Good afternoon, colleagues. Welcome back to the Chamber. Orders of the day. Item 2, Ministers’ statements. The honourable Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Robert McLeod.

Mr. Speaker, there is much to be said about looking to the past to inform and guide you in determining where to go in the future. I would like to let this Assembly know that staff at Municipal and Community Affairs have begun that process and are working on developing an updated Strategic Plan. Many changes have occurred in recent years and now that the New Deal is firmly part of the way MACA interacts with the communities, the development of a new Strategic Plan to address the changes is opportune at this time.

Workshops for MACA staff are underway and are capturing staff experiences, creative ideas and recommendations. Once a draft departmental strategic plan is prepared, input will be sought from our stakeholders, including the NWT Association of Communities, the Local Government Administrators of the NWT, our sport and recreation partners and others. I will then seek input from the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure to ensure the development of a comprehensive and forward-looking strategic plan that supports community governments well into the future. Members of the Legislative Assembly and the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure will also have additional opportunities to comment on the Strategic Plan as it is incorporated into the department’s business plan.

Essential components of the Strategic Plan will be the development of specific activities, targets, timelines, and roles and responsibilities. The Strategic Plan will be supported by the development of internal work plans that will help meet goals and complete actions so that the department can report publicly on an annual basis.

I am confident, that in working with all of our partners and Members of this Assembly, the outcome of this strategic planning process will produce a workable framework that ensures the department’s planned programs and services meet the needs of our clients, stakeholders, and partners.

While MACA is engaged in its strategic planning exercise, the leadership of each community government, with the assistance of MACA, are also developing their own strategic plans that will lay out their foundations for future actions and directions. This bodes well for the future.

MACA assists communities with governance, infrastructure, capacity building and in helping keep their communities safe. MACA also provides programs for youth and in promoting wellness and physical health. Given the wide scope of MACA’s mandate, it is important to plan for the future and ensure that we have a clear framework to guide us. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Mr. Speaker, principals play a vital role in the environment of a school. During the course of a day and definitely over the course of a year, the principal's job varies greatly and is never ending. Principals are the motivators of staff and students. They are the leaders of professional development and the balancers of school budgets. They ensure adequate resources for students. Principals are often called upon to be counsellors for students, parents, staff members, and community members.

They try to inspire and instil structure for student achievement. Principals are educational leaders and they work in partnership with other organizations in our communities on matters of importance for students.

Canada’s outstanding principals are chosen though ‘the Learning Partnership’, a national not-for-profit organization, that brings together business, education, government, labour, policymakers and the community to develop partnerships that strengthen public education in Canada.

This year Angela James, from K’alemi Dene School in Ndilo, has been chosen as one of Canada’s outstanding principals. Angela is a very well-respected and experienced principal who is so deserving of this recognition. Being principal of a small northern school has many challenges. As principal, you need to be able to deal with these challenges yourself, and also support your staff and teachers to do the same, and find healthy ways of dealing with stress and anxiety. It is telling that Angela was nominated by her staff for this award. With Angela’s leadership, the K’alemi Dene School has become a model of success amongst small community schools.

Angela’s philosophy is that there are four components of supporting a child in school. First, you must acknowledge and deal with any trauma that exists in a child’s life. You must then find each child’s beauty and gifts. You must also celebrate each child’s culture and language. Finally, once these other needs have been met, you can work with the child to develop their knowledge in the traditional academic subject areas.

One of the benefits that a small school affords is that principals and teachers have the opportunity to know their students, and Angela is committed to every student at her school. She and her staff are familiar with the details of their students’ lives. When children don’t make it to class, they take the time to find out why.

In addition to the inspirational work Angela does in her own school, she has also been an integral part of the Educational Leadership Program. This two-phase program provides professional development to other principals in the Northwest Territories who are required to complete the course over two summers. On top of everything else she does, Angela James is also mentor for her peers.

Angela James joins recent outstanding principals such as Mohammed Odeen, from Deninu School in Fort Resolution, and Velma Illasiak of Moose Kerr School in Aklavik in being recognized for this prestigious award. We are very fortunate to have these three great northern leaders and many other

great principals that support our children and families. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Minister of Environment and Natural Resources.

Mr. Speaker, I’m pleased to update Members on the Canadian Council of Environment Ministers Meeting held in Whitehorse earlier this week. I attended this conference along with the Member from Weledeh, Mr. Bob Bromley.

A range of issues were discussed at the meeting including municipal wastewater effluent, climate change and strategies to reduce packaging and encourage manufacturers to take greater responsibility for the products they manufacture.

I am pleased to advise this House that after six years in development, the majority of CCME members endorsed national standards for municipal wastewater effluent.

In addition, and despite the range of different views and approaches to deal with climate change, all Environment Ministers supported finding common areas of interest so we can work together on this important issue.

Ministers also endorsed the Canada-wide Strategy for the Management of Wastewater Effluent and the framework to manage discharges from wastewater facilities in Canada.

We also received updates on the development of a new comprehensive air quality management system for Canada which focuses on national standards as well plans for a study on water conservation and scarcity in the context of climate change.

Members will also be pleased to hear that there was agreement to start national consultations on action plans to reduce packaging and other waste and to develop a comprehensive standard on packaging.

Another important step was made in that the Ministers agreed on the need to develop a strategic national vision on water and priority setting to further guide jurisdictions in their water management. This is a significant development for the NWT.

Mr. Speaker, while in Whitehorse I was able to meet with my colleagues from the Yukon and Nunavut to discuss issues of common concern.

There was strong support for all three northern territories to work together on a number of pressing environmental issues including climate change, water and wildlife management, particularly caribou and polar bear management.

We also agreed to share information on alternative energy technologies and ways to reduce our dependence of fossil fuels.

Our senior officials will now develop a formal process for us to move forward on these important issues. Mahsi cho.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Item 3, Members’ statements. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you. Mr. Speaker, in my four terms in this House and 12 years as a sitting Member, I have never seen the relationship between the Gwich’in Tribal Council and the Government of the Northwest Territories at such a low point. Mr. Speaker, after concluding a meeting earlier with the Gwich’in Tribal Council and the Premier, Minister of Transportation and other officials, I thought it was going to give them an opportunity to sit down and work out their differences, but, Mr. Speaker, all that came out of it was that the Gwich’in do not have any rights in Inuvik and they don’t have a land claim in the Inuvik region and this government is going to do as it wishes with regard to the Gwich’in and the people I represent.

The Gwich’in are frustrated to the point they are willing to take this government to court to settle their differences because we cannot sit down and mutually find a way to work out our differences.

Mr. Speaker, this government has not listened to not only Members in this House, but also political leaders that represent a large portion of our population with regard to the First Nations government. Mr. Speaker, it’s sad to say the biggest negotiated contract this government has ever had -- a $100 million contract -- has never been scrutinized in the Gwich’in settlement region. There was a little curling project in my riding of less than $1 million that went all the way to the court

system, the Construction Association and every other organization in the Northwest Territories was against a sole contractor. Yet, there is a $100 million project that’s in place with contractors from Vancouver to Calgary working in Inuvik, yet local contractors can’t get work on the jobsite for a $100 million project in the Gwich’in settlement region.

They made a decision to build a building in Inuvik, which is half the size of the space that’s already in Inuvik, to the tune of 50,000 square feet and this government is competing directly against the Gwich’in Tribal Council where they had an understanding that they were going to allow the Gwich’in Tribal Council to build this facility and now we find out that they put it out to request for proposals.

Mr. Speaker, everything that the Gwich’in Tribal Council are trying to do by way of the Discovery Air deal, this government is running them out of business. I, for one, am frustrated that this…

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

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

---Unanimous consent granted

Mr. Speaker, to top it off, the Discovery Air deal, which the Gwich’in had some $15 million invested in, this company is now being told, sorry, you are no longer in the business. You might as well go contract with someone else because you’re not wanted because this government bailed the company out to the point where they have already had sound financing.

Mr. Speaker, when it’s an aboriginal organization taking this government to court because of fundamental rights that are in their land claim agreements, this government either has to wake up and smell the coffee or try to find a way to sit down and talk out our differences without getting to the point where it frustrates not only myself, the MLA, but the Gwich’in people in the Northwest Territories where this government is totally discriminating against that cultural group because of personalities on that side of the House.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to comment on the ATCO

proposal regarding their participation as a power provider for the Northwest Territories.

I understand that the proposal is currently being reviewed and that we will eventually see the review and have our opportunity for input. My intent today is to offer some perspectives for consideration by Cabinet in both the review and the larger framework of energy planning for the NWT.

First, in recalling the theme day on the NWT Power Corporation, Members were expressing their dissatisfaction with the management and lack of innovation of that entity in effectively addressing the costs and methods of power production. Their call was for a review and tune-up of NWT Power Corporation rather than a transfer of this asset to private enterprise. Nevertheless, ATCO has responded with an unsolicited proposal. By agreeing to review the proposal the government has made a tacit and unvetted decision that we are open to privatizing our power provider; essentially a monopoly situation for the NWT. This decision deserves real debate and input from Members of this House.

Secondly, if we are open to privatizing, the government should actively make a call for proposals that is open and inclusive, not just mention it to a few select groups or corporations. As well, a call should include some guidelines, including indications of criteria for power development. That is, why are we doing this and what are we trying to achieve? What development do we wish? I will be very disappointed if we do not take this step before making any decision about moving in the direction of privatizing our power provider.

As the Premier mentioned in the press, ATCO’s proposal centres around the development of large hydro for export. We know 10,000 megawatts has been mentioned. This needs some context. Unlike Manitoba and Quebec, the NWT has relatively low precipitation and we have low relief. This means that to generate power on a similar scale we must construct large dams and flood huge areas in order to achieve the same large hydro goals. The costs and impacts are thus much greater. For example, the complete flooding of communities like Jean Marie River and the loss of large tracts of traditional lands along the Mackenzie River.

In contrast, a focus on supplying hydroelectric power to meet the needs of the NWT at lower cost can be achieved with a much more reasonable scale of development and lower impacts. The opportunity to greatly...

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

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

---Unanimous consent granted

In contrast, a focus on supplying hydroelectric power to meet the needs of the NWT at lower cost can be achieved with a much more reasonable scale of development and lower impacts. The opportunity to greatly increase output from the Taltson hydro development is one such development. Ultimately, truly sustainable development means each region producing its own power. Let’s get started.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to highlight the important role of the Yellowknife Association of Community Living. This association is a non-profit organization that helps people with intellectual disabilities and their families live meaningful lives in support of communities. The association provides services in a wide variety of areas to people of all ages. Their programs stress important areas of need in Yellowknife and the North.

The Association of Community Living provides a program support to children who may be affected by or diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Their family project works with families from birth on to bring about change so that the relatives with disabilities are welcomed into community life and can participate and contribute to their community in valuable ways.

The association also provides a planned part-time relief service to families supporting people with disabilities. In partnership with Aurora College their Literacy Outreach Program recruits and trains volunteer literacy tutors to provide inclusive literacy instruction and reaches out by targeting specific hard-to-reach groups.

The Association for Community Living offers a Skills Training in Community Inclusion Program and their successful Employability program partners with Yellowknife businesses to create training and job opportunities for people with disabilities. The program promotes disability awareness and encourages diversity in the northern workforce. It also empowers people to live highly productive lives. The Abe Miller summer cafe offers business and work experience to people with intellectual disabilities and has operated successfully for many

years. Finally, supportive living services help people who choose to live on their own move towards their full potential as members of society.

All of these programs work towards the goal of allowing people with intellectual disabilities to lead meaningful, self-determined lives to the fullest extent possible. They promote dignity, respect, equality, diversity, human rights, mutual responsibility, inclusion, and moral courage. These are virtues society needs more and more and we can be proud of the resources offered to the Northwest Territories by the Yellowknife Association for Community Living.

I encourage Members of this House and people of the Northwest Territories to join me in applauding the hard work of dedicated staff and volunteers of the Association of Community Living and in supporting their continued efforts.

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

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. During my recent tour of Nahendeh I met with the chief and leadership of Jean Marie River. They are very enthusiastic about becoming more self-sufficient by using their own natural resources. It was interesting to listen to their ideas about using alternative energy sources and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The community wants to install a biomass cogeneration unit in Jean Marie River to produce power for the community. This unit could also be designed to use residual wood from the sawmill to produce wood pellets. In turn, the wood pellets could be used as fuel through gasification, thereby virtually producing their own fuel.

Residual heat from this unit could also be used for a wood kiln to dry lumber from their sawmill. In addition, residual heat is also a good alternative to heat homes and other buildings.

I am pleased to see that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources is developing a Biomass Strategy. ENR’s budget includes a number of alternative energy programs, including funds for new initiatives in biomass. This project in Jean Marie River is indeed very complementary to this strategy and is a practical fit and will provide a good news story for our government.

Logging has been part of the history of Jean Marie River’s economy since 1915 and a sawmill was built in 1965. The Jean Marie River Development Corporation would like the logs and the sawmill to

be part of the project and they see many applications that will support this important aspect of their community. The support and implementation of this community-based initiative for installing a biomass cogeneration unit will provide many benefits for the community and the residents of Jean Marie, the most important of which is to create durable, long-term jobs, economic opportunities, and the potential of lower power rates.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to speak today about the state of consensus government in our Territory. Yesterday we witnessed hundreds of people coming here to demonstrate against Cabinet’s proposed Board Reform Initiative. A few weeks back we again had the gallery full with seniors and others opposed to the proposed changes to supplementary health benefits. These two issues and the way in which this government has conducted themselves speaks volumes about what is wrong with consensus government.

In the ranks of the Regular Members we have got to come to work every day and seek consensus amongst ourselves in order to move on with our issues and bring them to the forefront. We have a very capable, intelligent, and experienced group of Members and I’m proud to be part of the team that we’ve developed amongst the Regular Members. The most beautiful part of this is that we’re all free to express our feelings. Of course, Regular Members do not always agree with each other, but we respect each other and Members are free from intimidation, fear, or reprisal. Consensus is alive and well with Regular Members, as many recent motions and yesterday’s theme day have shown.

The problem is the government’s inability to get over itself. All 19 of us serve in this House in real roles.