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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s the end of our longest annual session and we’ve debated many critical issues facing our citizens today. Now it’s time for action. I want to briefly restate my priorities on how we need to act.

The Mackenzie Gas Project can only be supported if it is made to provide sustainable social and economic benefits to NWT residents and mitigation of its social and environmental impacts. We need the input of all MLAs in developing a response to the JRP report and I am calling on the government to honour the principles of consensus government by obtaining full Assembly and committee input to a response. We want a full debate in the May session.

By next session we must be well along in developing cooperative management partnerships with First Nations for the preservation of the Bathurst caribou herd. It is essential that the Yellowknives Dene be fully involved in this work and their and other interests equally respected. Members must be kept fully informed as this work progresses.

We’ve asked the government for an integrated, resourced, government-wide strategy for reduction of poverty. We must make progress in reducing the suffering of our citizens most in need. I’ll be looking for reports on how this is moving ahead.

Our greenhouse gas outputs are going up, not down, while our climate changes ever more quickly. Biomass makes sense in every way: on cost, employment, business and investment opportunities, protection from oil price spikes and the environment. We must move as soon and as effectively as possible. Mandatory targets must be set for the reduction of greenhouse gas production throughout the NWT.

The Finance Minister released a discussion paper on the creation of a Heritage Fund. We need a higher revenue return on our resources as they flow out of our Territory. We have that authority now and we need to start saving some of that revenue for the future. Let’s get it done.

We must never find ourselves caught in the vice of another major construction project disaster again. I will be investigating what legislation can be put in place to prevent this government from locking the taxpayers into endless cost overruns from future projects like the Taltson project.

In my opinion, this government has been disastrous to date. It has seriously curtailed our immediate and long-term potential to meet residents’ needs and expectations. We are in a deep morass.

I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted.

Our executive must make a much greater commitment to the principles and practice of consensus government. I spend too much time calling this government to task for its habits of unilateral action, as we all do, and then trying to clean up the mess later. Work with us and we will work with you. It can’t, it obviously doesn’t, work any other way.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Programs and services are essential services for all our communities in the Northwest Territories. Throughout the NWT, from education programs to health care services and health centres to hospitals, we all depend on the programs and services that assist our residents to improve the quality of life, the well-being of our communities, and the health of our residents. From mental health positions in our communities to alcohol and drug programs to social workers, they do make a difference in our communities.

The goal of this Assembly is healthy, vibrant communities. The real commitment that we made making that statement is not real. When we have communities without programs and services and the lack of essential services such as nursing services, social services, income support, that lack of services brings a barrier to the community’s health and well-being.

Yes, there are challenges we face in our communities regarding the high cost of living. The high cost of energy and isolation plays one of the reasons that we don’t have all services in communities. That is no reason this government should not be ensuring that adequate programs and services are being developed in our communities. These communities need attention that other communities take for granted, because they have all the programs and services being delivered and access to health centres and clinics to see a doctor. In a large number of our smaller communities, that is not the case. Why is it that in 2010 we still have have and have-not communities?

I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted.

If programs and services are essential services, why is it we have some communities with programs and services and a

large number of smaller communities that don’t? All residents of the Northwest Territories deserve a fair break. Regardless if you live in Colville Lake, Tsiigehtchic, Sachs Harbour or Nahanni Butte, we have a responsibility to provide programs and services to our residents. At the appropriate time I will be asking the Minister of Health and Social Services what she is doing to ensure essential services are being provided to our communities.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Member for Deh Cho, Mr. Michael McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to bring the attention of the Legislative Assembly to the inevitable and always well-received Hay River Reserve Kamba Carnival.

This year marks the 27th anniversary of the Kamba

Carnival and, as promised every year, it will be sure to deliver plenty of interesting activities and family fun for folks of all ages. Whether their preferences are for indoor or outdoor activities, Hay River Reserve Kamba Carnival is sure to test your wit during traditional Dene games, hand games, or inspire you to jig at the dances or talent shows. Kamba Carnival is sure to chase away those winter blues. Of course, for those winter warriors and those who aren’t ready yet to see Old Man Winter leave on vacation, Kamba Carnival on the reserve is sure to deliver one last hurrah with exciting snowmobile races and adventurous dog-mushing events.

This annual event is organized by many dedicated and committed volunteers who donate a lot of their time and energy to showcase one of the community’s biggest events of the year, and in the past it has drawn visitors and fun seekers from communities such as Yellowknife and Fort Smith and communities all around the Great Slave Lake and Deh Cho and Akaitcho regions. A lot of people even come from southern Alberta as the event seems to draw more and more people in attendance from further and further away each year.

I’d like to invite everyone to come out and join the fun this weekend on the K’atlodeeche First Nations Hay River Reserve. On behalf of the Deh Cho constituency and to all of the competitors, I wish all the best. Play hard, play safe, and to all those who are attending as non-competitors, good luck at bingo.

---Laughter

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, Mr. Robert McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Fifty years seems like a very long time and yesterday, as some of you know, I had a birthday and I happened to turn 50.

---Applause

I’m now considered an Inuvialuit elder, so I have to start sounding wise from this point on.

I use this to illustrate the fact that we have folks who have been married for a long time. I think recently we acknowledged some folks up in the gallery that were married for 65 years.

I have two constituents at home that on April 19th will be celebrating their 50th anniversary. I want to

use this as an opportunity to pass on my congratulations to Colin and Rita Allen, a couple of good folks from Inuvik who were married on April 19, 1960. I look forward to an old-time dance, Colin and Rita, and I’ll be shining up my shoes ready to go.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Item 4, reports of standing and special committees. Item 5, returns to oral questions. Item 6, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have a group of strong, wise and hardworking women in the gallery today, and I’d like to introduce them: Lyda Fuller is the most recent recipient of the Wise Woman Award, and also the executive director of the YWCA; Lorraine Phaneuf, who is the executive director of the Status of Women Council of the NWT; Annemieke Mulders, program manager for the Status of Women Council; Irene Savoy, office manager of the Status of Women Council; and Marilyn Hardisty, project officer for Northern Women in Mining, Oil and Gas. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I, too, would like to recognize the hardworking women from the Status of Women Council, and I’d particularly like to recognize Frame Lake resident Lyda Fuller, who is the 2010 recipient of the Strong and Wise Woman Award for the North Slave. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. The honourable Member for the Deh Cho, Mr. Michael McLeod.

Mr. Speaker, today I’d like to recognize two Pages from the Deh Cho

constituency who have as of today successfully completed their duties through the NWT Legislative Page Program. I’d like to recognize Leona Fabian from the Hay River Reserve, Chief Sunrise School. She’s 15 years old, enjoys travelling, spending time with her family and working with computers. She tells me her goal is to complete high school. Also, we have Judith Fabian of the Hay River Reserve, Chief Sunrise School also. She’s 17 years old and she enjoys volunteering, spending time with family and friends, and she’s also got a goal of completing high school. I’d like to say thank you to them and ask all the Members in saying that. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize a resident of the Great Slave riding, Ms. Margaret Peterson. Thank you.

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

Mr. Speaker, I’d like to recognize two hardworking Pages from Yellowknife South: Braden Redshaw and Alyx McLean. I’d also like to thank all of the Pages who have served here in the Legislative Assembly. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize and thank one of our Pages, Paige Elkin. She’s been a stalwart Page of this Assembly on many occasions. For the information of all Members of this Assembly, she’s also on our NWT curling team, and she’s also my son’s favourite babysitter. Thank you.

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

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize Marilyn Hardisty, who has her roots in Jean Marie River in my constituency. Thank you very much. Welcome.