I wanted to start by saying I was very pleased to hear in the budget address whenever things were being considered they were being considered from the perspectives of the economy, people, and the environment. This is a three-legged stool that is so essential in our approach to all issues. This is the first budget I have actually heard this in, so I want to compliment the Minister on that.

I’d like to also delve into the details, because that’s where the juice is, or not, on energy initiatives. I’d like to start by mentioning this recession that we’re in and the effect it’s had on the price of energy, particularly oil. Many believe that we hit peak oil and that’s what drove the prices up so high just before the recession hit. It may have contributed to it. We have a window of opportunity now when prices are low to be very effective with our dollars. We can rest assured, and I’ve had people come up

to me at the break and say this window of opportunity may be very brief. We need to be very effective with this time and deliver these programs very effectively and quickly.

First of all, let’s get it done. Let’s have a community systems approach on the ground. Let’s deal with the revenue included and, in particular here, energy efficiency and, of course, dealing with heating. Electricity is more problematic and I’m not saying ignore that. We need to be talking about that too.

One of the first things to me is we have a biomass opportunity. The Minister has identified that. We need community forest inventories, we need sustainable harvest plans, we need the development of wood cooperatives where people in the community can contribute and grow and harvest wood following the sustainable programs and so on. We need to look into wood classification. This is demonstrated to be the most efficient way to go for biomass and district heating in our communities. These are all off-the-shelf technologies available now.

I’m pleased to see the interest in wind and geothermal. Mini-hydro, $800,000 towards planning. Lord, Lord. Let’s get to actually doing something on mini-hydro, please.

Energy efficiency, I’d like to see us go after establishing EGH-80 in our public housing programs, especially with the federal dollars that are available.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I see I’m out of time.

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

Mahsi cho. [English translation not provided.]

Mr. Speaker, with the downturn in our economy it has become crucial that the government put real action into spending its infrastructure dollars. I’m not asking the government to put new money in to our economy or to build up the huge deficit, but to actively spend money that is currently on our books so that opportunities can be afforded to our residents of the Northwest Territories.

The government must do its best to stimulate our slumping economy so northern businesses can go back to work. This will be a huge benefit at the community level.

In the recent federal government announcements millions of infrastructure dollars were earmarked for

the Northwest Territories. Our government must take full advantage of this money.

In recent years this government has not spent all of its infrastructure dollars. These dollars need to be spent in order for our North and our people to benefit.

The people of Tu Nedhe are counting on this government to spend the money that was targeted for the communities. Without that spending, the people will be in the poor house. Not to mention if our government does not spend its infrastructure dollars, it will have a very negative impact on the social purse. I repeat with no option but to ask the government for a handout just to put food on the table. Mr. Speaker, later today I will have questions for the Minister responsible for infrastructure departments.

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

Today I’m going to talk about the most important issue in the riding of Yellowknife Centre. Those are the potential changes that are being brought forward by the Health Minister about the Health Care Plan and the benefits. Mr. Speaker, if for only a moment we could imagine what it was like before the Minister made that horrible announcement before Christmas, you would hear from our seniors that they felt respected, cared for, loved, trusted, supported, maybe even safe and perhaps happy in the North because they knew the government loved and cared for them. Once this announcement came, that put an immediate halt to those wonderful feelings of those people who put their trust in us.

Now the Minister has finally admitted she screwed up. So I would finally say we’re getting somewhere on this problem, and I thank her for admitting that. She says she will consult this time. I thank her for that, but what the fear now shifts to is what this consult means. The fear also continues on meaning will this be lip service? Is the department buying time? Will they listen? Will this be the same plan but with a new cover? Will the Members have a chance in a meaningful way to be involved prior to implementation? Will income thresholds be revisited in a fairer way? What about the cost of living? Will that be considered or will it be fraught with bias with a predetermined outcome that will never change anything?

Mr. Speaker, the fear is out there and certainly it’s internal with me thinking that will we get to where

we need to be. Mr. Speaker, I expect that consultation means meaningful dialogue, hearing the voices, recognizing the vast petitions that have come in that have been laid before this House. The Minister needs to recognize the seniors are having difficult times keeping pace with this high-cost world and changing times that we live in. We need to make sure that they are shown dignity and that this new plan is clear and certainly fair. Mr. Speaker, respect is a hard thing to earn so I expect a lot of work brought forward by this Minister. I will have questions for her later today to make sure that we’re all achieving the same type of outcome, that we are taking care of our loved ones who need us most.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Jacobson.

Today I’d just like to bring up a recreation leader in Aklavik, Mr. Dean McLeod and his staff, and what a good job they’re doing. To let them know that they’re doing, I guess you could say, an awesome job. This past weekend we attended the hockey school in Aklavik with my two sons with Andy Nowicki from the Red Deer Rebels, he’s a goaltending coach. Over the past four years we’ve been attending the camp and it’s only getting better. We’ve got about 30 to 40 children on the ice at all times. Just to let them know and to thank them for doing an awesome job. Dean, at the same time was holding a curling bonspiel where Mr. Krutko’s team was eliminated pretty quickly.

---Laughter

They did good, though. I’d like to thank Dean McLeod, Pat Kasook and the rest of the hamlet staff in Aklavik. I’d like to congratulate Dave McLeod and his wife Mina for the great weekend we had in Aklavik and also, congratulations to Dave McLeod’s team that took the A division curling title in Aklavik. If we had recreation leaders like that right across the Northwest Territories, we wouldn’t be hurting so bad for…Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Jacobson. Item 5, reports of standing and special committees. Item 6, returns to oral questions. Item 7, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

I’d just like to recognize my dad, he just walked out the door, I believe.

---Laughter

He couldn’t wait any longer. Also, I’d like to recognize Mr. Leon Lafferty, a former Member of the House, and also Chief Charlie Nitsiza . Welcome to the House.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Member for Thebacha, Mr. Miltenberger.

I’d like recognize my wife, Jeri, the longest serving public librarian in the Northwest Territories; 23 years and with her former resident who got all his good upbringing in Fort Smith and now the president of the local chamber, Jon Jaque.

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

I’d like to recognize a long-time Yellowknifer, a respected senior and a constituent of the Great Slave riding, Ms. Jan Stirling.

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. The honourable Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Bob McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a very long list. I don’t know if everybody is still here, but I’d like to start by recognizing the executive director of the NWT Tourism, Mr. Jerry Laprieur; the executive director of the NWT Chamber of Commerce, Mr. John Curran; the president of the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Jon Jaque; the president of Canadian North, Tracy Medve; vice-president Kelly Kaylo from Canadian North as well. I’d like to recognize Gord Clarke, the treasurer of NWT Chamber of Mines. Constituents: I have Anne Juneau, constituent of Yellowknife South; Gayla Wick, constituent of Yellowknife South; a long-time friend and classmate, Mary Carr; Mr. Ed Jeske -- I don’t know if he’s still here or not -- a long-time hockey booster and long-time friend, Mr. Bill Erasmus, president of the Dene Nation; and Darrell Beaulieu, the chair of the Business Development Investment Corporation. Thank you.

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

I’ve got a few people I’d like to recognize today: Barb Wyness and Gayla Wick with the UNW. I’d like to thank both ladies for their help on the petition I’ll be presenting later today. Also, Mr. David Wind and Lydia Bardak, both Yellowknife city councillors, and a former colleague on Yellowknife City Council, Mr. Ben McDonald; also a former Member, Leon Lafferty. Welcome Chief

Lafferty. I can’t see up behind me so welcome to any other Kam Lake constituents and other folks who are in the gallery today. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The honourable Member for Monfwi, Mr. Lafferty.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I, too, would like to recognize my constituents and also my chiefs: Chief Leon Lafferty of Behchoko, Chief Charlie Nitsiza of Whati. Also, I’d like to recognize David Reid, president of NWTTA sitting with us. Mahsi.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize some constituents: Joyce Gilchrist, Dick and Loretta Abernethy, folks of my colleague here beside me. Also, Bill Erasmus, constituent of Weledeh and, of course, there’s other old timers that I recognize in the audience, many, but Bob and Loretta Gamble. Good to see them here and the chiefs from Tlicho. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize a couple of constituents: Ms. Heidi-Ann Wild. Sorry, I hope I didn’t screw up the name. Sorry. I believe she’s here to represent the Public Service Alliance of Canada, and Mr. Guy Leblanc who has been my constituent for a long time. Thank you.

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