Good afternoon, colleagues. Welcome back to the Chamber. The honourable Premier, Mr. Roland.

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a personal matter under Rule 20(1). Yesterday our Member of Parliament, the MP for the Western Arctic, testified before the federal Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development. The committee is considering Bill C-530. The MP’s private member’s bill is to amend the NWT Act to change the GNWT borrowing limit.

I am concerned his comments did not reflect all of the information that I conveyed to him. For the record, Mr. Speaker, in a letter dated October 20, 2010, I told the Member of Parliament the GNWT would await the outcome of the federal review of territorial borrowing limits before determining what further actions might be necessary with respect to our borrowing limit.

Mr. Speaker, that was and is still the position of the GNWT. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Item 2, Ministers’ statements. The honourable Minister of Transportation, Mr. Michael McLeod.

Mr. Speaker, I know that all Members share my interest in doing everything we can to prevent needless deaths and injuries from occurring on our streets and highways. Every injury or loss of life is especially hard on our communities, especially when there is so much we can do to reduce the risks associated with the use of snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles (ATV), and vehicles on our roads and trails.

Two thousand and eleven is the Year of Road Safety in Canada, Mr. Speaker. It is the first year of Canada’s Road Safety Strategy 2015 as well as the

international decade of Road Safety 2020. This is a good time to take stock of what we are doing to increase road safety in the Northwest Territories, and to decrease the number of needless collisions, injuries and fatalities.

Increased safety and security is one of the action areas under this government’s strategic plan. Through the Building our Future strategic initiative, we have invested in the Drive Alive Program which has a number of initiatives and partnerships to make our roads and highways safer.

Recently, Mr. Speaker, Members were asked to assist the Drive Alive “Be Visible, Be Safe” program by distributing retro-reflective armbands to their constituents, and the response from Members was enthusiastic. I thank each of you for your assistance, which enabled us to deliver this program in every part of the Territory.

Mr. Speaker, I would also ask for everyone’s assistance for our Buckle Up NWT initiative which will be ramping up over the next few months. We recently learned that at 40 percent, seatbelt usage in communities outside Yellowknife is the lowest in Canada. We know from collision statistics that a person who is not wearing a seatbelt is 17 times more likely to die than those who do.

Over the next two years, the Drive Alive Program will have a special focus on seatbelt usage in our communities. Drive Alive will partner with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, municipal enforcement, regional leaders and the other organizations to make people aware of the danger they put themselves and others in when they do not wear a seatbelt. I would like Members of this Assembly to be among the leaders who help us achieve the Buckle Up NWT goal of bringing the use of seatbelts in the NWT up to the national average of 95 percent. Mr. Speaker, I will have more to announce on this important initiative in the next few weeks.

Other initiatives for 2011 the Year of Road Safety under our Drive Alive Program include:

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the current pledge campaign to reduce the

number of people who use their cell phone while driving;

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an impaired driving awareness campaign,

including impairment caused by driver fatigue; and

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a campaign to address speed as a contributing factor in collisions, particularly in bison country.

As part of our campaign on speeding, we will be informing residents that the penalties for violating the speed limit in construction and school zones have doubled. We will also be reminding drivers that when they are passing stopped emergency vehicles, they must slow to half the posted speed limit. We need to protect our police and municipal enforcement officers and our firefighters as they do their jobs.

Mr. Speaker, when trying to change the behaviour of drivers and others using our transportation system, our preference is always to inform and raise awareness of the better choices that each one of us can make. Voluntary changes like this are usually the most effective and are changes that last for life.

Our efforts to make our streets and highways safer are continuing. The support of Members to help make that happen continues to be appreciated. Every step we take towards preventing injuries and deaths help us deliver on this Assembly’s goals of healthy, educated people and sustainable, vibrant, safe communities. Mahsi cho.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Item 3, Members’ statements. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The 2011 National Student Debating Seminar of the Canadian Student Debating Federation is taking place in Hay River from March 9

th

to 13

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. There are

78 delegates participating in formal debates representing 10 provinces, the Yukon and the Northwest Territories. This is considered to be one of their largest debates and it is the first of its kind to take place in the North since 1975.

The participating delegates are accomplished students chosen by provincial and territorial debating organizations through a competitive process. The seminar theme has been appropriately chosen to be northern issues and the debates will be parliamentary, cross-examination and consensus styles. The resolutions for debate are: should cultural preservation be a top government priority; resource development is more important than environmental protection; and Canada should take more active measures to

assert sovereignty over the Arctic. Those are their topics.

The seminar will be a unique northern experience for these competitors. On the debating side, the seminar will feature two rounds of debate modelled on the NWT’s consensus style of government. Each delegate will debate a topic twice; once for, once against the issue being debated.

The group of delegates will be kept very busy during their stay in Hay River. Some of the planned activities for each day are pond hockey, curling, dog mushing, ice fishing, a tour of Buffalo Airways, a variety of arts and cultural activities including beading, fiddling, drumming, storytelling and more.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to welcome our visiting delegates to the Northwest Territories and to wish all of them luck in their debating challenges. I would also like to congratulate and thank the people of Hay River who were involved in organizing this event. Gatherings like this don’t just happen. It takes extraordinary volunteers. People who commit to working long hours, making arrangements for travel and accommodations, selecting venues, recruiting judges, programming entertainment and various other details and then pulling it all together. Many thanks to Geoff Buerger, the principal at the Princess Alexandra School in Hay River who accepted the challenge of organizing this major event. Thanks to his volunteer committee, all the volunteer judges and, of course, all the folks at the Princess Alexandra School who I’m sure will all be recruited to help out. I thank them all for their effort, commitment and hard work to have contributed to make such an exciting event possible. Best wishes to everyone involved for a successful weekend and we will see you down there at the debate.

I want to say that I think things like debating organizations are extremely important. In surveys it has been determined that fear of public speaking is right up there with the fear of death. These are the kind of things that give people confidence to speak in public and I challenge our colleagues today with this crowd here to do us proud and answer our questions today.

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

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. I’m going to try to do as much of my Member’s statement in Chipewyan today as possible for the elders in Tu Nedhe.

[English translation not provided.]

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. During this term as MLA I always start my Member’s statements at the beginning of session to honour our loved ones that have passed away. At the end of each session I honour the accomplishments of our loved ones, especially our youth.

All across the Territories schools and families in communities will be beginning to gather to celebrate the academic accomplishments of their graduates. In our small and remote communities graduates are celebrated by everyone.

In the community of Ulukhaktok the following graduates will be honoured on June 8, 2011: Ms. Gail Ogina, Jerry Akoaksion Jr., Zachary Kudlak, David Roy Ekpakohak, Jasmine Klengenberg, Troy Kataoyak and Kassandra Ekpakohak. In 2009 the YELS Program -- Youth Entry Level Skills Program -- outstanding student was Kassandra Ekpakohak.

The community of Sachs Harbour Inuvik graduates will be honoured on Saturday, June 4, 2011, in Inuvik. Potential graduates are: John Keogak, Jacob Kudlak, Kyle Wolki.

For the community of Paulatuk the graduates will be honoured on June 19, 2011. Potential graduates are: Bessie Lennie -- who is a past youth parliamentarian here -- Bernadette Green, Lauren Ruben, Rosalie Krengnektak, Georgina Wolki, Stephanie Illasiak and Tanya Ruben.

For the community of Tuktoyaktuk the graduates will be honoured on August 5, 2011. Potential graduates for Mangilaluk School are: Kelsey Lucas, Leeanne Pokiak, Caitlin Walker, Morris Nogasak, Shane Gruben, Chelsea Raddi and Darcie Bernhardt. In addition to the above-mentioned Mangilaluk School students there are Terri Lee Kuptana and Germaine Voudrach who are currently working towards their graduation and have indicated they would like to participate in the graduation ceremonies at Mangilaluk School.

Mr. Speaker, lastly, I wish to express my admiration and appreciation for all the hard work and dedication of our staff of this government, the Legislative Assembly and also my colleagues during this long session. We put in long hours and dealt with some very difficult issues that will affect the people of the Northwest Territories for many years to come.

Mr. Speaker, enjoy your community carnivals this year and have a safe spring harvesting season. Quanami, Mr. Speaker.

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

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Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. This week in Fort Simpson people have been participating in our ever popular Beaver Tail Jamboree. Celebrations began last Sunday. I wish to say special congratulations to the Beaver Tail Jamboree organizing committee and the sponsors and host organizations who have been making this event come alive every year for the past 34 years.

The committee members who worked so hard to make this year’s Jamboree successful are: Ms. Cindy Browning, Ms. Cheryl Sibbeston, Mr. Nathan McPherson, Mr. Gerry Antoine, Mr. Troy Bradbury, Mr. Aaron McNabb, Mr. Jonas Antoine, Mr. Mike Squirrel, Ms. Ria Letcher and Ms. Celine Antoine. They all deserve honourable mention, ladies and gentlemen all, Mr. Speaker.

The community and Nahendeh region look forward to this event that is time to celebrate together that we have completed another long winter. There are activities for our youth and for folks of all ages. Events have changed over the years. Some old favourites are back like dog racing. There’s much fun to be had. Today they crown the Jamboree prince and princesses. Friday is the best, firstly, because there is a half-a-day holiday. There is a free luncheon, corporate challenge competitions, youth talent show and a dance. Saturday has just as many activities including the premier event: the adult talent show.

I encourage everyone in Fort Simpson to come out and enjoy all that this jamboree has to offer. The best part of it all is that it gets families and friends together for the whole week. I hope that the weather is great and that everybody has a safe, happy and enjoyable weekend. Mahsi cho.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I want to talk about the Auditor General’s report on the health programs and services. I also want to note here that the Auditor General did not look at social services during her review, just health.

The health report findings are similar to those of the findings in the Auditor General’s report last year on education. The report indicates a lack of evaluation, monitoring and data collection on the part of the Department of Health. The Auditor General gives credit to Health for its strategic plan, described by Ms. Fraser as a clear direction to improve the system. But Ms. Fraser also says that the

department needs to follow through with the health authorities. By that she means monitor their activities to ensure that the priorities of the department and of the system as a whole are achieved by the regional authorities.

When the Auditor General examined the relationship between the Department of Health and the health authorities, she found that the department lacks performance agreements with those health authorities. As a result, there are no performance indicators on which the success or the failure of an authority can be measured.

Any devolution of programs and services from the government to a subsidiary organization should have as a basic component assessment, monitoring and evaluation structure. The Health department and its authorities do not. There are contribution agreements, Mr. Speaker, between the parties, but those contribution agreements do not address monitoring of the actions or the work of the authorities. There is no mechanism to gauge how the authorities are doing to determine whether they are successfully delivering programs and services to the residents in their region as is required by the department.

We give almost $225 million annually to health authorities. I think we really ought to know what they are doing with our money. As a government, the GNWT has a poor track record when it comes to assessment, monitoring and evaluation of our programs and services. We’re quick to decide on new initiatives and to put new programs in place, but we do not at the same time establish how we will evaluate them in both the short and the long term. That is the message from the Auditor General in her report, Mr. Speaker. The government as a whole and particularly Cabinet must change its mindset, its approach, if you will, to the implementation of new initiatives. When approval is given to fund a new program or initiative, that decision must be based on a proposal which includes a comprehensive evaluation plan.

I will have questions for the Minister of Health at a later time. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to speak about the unbelievable costs of not having a highway in the Sahtu. Mr. Speaker, we did have a highway at one time built in 1943. It went from Norman Wells to the Yukon Territory. It took about 13 months to build, Mr. Speaker, no problem. The U.S. government said go, and away it went. Mr. Speaker, that is the problem of freedom.

Mr. Speaker, we have witnessed and heard about the high cost of store bought foods and the expensive housing costs, just the basics to continue to be a major issue for our people in the Sahtu. In November, INAC updated statistics on the northern food basket for a family of four between 2005 and 2009. Not to my surprise, Norman Wells went up more by 17 percent. That is because we don’t have a highway into our communities. We are paying the increase in price of isolation, Mr. Speaker. How can a family find the money to cover the food, clothing and shelter, let alone find money for vacation trips? We don’t have a highway, so families are taking advantage of the two-month window of opportunity in the winter, drive out, do their shopping and possibly take a little vacation. Then they load up their trucks with a year’s supply, drive back into the Sahtu.

Mr. Speaker, a few years ago Cece McCauley wrote an article in the News/North called “The Cost of No Highway.” She has some good points. A highway could save the Sahtu residents their hard-earned money by reducing the cost of freight of groceries and dry goods. Fuel and building supplies would also likely decrease, Mr. Speaker.

In the meantime, something needs to be done. Disparity in the Sahtu doesn’t reflect very well on the federal government. Build a highway, Mr. Harper. As the saying goes as in the movie, go west, young man, go west. Maybe we should open up the CANOL road again, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As we all know, ENR has now formally presented and proceeded with the new Wildlife Act. As we have all heard, there are many concerns from mining, outfitting and tourism industries. For the sake of observation, Section 87 of the new Wildlife Act states, “no person shall, without a licence or permit authorizing it, establish, offer or provide an organized activity for profit in which big game or other prescribed wildlife is the object of interaction, manipulation or close observation...” Therefore, Mr. Speaker, by way of example, if an Aurora Village tour bus happened to pull over loaded full of those much needed Japanese tourists just to take a few pictures of ptarmigan, they would be in violation of the act because they would be breaking the letter of the law. Close observation is not permitted without a permit, Mr. Speaker.

Now, under Section 88, the superintendent may, by written notice, exempt a person from the requirement of a licence or permit under those

sections I just highlighted. Mr. Speaker, the point being here is the superintendent now is going to have to be writing exemptions daily. In fairness, ENR has agreed that they will work with ITI as a matter of accommodation to where ITI regulations, conditions and guidelines will help mitigate this issue that ENR has identified. However, accommodation is only a policy outside the act. Mr. Speaker, this needs to be in the act and regulations need to be drawn up to draw and create certainty. While accommodation will be appreciated, again, it does create interpretations and, to be honest, Mr. Speaker, industry sees it as a leap of faith.

So in short, more red tape and needless administrative policing. To keep in mind, Mr. Speaker, even if you were an entomologist and you wanted to harvest dragon flies, you would be in violation of the act and charged as well.

Mr. Speaker, the mining industry will tell you the Wildlife Act is putting undue pressure and probably turning the NWT into a park or game reserve. Mr. Speaker, more pressure on these types of industries will help identify the Northwest Territories as a place not open for business. Mr. Speaker, we need those much needed tax dollars and by scaring away or discouraging investment in the North does nothing for our Territory, and at the end perhaps Environment and Natural Resources will get what their asking for, which is nothing from everybody. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. One of the fundamental principles of a free, transparent government is the ability for our residents to vote freely with regard to expressing their views on particular issues, voting people into public office and voting for things such as the division of the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, there was a plebiscite held in 1992 to divide the Northwest Territories. At that time it was done through a plebiscite with the simple wording, “do you think the Northwest Territories should be divided.” Mr. Speaker, since that time, division has come and gone. Yet, Mr. Speaker, there is still a lot of political manoeuvring regarding taking on federal powers and responsibilities to the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, I think we also have to allow the public and the people of the Northwest Territories to also have a say with regard to what’s happening in the Northwest Territories with the transfer of powers from Ottawa to the Northwest Territories through

similar means, regardless of whether it’s a plebiscite, freedom to vote, a general election. The public has the right to be heard.

Mr. Speaker, we hear a lot of what’s going on with devolution in this House and elsewhere. A lot of full-page ads are being put out there with regard to people’s views on particular issues. Mr. Speaker, how do we get feedback from the general public once their views have been expressed? Mr. Speaker, one of those ways is through a plebiscite.

Mr. Speaker, the Plebiscite Act allows a plebiscite to take place during a general election. I feel it’s critical that this government and this Legislative Assembly allow the public that opportunity to have their voice in a very important issue such as devolution from Ottawa to the Northwest Territories by way of a plebiscite.

I, for one, agree that regardless what the outcome of the devolution process is, we all have to live with the decision. Is it the right decision or it is the wrong decision? The only way we can measure it, Mr. Speaker, is by means of a vote for all residents of the Northwest Territories to express their views and position on this important matter.

I feel that we do have to look at some options and alternatives such as a public plebiscite on the devolution agreement, which was signed by the Government of the Northwest Territories and the federal government, on how it will affect the residents of the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Budget sessions are always the most demanding and we’ve covered much ground over the past few several weeks. A review of these issues before breaking will serve us well.

We’ve made progress in law. We have set in motion the critical actions in the review of the Child and Family Services Act. There have been important revisions to the Dog Act. There have been modest improvements in our controls over Members’ post-term activities and we’ve started on the Heritage Fund.

The debate on the social ills has dominated this session and with good reason. The issues of family violence, elder abuse, victim services and corrections, justice and rehabilitation were particularly stressed. We have spoken to our approach to solutions, expanding the Healthy Families Prevention Program, preservation of nurse practitioner training and service capacity, expansion of midwifery services, integration and improvement of mental health services, the desperate need for

more and better housing with affordable rents, the vital importance of school nutrition programs and emphasis on early childhood development. Common elements in confronting all these issues is the need for a cross-program integrated approach, renewed emphasis on gathering hard data that is lacking and meaningful action towards an Anti-Poverty Strategy.

On the environmental front we have highlighted key tools as essential components of a new Greenhouse Gas Reduction Strategy in order to take the government’s substantial progress on renewable energy out into society at large. Examples include NWT-wide building standards and carbon pricing, with the latter at least getting good discussion. Our electrical utility and its very expensive rate review simply churned the old issues with little progress on renewables or the price stability and low carbon output we must achieve. Caribou populations, of course, remain a concern.

In many areas, however, the government ignores the will of the Assembly. Putting food in children’s mouths is the best worst example. Successive business plans, motions for milk subsidies, motions on school lunch programs, resolution of public housing rent subsidies, Members insist, government ignores.

Two keynotes of this government and session: insistence on a devolution agreement without our Aboriginal partners and the long, sad story of the bridge are subjects of public lament. I look forward to working with my colleagues to break through the barriers and gain new ground on these areas, clearly of the greatest importance to our public and our future.

This government isn’t over yet...

Mr. Bromley, your time for your Member’s statement has expired. Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Abernethy.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last October I made a statement in this House and asked the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment a number of questions regarding the possibility of facilitating curated art and/or craft shows and exhibits here in the Northwest Territories. A curated show is usually one where a collection of items, such as paintings, are pulled together by a professional body who has an interest in displaying this certain body of work in order to highlight the cultural and historic value. The body of work is usually researched and its significance is

outlined as part of the presentation of the collection as a whole. This is not something done by a retail outfit but, rather, a museum or fine art gallery.

The Minister at the time indicated that he would be willing to meet with representatives of the NWT arts community to discuss the option of curated shows and how they could benefit both territorial artists as well as the population as a whole. I put together a meeting between the past-president of the Aurora Arts Society on behalf of the territorial artists and the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, his staff, as well as the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment and his staff, which took place in December. It was a very informative meeting with a lot of shared information and opinions.

Since that, I have had some follow-up conversations with the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment and have received correspondence from the Minister indicating that they would be working towards the delivery of curated shows highlighting the work of northern artists over the coming fiscal year and ongoing. This is great news for both the NWT artists as well as the population of the Northwest Territories. Highlighting our northern artists will both promote the artist as well as the North. In addition, once our artists have been presented officially in curated shows, great opportunities for Canadian Council funding will open up to them.

I understand that this may not happen immediately, that the department has to figure out the best ways to do it, the most cost-effective method to facilitate these shows and conduct research into the extent that they can be done and shared both in the North and the South. Regardless, I appreciate the Minister’s consideration on this topic and commitment to working with northern artists. I look forward to curated shows highlighting our northern artists and their great works.

I will be asking the Minister a couple of questions on this topic at the appropriate time.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to speak today about Bill C-530.The bill and our MP, Mr. Bevington, were in front of the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development on Tuesday, March the 8

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, in Ottawa.

I found that most of what our MP had to say about consultation with people here in the Northwest Territories and our government to lack, quite frankly, any semblance in reality.

In his opening comments to the committee Mr. Bevington used the word “legitimate” spending

without actually defining what he meant by “legitimate.” Does our MP actually believe that sending a letter then selecting parts of the response you like is consultation with our government? He states quite clearly that, in his opinion, consultation has taken place. He said he discussed it directly with our Finance Minister, who happens to be his next door neighbour, but he does not say if this just happened over the fence over a glass of lemonade or in a formal meeting. The fact is, this consultation has not taken place in a meaningful way.

As Member’s well know, we have had numerous discussions with the Premier and our Finance Minister about our borrowing ability. What is most important to me is letting the review currently underway to look at the borrowing limits of the three territories continue to conclusion. What good would our MP’s solution do us if we continue to be required to treat all debt the same? We need to take the self-liquidating debt out of the equation. This is the way forward.

The review that’s currently under review, yes, needs flexibility; this is just not the right approach by our MP. I appreciate that our MP means well, but on this effort he is completely off base and we should let the federal government know that he has not consulted us nor does he have the blessing of all Members of this Legislature.

I would like to concur with committee member of that Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, Greg Rickford’s, MP for Kenora, take that with the review of borrowing limits underway for the three territories, Bill C-530 is a redundant exercise.

I was glad to hear the Premier set the record straight and later on today I’d like to follow up with some questions to the Premier.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Spring is just around the corner, though you’d never know it by looking outside. I’m sure if the groundhog came out today he’d probably freeze. With spring -- and my colleague for Nunakput mentioned it before -- the carnival seasons are starting up and it’s always an excellent time of year for folks in the Beaufort-Delta to gather and check out their new racing machines and check out their new dog teams and go up against each other. It’s always an excellent time for folks to get together. They have their old-time dances. It’s just a great time to celebrate.

Inuvik has their Muskrat Jamboree they’ll be starting in a couple of weeks. Beluga Jamboree is

always a big success up in Tuk, and they have the Peel River Jamboree in Fort McPherson, and Tsiigehtchic has their spring carnival. They try staggering them every weekend so you can pretty well make the loop and be going for five weekends in a row and after that you’re played out and you gotta rest up until next year.

A lot of work goes into these carnivals. There are a lot of folks who started fundraising this year and a lot of good corporate support. We’re really pleased to see that. Aklavik has their Mad Trapper Rendezvous. They always have it Easter weekend. It’s a bit of a tradition. We look forward to the carnival season. We always look forward to the carnival season.

With spring also comes an age-old tradition up in the Beaufort-Delta, the muskrat trapping season. Folks have been doing this for years and it’s always a good opportunity for them to go out and take part in something that they’ve done for many years. I hear the prices this year are fairly good, so people will be getting out there and setting their traps.

I just want to ask all those that go out there to be safe. Those that take part in the carnivals, be sober, be safe, enjoy your time and don’t waste it going out and getting smashed or anything like that.

With that, I’m going to ask all those folks out there to enjoy all the festivities and if you’re out enjoying being on the land, I just ask that you respect the gift that was given to us.

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 Premier, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is a pleasure to recognize in our gallery, as Mrs. Groenewegen has stated, the 2011 National Debating Seminar. We’ve got a group of them, not the full group but we’ve got a group of them that have travelled here to Yellowknife and taken a little bit of our consensus style government at this point. I wish them much success in their debates and enjoy the Northwest Territories as the true beauty and emerald in Canada.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize a constituent, Sophie Call, who is accompanying our group of young debaters today.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to take this opportunity to recognize a Page from Range Lake. Her name is Kathleen Gordon and she’s been here for a number of days and I’d like to thank her for her wonderful work.

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

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

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize two Pages from Yellowknife South: Monique Chapman and Stephanie Thibault, and also all the Pages who have worked here through this session. Also a constituent of Yellowknife South, Mr. Barry Taylor.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It gives me great pleasure today to recognize two Pages who have been working on and off with us for the last six weeks. They are members of the Frame Lake riding: Martha Hamre and Kevin Huynh, and I’d like to thank them for their service and again thank all the Pages for the work they’ve done. They’ve all done a great job.

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. If we’ve missed anyone in the gallery today, welcome to the Chamber. I hope you’re enjoying the proceedings. It’s always nice to have an audience in here.

Item 7, acknowledgements. Item 8, oral questions. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is directed to the Premier. It’s in regard to my Member’s statement and one of the options we can look at to get feedback from the public through a plebiscite in regard to the devolution agreement that was signed by the Government of the Northwest Territories and federal government, also to try to get input from the general public. I know we’re putting a lot of advertisements out there, there are radio announcements and whatnot, but again it’s how do you measure the public insight into this issue. I’d like to ask the Premier if he has considered the possibility of having a plebiscite on this issue at this fall’s general election.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Premier, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We haven’t considered a plebiscite as part of the general election. I’m not too familiar with the territorial plebiscite process. I know we do have them for different parts of our legislation. For example, under the Liquor Act in our communities, that type of thing. I’m not sure on the territorial side, but we haven’t given it consideration as our signing of the agreement-in-principle begins the negotiation process towards a final agreement.

Again, we do have a Plebiscite Act in the Northwest Territories and it is being administered by the Chief Electoral Officer who is in charge of the election which will take place this fall. By having these two events taking place simultaneously, I think it’s important that we do get feedback from the general public on this important policy and political issue in the Northwest Territories. I think it’s important that we do allow the public to give us a sense of exactly where they stand on this issue. I know as politicians sometimes the only time we seem to get direction is during an election. I think this also gives the public an opportunity to have a say on this important issue. Again I’d just like to ask the Premier and his Cabinet colleagues if they will consider that as one of the options to get feedback in regard to the announcements and the important issue of devolution in the Northwest Territories.

It’s difficult to come up with a response or an answer that would be clear on this, because the fact is, as we’ve signed the devolution agreement to begin the process of negotiations towards a final agreement, I guess looking at the future as towards a final agreement is that something that can be considered at the time, I think the government-of-the-day would have to have a look at that. Our process in this fall election... What would a question be? The fact is we have signed an agreement and we’re beginning the process towards negotiation.

Mr. Speaker, just on the issue of what the question should be, I just sort of wordsmithed a little bit of that in regard to: Do you agree the Government of the Northwest Territories have signed the Northwest Territories lands and resources devolution agreement in January 2007? Do you agree or disagree? Yes or no?

Again, the process I can see is we usually in plebiscites are seeking direction going forward on something and we have signed the agreement-in-principle. We are beginning the work of preparing for negotiations, where the advertisements, as the Member has spoken to, are to get information on the AIP out to the public for direction going forward. I guess that is something to be considered by a future government

as a final agreement and should the GNWT sign depending who’s all at the table, in a sense. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Your final supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, a plebiscite is to get feedback from the general public in regard to how they perceive a particular issue such as devolution. I know we’re spending $16,000 on radio announcements, we’re spending a lot of money on full-page ads. We’re doing all the advertising out there so how do we get the feedback from the public in regard to how do they see a particular issues? Do they support it? Don’t they? I’d like to ask the Premier, in order to allow the public to give us that feedback, would you consider an option such as a plebiscite?

The processes we have available to us both as the Members of the Assembly and, of course, from the Executive side and looking at the devolution process, one, we count on feedback from Members of the Legislative Assembly, when they go back home to their constituencies, to provide feedback on that level. As well, from our departmental workings with Aboriginal governments and groups across the Northwest Territories, we seek their input from time to time on whether it’s a piece of legislation or a piece of policy work. The way we’re doing it now, providing information out there, again, from a plebiscite side of things, is it to ask about should we have signed it. The fact is we have signed it. I would say maybe more forward looking a government-of-the-day could ask the question of the people should we agree to a final agreement once we know what it might look like. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are to the Minister of Health and Social Services. The Minister has responded in writing to my previous oral questions on midwifery and the answers are not inspiring. The reply says, “analysis to develop an expanded NWT model of midwifery care will be undertaken in 2011-12.” Unfortunately, the exact same promise precisely mirrors a November 9, 2009, letter from the department’s deputy minister. That work was to be completed in three weeks, Mr. Speaker.

When is the Minister going to get serious on this? Is the work starting now? Next month? When is the work starting? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The honourable Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Member is quoting two different letters and without knowing the specific context of what we were speaking to in 2009 and 2011, I think it’s unfortunate that he’s making such a generalization.

I want to just state for the record that I, as the Minister, and the department have been very clear that we support expansion of the Midwifery Program in the Northwest Territories. The program has been under stress because we had to go through renewing the THAF funding, which is from the money that we fund the Midwifery Program now. The next phase that we are working on for 2011 and 2012, we are doing an in-depth analysis to see how much money will be required to expand the Midwifery Program and what the accepted standard is in the industry.

Mr. Speaker, the work that we did in 2009 is different than the work that we are doing in 2011 and 2012. I believe 2009 has to do with finding the money immediately to fund the positions in Fort Smith. Thank you.

The Minister says she is serious, but her written reply to my question goes on to say that the now 2011-12 analysis will be brought forward for the 2013-14 year business plans. Review promised this year, now in the coming year, not even in the business plans until the second year after that, Mr. Speaker.

The Minister has almost carried this baby to full term…

---Laughter

...the full term of this Assembly. Why does she think expanded midwifery should go into the incubator for yet another year before we even see it in the business plans?

Because, Mr. Speaker, we have to be serious about the complexities of the budgeting process, the business plan process and the work required to give birth to a full-fledged Midwifery Program. As that letter indicated, we are reviewing the Midwifery Program and analyzing the cost requirements for 2011 and 2012 with a view to putting it into the fiscal year 2013-14.

Mr. Speaker, our department is doing the work that’s required to see what kind of resource requirements that we need to undertake in order expand the Midwifery Program we have. Thank you.

That response is pitiful. We have people out there, having babies, that are demanding this service. To take four years to do this, Mr. Speaker, is, well, unacceptable. Mr. Speaker, we need to get on with this. The Minister

could take a page from her colleague, the Minister of ITI, who designed a film industry review with the full participation of industry in devising the terms of reference, participation from the ground up. Mr. Speaker, will the Minister commit to including the informed and committed midwifery advocates and an early start on terms of reference for this analysis? Thank you.

I hope the young debaters watching us in the House can carry their debates without using a word like “pitiful” and some silly words like that, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, we take this work of reviewing the Midwifery Program very, very seriously. We only fund two positions in Fort Smith, which is not an ideal situation. We also have a situation in Yellowknife where we have one midwife. Mr. Speaker, I can assure the House that we are doing an in-depth review of this and we believe that we need a comprehensive, wide-ranging program to make a real business case for real dollars. We believe that we need at least four midwives in a program, for example.

Mr. Speaker, we’re doing a full review and, yes, we will consult with groups outside of the department. I would also like to advise the Members that we have a lot of knowledge in-house, as well. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Your final supplementary, Mr. Bromley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m not talking about groups, I’m talking about people with real experience. I would just like to say a personal note, Mr. Speaker. I’ve recently become a proud great-uncle for the second time.

---Applause

My nephew and his wife report the following experience: With her first baby and under the care from a midwife, benefits were clear. With the second baby and no care from a midwife, they were in hospital on repeated occasions. My niece reports these hospital visits would not have happened had she been under the same midwifery care as with her first child.

Mr. Speaker, will the Minister commit to tapping the wisdom and experience of midwifery clients by including interviews with parents in the terms of reference? Thank you.

We have lots of anecdotal statements from those who use midwives to tell us how well that works, but we also believe that the Midwifery Program we have right now is too heavily medically-based, so we are going to be looking at the experience and examples of Nunavut, where they have come up with a model that is less medically based.

We also, as the Minister and the department, would like to see the Midwifery Program expand outside of

Yellowknife, because Yellowknife has a lot more service from physicians and health care providers, but we would like to explore a model in regional settings where we could do more traditional and less medically-based midwifery programs. I can assure the Member that we will consult with the clients who have used the system as well as the midwives, but we are going to look beyond that because we want to come up with an original NWT-based and community-based Midwifery Program. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. By supporting curative shows here in the Northwest Territories, we are opening local artists to significant opportunities of a national level through Canada Council sponsored shows, training opportunities and international events. Mr. Speaker, these, by default, increase the national and international awareness of the NWT, which is great for tourism. Support for artists is a win-win scenario. As such, I would like to thank the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment for committing to begin the work on facilitating curative shows of northern arts and crafts here in the Northwest Territories.

My questions are to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment and are specific to timing. During the review of the budget, I didn’t identify or I was not able to identify any specific funds put towards this initiative. I am wondering if the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment could tell me what we can expect to see with respect to support for curative shows in the Northwest Territories in 2011-12 and ongoing. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Our curator initiatives involved various partners, as well working closely with the northern artists, as the Member indicated. We need to work with the museum as well, Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Museum, the NWT Arts Council and also Canada Council of Arts. In the meantime, what we are doing now is we are working closely with ITI and my department of ECE. We are committed to working together to implement the NWT Arts Strategy action related to enhancing the profile of the northern arts regionally, nationally and also internationally. In addition, Mr. Speaker, in coordination with NWT Arts Council, my department will examine current funding criteria which supports

travelling, visual arts exhibits, displays and also curative shows in northern and southern venues. Mr. Speaker, we are working closely with ITI also in collaboration of new initiatives that are underway as well. We will be sharing that information once we make progress on these venues. Mahsi.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment for that response as well as the Minister for ITI for agreeing to work with the Minister on this initiative. I am curious. There is a lot of good work being done, but can we actually expect to see at least one officially curative show just as a trial during the 2011-12 fiscal year? Do we expect those to be in subsequent fiscal years? I would like to see one, at least a small one, to show that we can do it sometime during the 2011-12 fiscal year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, those are the discussions that we need to have with the NWT Arts Council and other partners as well. If we need to do a pilot project, those are discussions we need to have as we move forward. Mahsi.

Mr. Speaker, thank you for that and thanks to the Minister for his response once again. I have a quick thought. The Minister was talking about working with the NWT Arts Council. The NWT Arts Council has spent significant amounts of money over the last 10, 20 years, whatever the case may be, to support our northern artists to have the new initiatives. I would like the Minister to talk with the NWT Arts Council to see if there is an opportunity to do a curative show on the history of the NWT Arts Council and all the projects they supported. Will the Minister consider that as an option for a pilot on one of our first curative shows? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, in coordination with the NWT Arts Council, those are discussions that we are currently having and how we are going to roll out the program, if we are going to enhance our program with the existing funding that we have, so those are the discussions that are ongoing. Once I get that information, more information on the new initiatives and also the research that we have done on the curator shows in northern and southern venues, we will be sharing those with the Members as well. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Final supplementary, Mr. Abernethy.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I really look forward to seeing the documents and the research that they pull together. As they move forward, I agree wholeheartedly that involving the NWT Arts Council is incredibly important, but I know there are other arts organizations and other arts associations out there. I would like to encourage the Minister to engage these organizations like the Aurora Arts Society as well as

representatives from the Great Northern Arts Festival up in the Beaufort-Delta. I think there are a lot of individuals who could add some real insight to this. In moving forward, I would like the Minister to commit to working with some of these other organizations in addition to the great organization that is the NWT Arts Council. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I did commit to working with various northern artists and also the potential partners that would be out there such as the Member indicated. There are a couple more that could be added to the list. Mr. Speaker, we will be working closely with the museum, NWT Arts Council, Canada Council of Arts, Aurora Arts Society and also working very closely with the northern artists as well. Mahsi.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to continue my debate with the honourable Minister of Transportation on Highway No. 7. That highway is a gateway to our North, Mr. Speaker, but I would like to speak about the barriers and bumps that it has. I spoke time and time again about getting it into the capital planning process. In fact, just recently, Mr. Speaker, residents of Fort Liard did hand in the petition that I will action later on in this session. It is a very important document. They are going to get lots of support from all the communities in my riding. What stage are we at in the capital planning process for more resources and more maintenance money for Highway No. 7? Thank you very much.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The honourable Minister of Transportation, Mr. Michael McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We just recently approved our capital planning budget and there has been money allocated for Highway No. 7 as there has been money allocated for the last three years. Mr. Speaker, there are also some carryovers from previous years as we had to do further assessment. That has been done and we have committed to doing the work that has been identified through our planning system. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, in the past the work has begun late in the season and with the early fall they were unable to complete it. I would like to get the commitment from the Minister that the work on Highway No. 7 will begin as soon as possible when they can begin construction and use that operating and maintenance money and use

some of the new capital dollars to fix our Highway No. 7. Thank you very much.

Mr. Speaker, we don’t expect the money for Highway No. 7 to go anywhere except on Highway No. 7. I have to agree with the Member that there is a lot of investment that is going to be required over the next while to continue reconstruction of the road. The whole road needs to be reconstructed. It also needs to have a hardtop surface of some sort to protect it. That is going to require further investment.

I know the Member is trying to get some response from me as to what is in the upcoming budget. Mr. Speaker, that is in the process of being drafted.

There are huge needs right across the Territories in terms of infrastructure and highway rehabilitation. At this point we are just gathering information and it would be dependent on the different filters that we have to go through as to what remains on the drawing board and how much money will be available for investment across all our departments. Those things would have to be taken into consideration. Mr. Speaker, I can reassure that the Member’s concerns are heard and we recognize that there are needs for Highway No. 7. We will move forward accordingly. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, the Minister points it out correctly that, yes, I am looking for a commitment for the future year coming up, because we finished this year’s budget but I am looking forward to the next one. It is not good enough to say that because we are coming to election we can’t really plan for the future. I think we can. The people want us to. I would like to ask the Minister if he can commit to that. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, that is what I plan to do. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Also, I would like to get something in writing from the Minister about the work planned on Highway No. 7 and when it will begin this spring. Thank you very much.

Mr. Speaker, I can commit to give it to him again. Mr. Speaker, this is information he has already received. We already approved our capital plan in October. As to what’s coming up in the next plan, that’s still being drafted and I’m not in a position to commit to something that I can’t guarantee.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Premier. I’ve had a chance to read through the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, the parliamentary committee that our MP, Mr. Bevington, appeared before on Tuesday of this week. It seems that the Member of Parliament is trying to convince people that he’s actually consulted with this government when it comes to his proposed Bill C-530. Again, he’s convinced himself that he’s consulted, but I’d like to ask the Premier what consultation has actually taken place between our Member of Parliament that would lend this government’s support to that bill.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The honourable Premier, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The process underway, as highlighted a couple of times by the Minister of Finance for the Government of the Northwest Territories, Mr. Miltenberger, is we’ve been working with Finance Canada for some time and, as I’ve stated in a response to the letter I sent to Mr. Bevington, the fact that that is the process, we’re still engaged in working with federal Finance. I must say that I did have a meeting with Mr. Bevington on a number of issues. He did highlight this work and I raised the fact that we are doing our work and that’s the process we will be sticking with on that.

I must say, over the years there hasn’t been a lot of formal meetings on particular issues. It’s more in general an update of the work that’s going on.

I’d like to ask the Premier if he’s sure that our Member of Parliament was awake when the Premier told him whether there was a process underway addressing the borrowing limit of the Government of the Northwest Territories. Was he actually awake?

It’s hard to respond to that particular lead in to the question. As I said, we’ve had a couple of meetings over the life of this Assembly and Mr. Bevington’s representation in Ottawa on behalf of the people of the Northwest Territories. They’ve been sort of general in areas.

In particular in this area, when this one came up to inform him that we were doing our work and that’s the process, and concern that the work that he does may interfere with some of our work and hopefully that wasn’t the case. As well, I might say that I know as a Government of the Northwest Territories when the review of the borrowing situation was looked at, the Government of the Northwest Territories looks at its Fiscal Responsibility Policy and uses that as a basis for going forward.

I thank the Premier for that. I wanted to ask the Premier, there may be a federal election on the horizon here shortly. I’d like to ask the Premier if the work of this review on the borrowing limits to the three territories, is that work going to be concluded relatively soon or when might we expect some movement in that regard on that process?

Our Finance department, Minister Miltenberger has been in contact with Minister Flaherty around this work. We were informed that we should see a report as early as this spring, hopefully April, to move forward on this initiative.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today in my Member’s statement I talked about some concerns and observations about the development of the Wildlife Act and I specifically noted Section 87. Just to boil straight down to it, close observation does create some contradictions as to what’s happening out there and, as I highlighted as well in my Member’s statement, ENR has said that they would try to make some accommodations but I think it really develops an industry of red tape.

For clarity, to start off with, could the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources define for the House and perhaps those people in the tourism industry what his definition is of “close observation”?

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Minister responsible for Environment and Natural Resources, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can only assume that the Member in his reading of the 70-page bill would note as well that there’s a tremendous amount of good work in there. That’s going to be coming up for second reading. I know there’s been some e-mail traffic that I’ve seen, that I’m sure the Member has seen as well, with the specific issues that he’s raised. We believe that they’ve been addressed and if they haven’t been addressed, there’s going to be a time, should this bill be successful at second reading, to have those discussions so that when we come back after second reading and the consultation period, that whatever changes are agreed to are made that when we go for third reading we’ll have a bill that everyone can support.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. I’ll remind Members that the question, the bill is up for second reading and there’s time to debate it at

second reading. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m not trying to debate the bill in this particular instance because it is question period, but I’m just trying to get some sense of what’s actually happening and some definition of the particular bill that’s before the House as people have questions. I certainly have questions. That’s why I’m trying to get for the record what is the definition of the present bill of “close observation.” Because I’m trying to get a sense as to the contradiction it may have with the work ITI is doing when they’re trying to promote things like the outfitting industry to move towards the eco-industry.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. I’m going to rule that question out of order. The proper time to ask that question is under the review of the bill.

---Ruled Out of Order

The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Jacobson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment. Can the Minister confirm that the Mackenzie Valley Pipeline has received final approval today? Can the Minister elaborate on that?

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think this is another great day for the Northwest Territories. I can confirm that Cabinet approved the Mackenzie Valley Pipeline and the National Energy Board issued a press release announcing that they have issued a Certificate of Public Convenience for the Mackenzie Gas Pipeline Project.

It’s a good day today for Nunakput. This is a good news story. Will the pipeline go ahead now and when can we look forward to the go-ahead start-up date?

This is another important step in the process to getting the pipeline constructed. The next big step is to get the two parties, the federal government and the pipeline proponents, together to negotiate and finalize a fiscal framework.

I want to emphasize that the proponents are not looking for subsidies. What they are looking for is loan guarantees so that the constructors of the pipeline will get some assistance with financing and that the pipeline will go ahead. We also have to finalize an access and benefit agreement with one

of the Aboriginal governments. That will put us well on our way to having gas flowing in 2018.

When will the social impact funds of the $500 million be available to go ahead?

The arrangements that we understood were in place with the federal government was that the money would flow once a decision to construct the pipeline was made. So we have to go and confirm with the federal government that, indeed, this decision should allow those social impact funds to start flowing.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Final supplementary, Mr. Jacobson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s time to tell the federal government “show me the money.” What are we doing to get ready? What is the Minister’s department doing to get ready for this future project?

We’ve been working very closely with the federal government to get ready for the pipeline. We are working to identify the permits that will be issued and how we can make sure that we process the 7,000 permits that are required for the pipeline to go ahead on a timely basis and that we can work together so that all the requirements are met so that the pipeline can go ahead.

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