Minister today to take that action or explain how she intends to house 23 women in need of shelter each night. The centre’s executive director, Arlene Hache, will be in Ottawa on Friday to accept the Order of Canada for the very work…

---Applause

…for the very work that we are letting be terminated by refusing the required support or leading the charge to resolve. It will be a shame if Ms. Hache’s appearance on the national stage coincides with the forced closure of the Centre for Northern Families.

This also raises the larger issue of the current child and family services review.

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

---Unanimous consent granted.

Thank you, colleagues. This also raises the larger issue of the current child and family services review. Informed input from the Centre for Northern Families and other advocacy groups are critical to the success of that review. If we want good new law, we need the best experienced advice we can get. I will be asking the Minister what resources she intends to make available to the Centre for Northern Families and others to help them prepare a detailed, well researched input on the basis of the terms of reference just adopted by the House. Mahsi.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to follow up on a Member’s statement and questions made by my colleague Mr. Ramsay from two Wednesdays ago. Over the last several months, I received a large number of letters from parents and students who attend the Ecole Allain St-Cyr. They continue to be concerned and frustrated that their children are attending the school without gym facilities. I share the frustration.

Physical education is a critical portion of a child’s development. It is about providing children with the knowledge, skill, capacity, value and enthusiasm to maintain healthy lifestyles into adulthood. Many physical education programs are designed to promote physical fitness, to develop motor skills, to instil knowledge and understanding of rules, concepts and strategies which will be of value throughout a person’s life. A healthy body leads to a healthy mind, which helps youth excel through their school years and well into the future. So by building facilities without gymnasiums, we are making it more difficult for schools to provide these important lessons to our youth. I acknowledge that alternate arrangements have been made to facilitate physical education within Ecole Allain St-Cyr; unfortunately, I don’t think they are suitable.

The majority of the school year falls within winter. Asking young children to travel between schools and the multiplex or other locations in the dead of winter at 40 below zero is unfair and irresponsible. It increases the school board’s difficulty in delivering quality physical education. I was happy to hear the Minister say that discussions with the Minister of Heritage are ongoing. Unfortunately, it also sounds like we are in a holding pattern of waiting for a response from the federal government.

On behalf of the board and the parents, I want to encourage the Minister and his department to take a more proactive stance on this file. Stop waiting for a response to take action. Set up more meetings with the federal government. Obtain the funding required to move forward with this phase two and build the much required gym for Ecole Allain St-Cyr. Let’s stop talking and start doing. Let’s help the children and adolescents of the Yellowknife’s Francophone community by building facilities they need in their schools to reach their full potential. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I’d like to speak about protecting your property from thieves. I’ve lived in Yellowknife for almost 30 years. There was a time when I remember that most people thought nothing of not locking their homes when they went out shopping or to visit friends, and locking your vehicle was certainly not your first instinct when you arrived at your destination.

Times have changed, Mr. Speaker. Like many Yellowknifers, I have been hit by these roaming bands of thieves who target vehicles that are left unlocked. It didn’t happen at the store. It didn’t happen at work. It happened right in my own driveway. In July I had made the mistake of leaving my wallet in the centre console and the thieves took the couple hundred dollars I had and all the spare change that was in my vehicle that night. Fortunately, the thieves didn’t grab the entire wallet; they were after cash. Again, this was right out of my own driveway.

Mr. Speaker, the RCMP caught a pair of individuals at the beginning of September who they believe were responsible for a number of thefts that were occurring around Yellowknife. However, thieves are still operating in the city, targeting unlocked vehicles. They are looking for items they can sell quickly -- likely phones, cameras, computers, i-Pods -- and any money they can find. These thieves are working many areas of the city: the Finlayson Drive area, Bourque Crescent, Gitzel Street, Con Road and in the downtown core. No area is safe from these thieves who are preying on people who forget to lock their vehicles.

Mr. Speaker, money and goods can be replaced, but when a digital camera is stolen which contains thousands of pictures of children, family and special events, it’s something that just cannot be replaced and you can’t put a price on that type of loss.

I’d like to thank the RCMP for all they’re doing to try to apprehend these thieves and trying to get them off of our streets. They obviously have no respect for other people’s property and think nothing about stealing.

This recent wave of vehicle break-ins undoubtedly speaks to a bigger issue and that is drug use in our city. These thieves, no doubt, are looking for quick cash or something they can turn into quick cash to feed their addiction.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I just want to remind people to lock their doors, especially in their vehicles and in their homes. That is the best deterrent, Mr. Speaker. Just remember to lock your doors. Thank you.

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

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. [English translation not provided.]

Mr. Speaker, today I’ll use my Member’s statement to talk about the decentralization of territorial government positions to smaller communities such as Lutselk’e and Fort Resolution.

Mr. Speaker, the majority of the GNWT positions are staffed here in Yellowknife and the decentralization and delegation of authorities is something we need to look at. We should do so within the regime of this government, the 16th Assembly. Mr. Speaker, I recommend that this government start the process of negotiating a transfer of positions to the smaller communities as soon as possible.

In the past, the GNWT had tradespersons, renewable resource people, social program jobs in smaller communities; however, for some reason or another, many of these positions were eliminated or moved. Mr. Speaker, the employment rates in our small communities paint a dismal picture, and action is needed now. Putting GNWT positions into these smaller communities is one sure way of improving the employment situation in our smaller communities.

Mr. Speaker, it goes without saying this cannot occur tomorrow. However, a plan to move in that direction must be implemented as soon as possible. This will not be an easy task. However, creating infrastructure such as office space and housing in itself will begin to narrow the employment gaps that exist between larger communities and smaller communities.

Mr. Speaker, many of our households in the smaller communities rely solely on short-term employment and social programs for income. This creates a

dependence on government resulting in continued spending pressures on the GNWT’s social purse.

Mr. Speaker, if the government is to develop a strategy to move 75 to 100 positions from Yellowknife and the regional centres to small communities with a target to increasing employment rates in smaller communities by 20 percent, immediate positive results would be realized in smaller communities. As well, the overall economic picture of the NWT will also be positively impacted.

Mr. Speaker, today I’ll have questions for the Premier on this at the appropriate time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I want to go back to a critical and important topic I raised earlier in this session: the proposed Mactung Mine in the Yukon. Over the next 16 years, Vancouver-based North American Tungsten wants to build, operate and eventually close the mine within 1,000 metres of Sahtu land on the NWT/Yukon border.

Mr. Speaker, North American Tungsten plans to mill 2,000 tonnes of ore every day. At peak operation, the mine will send 10 trucks each weighing 40 tonnes down the North CANOL Road every day. The mine requires construction of a dam, water reservoir, a tailings facility and several access roads. Water will be piped from the Hess River to service the mining camp and milling operation. The company also wants to store two million litres of fuel for its power generation at the mine site. Approximately 150 people would work at the mine. All of them will be flown into the mine site. If the project goes ahead, there will be a major impact on land, water and wildlife in the entire area. These impacts must stop at the border.

Mr. Speaker, when I was a chief negotiator for the Sahtu Dene and Metis Comprehensive Land Claim back in the 1990s, the land on the NWT side of the border was set aside for a park. This is land within one kilometre of the proposed mine. Mr. Speaker, the people of the Sahtu have been waiting for 16 years, the estimated lifespan of the Mactung Mine, for an agreement for a park to be implemented. The land for the proposed park still has to be transferred from the federal government. This transfer hasn’t happened yet because of the environmental cleanup that needs to be done in the areas of the last invasion of Southerners on our land, the CANOL oil pipeline.

Mr. Speaker, if government puts as much energy into tuning up the environment as they do allowing

it to be destroyed, that cleanup work would be done by now. Mr. Speaker, I understand that ENR staff have been working with the Yukon Environment and Parks Canada through their due process for the Mactung Mine. The deadline for comments on this project is November 23rd . Mr. Speaker, we have

less than one month to act on behalf of the Sahtu people and our land. We need to ensure that development that takes place so close to our border will not have a negative impact on the Sahtu people and our land. I’ll have questions for the Minister of ENR at the appropriate time. Thank you.

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

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Most of our elders want to stay in their own homes as long as possible. In that way they can be independent and maintain their dignity. This is less expensive for the government than continuing care. It is not uncommon for the adult son or daughter of an elder to reside in a parent’s home. It is often a good solution, as the elder has someone checking on them every day and they can call upon their son or daughter in a crisis situation.

I have a constituent who lives in her own home and benefits from her son’s presence. Her personal income is basically old age pension and she has received senior’s home subsidy in the past. This past year, with her son’s seasonal income, her household income rose above the qualifying threshold and now her son is unemployed.

Mr. Speaker, we need to recognize extenuating circumstances in the policies and regulations of the seniors’ home heating subsidy. We should make the exception in these types of circumstances where an elder can only continue to live independently with someone else living in the home. I do not think we should include the caretaker’s income in the calculation of net income.

We need to change our guidelines to reflect that they do need assistance at home, otherwise it is a disincentive for family members to stay with their parent and in the long run it will cost government more in continuing care.

I urge the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment to review the calculation of the household income thresholds for seniors with these circumstances in mind. Mahsi cho.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I’d like to talk about programs and services and also capital this government delivers. Mr. Speaker, we made a political decision to reform our allocation to capital from the spring session to the fall session so we could meet particular demands on ice roads to ensure we had enough time for groups or companies bidding on contracts to be able to resupply those communities and get the materials in. Mr. Speaker, I think one thing we forgot is the programs and services the government also delivers which depend on a similar type of arrangement, especially through the Housing Corporation for maintenance and assistance programs, seniors programs or the CARE program or other programs we have in government, because they also depend on similar shipping requirements and the building of capital in the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, I have heard from a constituent of mine who was approved for CARE through the Housing Corporation. The individual came to the community last month and then wasn’t able to get back into his community because of freeze-up. Now the person has half a job done and they are stuck holding the bag and they don’t have any hot water in their home because of the way this contract was let. If anything, these contracts should be let in an allowable time where contractors can deliver on their contracts, can provide good housing programs to our residents and streamline so they do fit with government decision-making such as changing the capital process in the Northwest Territories.

So I would like to, at the appropriate time, ask the Minister of Housing if we have looked at the delivery system, such as CARE, to fall in line with our capital allocations and the budgetary process we have just approved and just gone through so that people aren’t found in a position where they have a plumber coming to do the work, they leave the community and they don’t have any hot water because of freeze-up. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A couple of years ago, provincial and territorial Ministers responsible for the Status of Women met in Iqaluit. In the course of their discussion, they spoke to the Iqaluit City Council. They suggested the idea of naming streets to commemorate violence against women and victims.

Mr. Speaker, the mayor and council of Iqaluit thought it was such a good idea, they voted to name the road which runs by Qimaavik Women’s Shelter in Apex, Angel Street. The mayor said she would call on other Canadian capital cities to create their own Angel Street.

Last month, the capital of Saskatchewan designated a well-travelled city block Angel Square. The mayor of Regina, Pat Fiacco, said the city hoped that victims of violence would find strength in knowing that Angel Square means there are places and people that can help them.

Mr. Speaker, in the Northwest Territories we are all aware that there are adults and children in our Territory who are victims of abuse. We have also had dedicated people who have worked in the system who have tried to stop this violence. Mr. Speaker, I would define many of these people who work in the system to stop the violence as local heroes.

We have special places in our community in the city of Yellowknife such as the Centre for Northern Families and the Alison McAteer House who continue this crusade to protect women and give them a safe place to go. Mr. Speaker, I cannot stress enough how much these organizations provide a lifeline to many women in many situations.

Mr. Speaker, we all know far too many people who have suffered needlessly. Whether you are a man, a woman or a child, violence is violence and it certainly has no place anywhere, Mr. Speaker. So today I will be encouraging the Minister responsible for the Status of Women to ask if she could work in collaboration with the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs to see if we can keep this initiative up here in our Territory to make sure people know we stand against violence and we want people to recognize that we think it is wrong and we can do better working together. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.