Good afternoon, colleagues. Welcome back to the Chamber. Orders of the day. Item 2, Ministers’ statements. The honourable Premier, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In July 2009 the Northern Leaders’ Forum was created as a means for all leaders in our territory to work collectively to advance the interests of our territory and its residents. As a foundation, we set out the task of developing a common vision and roadmap for the future of the NWT.

In varying ways, members of the Northern Leaders’ Forum engaged their respective constituents asking them to describe the future that they envisioned for themselves and their territory; to identify areas of common importance and concern and to articulate the direction and growth that they wanted to see for their territory over the next 20 to 30 years.

As Premier, I also reached out to the NWT residents and organizational representatives to hear their priorities, hopes and dreams for the future. I called my part of the initiative Creating our Future Together. I made a special effort to reach the young people, the future leaders of our territory. I look forward to working with my Northern Leaders’ Forum colleagues and hosting a youth forum in July 2011 to wrap up their engagement in this initiative.

In addition, I invited high school students to put their vision of the future in an essay and enter it into a contest for the opportunity to be chosen Premier for the day. In our Assembly today, Mr. Speaker, is the winner of that contest and I would like to congratulate Ms. Erin Nadli...

---Applause

...and all of our territory’s youth for the inspirational thoughts, comments and ideas that they brought forward.

All of the submissions I received from individuals and organizations, roundtable participants and youth were summarized in the Creating our Future Together report, which I tabled during the February session.

Mr. Speaker, last month in Inuvik the Northern Leaders’ Forum met once again to share our findings and discuss common themes from our engagements that could form the basis of a vision for our territory and the beginnings of a roadmap to our future.

Later today I will table the document “Forging the Future – Anchored in our Past, Building on our Present.” It reflects a vision for our future, developed with the input of residents -- young and old -- industry, businesses, non-government and not-for-profit organizations.

Mr. Speaker, this document makes it clear that NWT residents across the Northwest Territories share and experience many areas of common interest and desire. Of course, identifying shared goals was the easy part. Much work remains to be done to ensure this vision becomes reality.

The challenge is translating the ideals of this document into actions. That task rests with each and every one of us: leaders, government workers, business people, community volunteers, parents and youth. We must all be part of the solution. My hope is that this inspirational document will become part of our conversations over the next few months as we are asked to consider and elect candidates to leadership positions in our territory, including the territorial election this fall.

It has truly been an honour and a privilege to work with leaders in developing this vision and to have had the opportunity to sit down with people from all walks of the NWT to share their views on a common future for us all. I would encourage future leaders to listen to what NWT residents have said, and move our territory forward with courage and conviction.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. The honourable Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. One of the goals of this Assembly is healthy, educated people. Preventing rather than treating illness and disease is the real key to achieving that goal. Encouraging our residents to make healthy choices is one of the most important things the Government of the Northwest Territories can do to help.

Through the Healthy Choices Framework, several GNWT departments have been successfully working together to make it easier for our residents to make better choices in their daily lives. Healthy Choices is our approach to encouraging and supporting NWT residents to make healthy and safe choices, and has been supported as part of our Building Our Future Strategic Initiative.

Since the framework was originally developed in 2005, it has expanded from themes such as supporting healthy eating, physical activity, living tobacco free, and not abusing alcohol and drugs, to include important work around injury prevention, healthy sexuality, mental wellness, and healthy children and families.

Across these themes the departmental involvement ranges depending on the message. Education, Culture and Employment is involved as a key channel in helping young people and families understand the importance of good choices. Every day staff in our Justice department see the important link between social issues and crime prevention. Transportation has an interest in injury prevention around transportation-related safety.

Municipal and Community Affairs and Health and Social Services have shared the lead in this cross-departmental work. Municipal and Community Affairs has a great stake in this work because of their role in working with communities to promote recreation, active living and quality of life. Health and Social Services has an overall mandate to promote, protect and provide for the health and well-being of NWT residents. If we can move to a future where NWT residents make healthy choices, a great deal of stress on our health and social services systems could be avoided.

To date, the Healthy Choices Framework has been able to engage in a range of positive activities available to all regions and communities in the Northwest Territories. Many were on display today in the Great Hall. Programs such as Get Active, Drop the Pop, and Butthead bring together schools, communities and health professionals to ensure messages are clear, consistent, and well promoted.

However, there is still a great deal of work to be done. We need to expand our partnership and continue to improve our collaboration at the community level. Promotion of healthy choices is a

role that all of us share, from parents and friends, to communities, to the leaders in this room. Beyond educating people, we need to advocate and support our communities to ensure that healthy choices are available.

We also need to continue to promote our specific themes. Changing behaviours is one of the most difficult things to do, but it is vital to the future of the North.

We have to start treating ourselves better, from engaging in healthier relationships to using recreation and traditional activities as an outlet to help feel better about ourselves. We need to teach our children to respect themselves, and go back to having a culture that thinks about prevention and safety.

The Healthy Choices Framework is evaluating the shared work to date, and preparing to renew a framework in the coming fall will guide our activities during the 17

th

Assembly.

As I introduced earlier today in the Great Hall, our new brand will help the Government of the Northwest Territories to promote healthy choices consistently. I would like to thank the GNWT staff and partners present today who are committed to this important work.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The honourable Minister responsible for the Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission, Mr. Robert McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In June 2010 the Safety Advisory Committee completed the second review of the draft Occupational Health and Safety Regulations and recommended to me that they conduct public consultations to receive stakeholder comments and input on the proposed changes.

The consultation period was September 1, 2010, to March 31, 2011. In total, the committee received comments from 59 stakeholders. The comments came from a wide range of stakeholders, including large and small employers, organized labour, private and public sector employers, and individuals.

Since the close of the consultation period, WSCC staff have met and prepared research into the comments received for consideration by the committee. The committee has had several conference calls and have been corresponding by e-mail. The goal is to have all of the comments reviewed and researched prior to the committee meeting here in Yellowknife, May 17

th

to the 19

th

.

Once the committee reviews all the comments, they will either make changes or provide an explanation as to why no changes were made.

I, along with the Safety Advisory Committee, have promised to provide a written summary to all consultation participants, including input received and an explanation of the final decisions, particularly if they differ from the input provided by participants. This information will also be available on the WSCC website.

Once the review is completed, the committee will provide their recommendations to me on the next steps. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Minister responsible for Justice, Mr. Lafferty.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I would like to provide an update to the Legislative Assembly on Not Us!, the Government of the Northwest Territories anti-drug campaign.

Not Us! is a part of the Healthy Choices Framework, a Government of the Northwest Territories-wide approach that encourages and supports Northwest Territories residents to make healthy and safe choices. It is consistent with the 16

th

Assembly’s goal of fostering healthy, educated

people and part of the Government of the Northwest Territories Building Our Future Strategic Initiative. Healthy Choices activities concentrate on positive, upstream, preventative approaches.

The effects of addictions on individuals, families and communities are devastating. The Not Us! initiative provides funding to communities to enable them to design and implement customized, grassroots anti-drug campaigns that work for them.

We are now in the third year of this initiative and I am pleased to report that we have seen tremendous success. The communities of Hay River, Inuvik, Ndilo and Dettah created innovative and powerful local campaigns during this past year. Those projects provided inspiration for other communities who are now creating their own Not Us! campaigns, including Fort Liard, Behchoko, Fort McPherson, Tsiigehtchic and Yellowknife. Last month a Fort Smith interagency partnership of 11 organizations who envision a drug-free healthy town received Not Us! funds to begin a series of drug-free initiatives.

The Not Us! success stories were featured at a Healthy Choices wellness fair earlier today in the Great Hall of our Legislative Assembly.

Not Us! is about focusing on the positive in our communities and on where we want to be in the future. Through these initiatives, the 16

th

Legislative

Assembly is supporting communities to develop a campaign to prevent and combat the use and sale of illegal drugs in a way that works for them, paving the way for a brighter, more prosperous future ahead. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

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

Mr. Speaker, at the beginning of the 16

th

Legislative Assembly this

government made a $60 million commitment toward energy programs and initiatives. This commitment was in addition to existing programs and initiatives and intended to reduce the cost of living in the Northwest Territories and advance alternative energy initiatives.

Based on the priorities established by the 16

th

Legislative Assembly, our focus has been on reducing imported fossil fuels, mitigating the environmental impacts of our energy use, and reducing the cost of living in the Northwest Territories.

As the chair of the Ministerial Energy Coordinating Committee, I am pleased to provide an update on the results of this investment.

We have had some real successes. For example, the Northwest Territories leads Canada in the installation of commercial wood pellet boilers. We have invested in energy efficiency retrofits for our buildings, and provided support to the Arctic Energy Alliance to help communities and residents manage their own energy use. The electricity review rationalized our electricity rates, which substantially reduced the cost of living in many of our smaller communities.

Mr. Speaker, all of our communities have the potential to use local and, preferably, renewable sources of energy supply. Northern communities could be using wind energy; we have hydro potential all the way down the Mackenzie Valley; communities such as Fort Liard, Fort Simpson, Hay River and Fort Providence have tremendous geothermal potential; and many communities could be utilizing local biomass. For some communities the answer could be a combination of local energy sources, including solar, natural gas and hydrokinetic turbines. I believe that with collective efforts we will vastly reduce our reliance on imported diesel.

We believe that the Energy Report will provide communities with a useful overview of energy in the Northwest Territories and may serve as a guide for the 17

th

Legislative Assembly as they establish their

vision, goals and priorities for the future. Later

today I will table the Northwest Territories Energy Report. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the residents of the Mackenzie Delta, people of the Northwest Territories, for the privilege of serving them for 16 years as their MLA, as a Member of this Legislative Assembly, with the support of our elders, community leaders, our youth, and more importantly, the community membership, my constituency assistants, Sue Ellen Wilson, Liz Wright, Eugene Pascal, and my family and children. In 16 years, Mr. Speaker, a lot of work and effort and a lot of great people I had an opportunity to work with and serve in this Legislative Assembly from the 13

th

Assembly to today.

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the staff of the Legislative Assembly and all the departments in the Government of the Northwest Territories that I’ve had the privilege of working with over the years.

I would like to also announce today that I will not be running in the fall election, for health reasons and for the stress of working in a fish bowl for 16 years...

---Laughter

...and spending more time with my family and friends. Also the important elements of dealing with those issues that I feel quite strongly about, especially fighting for the little people out there, people are struggling, and more importantly, to work for the important issues for the people of the Northwest Territories, the Mackenzie Delta and to ensure that we are treating our people fairly throughout the Northwest Territories.

I want to give an opportunity to the Mackenzie Delta riding and individuals who may want to put their names forward, ample time so that they can do so.

With that, Mr. Speaker, I’d like to thank yourself, your staff and Members of the 16

th

Assembly for the

opportunity of serving with you. Mahsi cho.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories declared May 26

th

a National Day of Healing and

Reconciliation. It is still the only Legislature in Canada to recognize the day and acknowledge the abuse suffered by well over 10,000 Aboriginal children in residential schools in the North alone. Of the 150,000 students, there are 80,000 students living today.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission recently travelled to the Northwest Territories, giving voice to residential school survivors and other community members. Tulita hosted a very powerful meeting on May 10

th

, as did other communities in the North.

From June 28

th

to July 1

st

, the commission will hold

a national event in Inuvik.

We, as a nation, as a family and a community, are on a path towards healing and reconciliation. Many people still struggle from the effects of past federal government policies and turn to addiction, violence and suicide for the past wrongs they have suffered at the hands of their caretakers.

Mr. Speaker, the assault of the residential school, a policy of the Government of Canada to separate families and kill the Indian in the child, was an economic partnership between the churches and the federal government to implement the Gradual Civilization Act and to force the idea of British superiority on the Aboriginal people. If they did not live like them, there would be punishment; punishment for speaking your own language, practicing your way of honouring life and, God forbid, dance to your own music.

There is a term for this, it’s called cultural genocide.

How do we heal from the past done wrong to my people and to a nation that only knew how to live as they were first instructed by the Creator who made this land? You acknowledge it. You get past denial and say I’m sorry, and offer leave for forgiveness and peace and reconciliation.

Finally, on June 11, 2008, Canada did the impossible. It said, I’m sorry. Prime Minister Harper offered a formal apology on behalf of the federal government that imposed the policy of aggressive assimilation of the First Peoples of Canada.

I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

This apology gave me hope that maybe, just maybe, we can begin a new chapter in the history of our country.

From living in the bush we know life can be different, a far cry from now what we experience in our communities.

On May 26

th

I encourage people across Canada

and the Northwest Territories to pray and to think about the healing process and the work towards reconciliation that we all need to do.

It is an honour to stand here and say thank you for being the first and only government in our land to support survivors by giving them this date to help them. Imagine what it would be like if we all learned to accept apologies and helped each other to heal wounds and restore spirit and dignity in our people.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to talk about decentralization. This is something often talked about but seldom acted on. I don’t understand the reluctance to having a greater presence of the public service in the communities outside of the capital.

The majority of the MLAs in this Assembly are clearly from outside of Yellowknife. There is regional representation in Cabinet for a reason. Even some Yellowknife MLAs agree with the idea of relocating some departments or divisions outside of the capital, but they shall remain unnamed since there’s an election coming up.

We talk about a representative workforce. Why don’t we look at taking the jobs to where more of the people who are underrepresented in our workforce actually live and have lived for generations? We have modern communications. Most people send e-mails to the person sitting in the next office to them anyway, so what difference does it make if someone’s in the next cubicle or the next town?

Does the resistance come from within the bureaucracy because no one wants to give up their morning coffee at Tim Horton’s? Can you imagine how MLAs such as myself feel when our government builds yet another $40 million office building in Yellowknife to “relieve pent-up demand.” Pent-up demand? Other communities would be happy to have any demand, let alone pent-up demand.

Let’s talk about Hay River. There’s a lot of capacity to absorb a lot more people. We have all types of developed land, quality homes, commercial infrastructure, amenities for recreation, the arts, room for more students in all of our schools, and a way better golf course than Yellowknife.

We say we want sustainable, viable, prosperous communities, while Yellowknife continues to grow on itself and the regions and small communities are suffering and stagnating. When is there going to be

leadership in this House willing to sit down and look seriously at where we can reasonably, efficiently and effectively relocate departments, divisions, positions to bring them closer to the people they serve and bolster the economies of all our communities?

If devolution is coming, way before we get to that final agreement we need to talk about displacing the concentration of government in Yellowknife and put our actions where our priorities are. As you can see, I haven’t decided if I’m running again or not.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Members of this House may be aware of a recent national contest for project funding in which one of the winners was the NWT Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the NWT SPCA.

The SPCA received $300,000 from the Aviva Foundation and will use those funds to build an animal shelter in Yellowknife; a shelter which will provide services to all of the NWT.

The NWT SPCA is an organization run by volunteers. It works to provide homes for animals, to save and adopt out animals who are in distress, who have been left behind when their owners moved, or who are just no longer wanted.

Since November of last year, in just six months the NWT SPCA has sent over 90 dogs from the NWT and Nunavut to the South. This is a costly endeavour, anywhere from $40 to $400 to ship a dog to a new home or shelter in the South. The SPCA is only able to manage this expense through the terrific sponsorship provided by one of our northern airlines: First Air. With a shelter in Yellowknife, these shipping costs will be avoided or significantly reduced.

The NWT does not currently have any vet services outside of Yellowknife and it’s a need that must be recognized by this government. We do have some southern veterinarians who come north, but they work in only a few of our NWT communities. Regular preventative health checks, treatment for sick dogs, and spay and neuter services are badly needed in all of our communities, not just some.

During the public hearings for the recently enacted Dog Act, many presenters spoke of the need for vet services in the NWT, particularly spay and neuter programs. The NWT SPCA, if properly funded, can be the organization to deliver these programs for our government. I have little expectation that the 16

th

Assembly will provide any financial resources

to this problem, given the economic squeeze the

Finance Minister constantly reminds us of. The City of Yellowknife is doing its part by considering a reduction in the price of land for the new shelter and it may exempt the taxes on that property once the shelter is built. These contributions are from a municipal government supporting a territorial organization. What about our territorial government? Will it look favourably on a funding request from the NWT SPCA?

Given the demand that exists in all NWT communities, I hope that the next Assembly will consider veterinarian and shelter services a priority worthy of ongoing financial support.

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

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Today I will be making a Member’s statement in my Aboriginal language to advise the elders of what I will be doing between now and August.

[English translation not provided.]

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

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I will be speaking today on the Devolution Agreement-in-Principle. I’m still concerned in the way it was signed by the Premier and the Indian Affairs Minister at that time. However, I have been contemplating the fact that our Premier has indicated that there is no turning back and that the returned federal Conservative government will continue with devolution negotiations.

At this time I would urge our Premier to convene a meeting with the new federal Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development -- a name change that is stirring controversy. I hope that he can spend more than a few hours in the North. The federal Minister of Aboriginal Affairs must understand our unique Aboriginal issues and challenges in the North. It begins with dialogue and meeting with all our Aboriginal First Nations regional governments. I hope he can do that as soon as possible.

Should our government and the new federal government continue to move forward towards a final devolution deal in the future, despite full support of our Aboriginal governments, I feel it is in the best interests of my constituency at this time to advise our government that we must devolve some departments to the communities and regions so that all benefit.

What is the plan to transfer all the related jobs north? I believe that there must be an opportunity to devolve these positions and departments outside of Yellowknife. As my colleague Mrs. Groenewegen has indicated, every new job in a small community and region is beneficial.

Also, the increase in revenues from devolution must benefit our people directly, such as restructuring our rent scales for housing, increasing student financial support, and support for our seniors.

With that, I think that it’s a fine balance that Aboriginal MLAs have, but at the same time if devolution is going to be an eventuality, I feel that we must look at devolving these positions and departments to our regions and communities.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. During my term as MLA I have two Member’s statements and traditions. At the beginning of a session I honour our loved ones who have passed away. At the end of each session I honour the accomplishments of our loved ones, especially our youth.

The Northern Youth Abroad Canadian International Program is a non-profit organization dedicated to enabling youth from the Northwest Territories and Nunavut aged 15 to 22 in gaining professional skills and training and hands-on work experience. High school credits through a cross-cultural work and learning.

I’m very proud of the following Nunakput youth. Residents participating in this year’s program are: Mr. David Lucas, Georgina Wolki, Keenan Carpenter, Bryan Kimiksana, Cheyenne Wolki and Chukita Gruben.

This year in Paulatuk, Angik School has the largest graduating class that they’ve ever had. That is a milestone we should all be celebrating. I’m very pleased that this year’s graduates have worked very hard and will have the ability to enter into college in post-secondary programs without having the need to upgrade.

In the community of Ulukhaktok, Gayle Ogina attended the Youth Leadership Forum in Yellowknife. Laura Akoakhion attended a National JCR Shooting Competition in Toronto. A couple weeks ago I had Rhea Klengenberg who attended our Youth Parliament here in Yellowknife sitting in the House with you and working with staff. She did an awesome job and we look forward to a great leader in Rhea coming up.

Simon Kudlak and Brandon Okheena attended an ASA forum in Inuvik. Elliot Malgokak and Reanne Kanayok attended the WAMP program in Inuvik. Brandon Okheena, through YELS, the oil and gas program, will be travelling to Edmonton and Calgary under the sponsorship of ConocoPhillips, to investigate career choices in industry.

In the community of Tuktoyaktuk, Jordan Walker, a grade 11 student, applied for and was accepted for the Environmental Apprenticeship in the Arctic Program. This takes place the first two weeks in August. Also, Will McIntyre was selected to attend YELS, Youth Entry Levels Skills Session, in oil and gas in June.

I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

I’m very proud of these accomplishments by the residents of Nunakput.

Lastly, I wish to express my admiration and appreciation for all the hard work and dedication of our staff in the Legislative Assembly and the Government of the Northwest Territories, and also all the hard work of my colleagues.

Mr. Speaker, to all fishing and hunting in Husky Lakes, and all those hunting on the coast, and to all my cousins upriver, have a safe spring and good hunting. To all in Nunavut, have a safe hunting season and have a good spring. Quyanainni, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Every day this government loses revenue due to its failure to collect reasonable resource rents.

We have a bill before this Assembly for the creation of an NWT Heritage Fund to put aside funds from existing revenue for the future. The steps to devolution are started; actual implementation is years into the future.

The promise of additional resource revenues is a big part of that agreement’s allure to this government. But why wait to get a fair return from our natural capital? Various commentators have emphasized that the economic rent we are collecting now is much too low. The Pembina Institute report, When the Government is Landlord, makes a solid case for raising additional resource revenues, as do studies by Sustainable Prosperity. An Indian and Northern Affairs Canada study submitted to the Joint Review Panel and the department’s own website point out how low our rents are.

When it comes to non-renewable resources, we have only one chance to get the maximum gain for our irreplaceable loss. Yes, we do have to balance the need to make development attractive and economic, but low royalties aren’t the only reason industry invests in the NWT. Political security, a trained labour force, the public infrastructure, and services our taxpayers pay for, and above all, the world-class richness of our resources are huge incentives towards confident investment, as well.

The current rent and tax regime isn’t working. Our two largest diamond mines are halfway through their predicted lives. Year after year, capital cost write-offs destabilize and reduce corporate taxes while income slips away through low to no royalties. Given our push for devolution to increase resource revenues, given studies and the federal government saying our rents are unusually low, we owe it to the resource owners, our people, to make sure we are getting top dollar for value given. We don’t need an agreement-in-principle to start collecting full value, we have the authority now. The Mackenzie Gas Project, if it comes, will at least give us the opportunity for the real revenue returns future generations would wish we collected.

Work for devolution, yes, Mr. Speaker; plan for a Heritage Fund, of course; but those things are down the road while billions of dollars in irreplaceable resources are annually exported from the Northwest Territories untapped by this government. I will be pushing for a review of this next Assembly. Mahsi.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I’d like to share good news about an achievement of a northern Aboriginal youth who is the first person ever from the Northwest Territories to place in the North American Miss Indian World Pageant.

---Applause

Kiera-Dawn Kolson placed first runner-up in the pageant in Albuquerque, New Mexico, at the Gathering of Nations Pow-Wow, which this year hosted 18,000 to 20,000 First Nations from Canada and the United States. During the Gathering of Nations, the winners of the Miss Indian World were announced. Kiera also won the best speaker award and broke old ticket sales records of 4,000 tickets to 4,117 tickets, earning her a trip to the Bahamas.

During her public speaking and to the general Gathering of Nations audience, Kiera-Dawn, of Tetlit Gwich’in and Tso’Tine heritage, continued to

reinforce to youth that you can come from a small place but it doesn’t mean that you can’t dream big.

Kiera has made many accolades. She enjoys writing and singing her songs, enjoys reading, bowling and helping youth. She sang songs she wrote when attending the International Youth Parliament in Sydney, Australia, in 2004; at the Earth Ling Environment Conference in Vancouver, British Columbia; for the after-party at the Aboriginal Achievement Awards in 2006 at Vancouver, British Columbia; and at the 2006 after-party in Winnipeg, Manitoba, at the Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards.

Ms. Kolson was chosen to attend the Artist’s Mentoring Program for the Canada Summer Games in Regina, Saskatchewan, and was chosen to represent the Northwest Territories as a cultural ambassador at the March 2006 Arctic Winter Games in Kenai, Alaska, where she sang for the athletes, staff and guests.

In December 2006, she was chosen as one the 10 Canadians to attend the Yelefest in Haiti, sponsored by the Governor General of Canada. In September 2008, Kiera attended, by invitation, the 2

nd

International Hip Hop Gathering in Los Angeles,

California. She was invited to present her cultural youth workshop at Wimanji, Quebec, in 2008, and spoke about continuing education and inspiring youth to be all they can be in life.

Kiera sang at Parliament Hill in the fall of 2008, to commemorate the vision of the Sisters of Spear Campaign to bring attention to missing Aboriginal women in Canada, and in February 2009, walked in Vancouver, British Columbia, to acknowledge missing Aboriginal women in Canada.

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

---Unanimous consent granted

Kiera carried the Eagle Staff into Parliament at the reconciliation of residential school survivors. These are just some of Kiera’s achievements.

She is an inspiration to youth. Mr. Speaker, I ask this Assembly to join me in congratulating and celebrating Kiera-Dawn Kolson’s achievements, her winning the Miss Indian World First Runner-Up Award, 2011, and to wish her all the best in her future endeavours and goals. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is an exciting time to be a Northerner. From mineral

wealth to ecotourism, the NWT is known as a vast source of untapped potential.

Today I want to speak to another source of untapped potential where better focus needs to be directed. That, Mr. Speaker, is our northern hydro power potential.

Now that the Taltson expansion has been put on hold and now that the Bluefish dam replacement will cost almost $40 million, a lot has changed in the landscape as to where the NWT Hydro Strategy is going, or certainly could be going, Mr. Speaker.

With eight major rivers in the NWT with a combined hydroelectric power of over 11,000 megawatts, there is enough hydro power in that potential to provide 19 million residents with clean, affordable electricity. Mr. Speaker, that could support a city the size of New York City. However, with only a total of 55 megawatts on three rivers that have been developed at this point, clearly we have more than enough power for us and a great potential for opportunity to build towards the future.

I believe we need to focus in on a few simple strategic goals. We are clearly missing the opportunity to sell power to our neighbours to the south. Our government needs to direct the Power Corp to build partnerships with industry to work towards creating a territorial grid, because once a hydro plan is established, it can provide clean power for many years at a low cost to ratepayers, governments, and certainly make sure that the environment is available and cleanly used as opposed to going with diesel.

It is a clean source of sustainable energy, Mr. Speaker; one that could help as well lower the cost of living that is such a difficult challenge here in the North. If there’s one region in Canada that recognizes that problem, it’s certainly here.

Now, Mr. Speaker, industry has recognized that hydro potential, over seven years ago, could do great things, and we see it here with the investments that we have before us. I know this government doesn’t necessarily have all the money available to develop the hydro potential, and that’s why I suggest we seek partners in industry to work together to develop this need.

Mr. Speaker, I support the long-term development using partners, but as long as Northerners remain in control of our resource. Mr. Speaker, government has made significant investment into these energy priorities and I applaud the work that they’ve done. Mr. Speaker, it is time to make significant policy commitments towards those goals.

Later today I will have questions for the Premier to see how our Hydro Strategy is being developed for the future. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On October 3

rd

residents of the Northwest Territories

will be going back to the polls to elect the 17

th

Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories. As an Assembly we only have seven sitting days remaining for us, which will come in mid-August just prior to dissolution of the 16

th

Legislative Assembly,

scheduled for September 5

th

. I’d like to formally

announce today my intention to seek re-election in the riding of Kam Lake, of which I’ve had the opportunity, honour and privilege to represent since 2003 when I was first elected MLA for Kam Lake.

I enjoy working for my constituents, speaking out in this House about issues that are important to them, and trying my best to get things accomplished. In my time here, constituents have seen me consistently speak to much needed capital projects in the city of Yellowknife and in my riding, such as the city of Yellowknife bypass road, which connects Kam Lake Industrial Park to Highway No. 3, and the retrofit of Ecole St. Joseph’s School, which was made much more urgent when the school was badly damaged by fire.

Mr. Speaker, there will be much to focus on for this next government coming in this fall. Critical files will need to be moved forward: negotiating a final agreement on devolution, the Mackenzie Gas Project, the Tuk-Inuvik road, the Mackenzie Valley Highway, the northern extension of a seasonal overland route to Gordon Lake, the expansion of the Taltson hydro facility, and ensuring that major capital projects around the Northwest Territories are concluded to the best of our ability.

Mr. Speaker, elections give us all an opportunity and a chance to get out and meet with our constituents to discuss the issues that face us. It’s a great opportunity to set the marching orders for the next government. Mr. Speaker, I’m very excited about all the possibilities and opportunities that await this territory. Thank you.

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

Mr. McLeod. Your time for your Member’s statements is expired.

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

---Unanimous consent granted

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Karl is survived by his wife, Anne, who continues to live in Enterprise. He was cremated and will be buried in Winnipeg, Manitoba, near some of his relatives. A memorial service will be held on May 28

th

at 2:00 p.m. in the community hall

of Enterprise and we welcome any visitors. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As we close out another sitting of the Legislative Assembly, I think that we’ve all come to realize that the work we do here is quite important. We all have some challenges in that, but usually at the end of the day I like to think we come to a common conclusion and that we’re here to do the best for the people of the Northwest Territories.

We heard yesterday Mr. Roland saying that he was not intending to run again and I just wanted to use this opportunity to thank him for his mentorship. I remember when I first came in, in 2004, Floyd was the Finance Minister. At our first meeting, Floyd said one of the first things you have to realize is Finance Minister and Cabinet are always right. He said, “Every time I put up my hand, you put up your hand.”

---Laughter

So it took me seven years, but I’ve finally figured that out, and that’s pretty much how it works.

Mr. Krutko, you know, he’s put in 16 years, Floyd’s put in 16 years, and David and I, we’ve never always agreed on everything. Actually, I don’t think we ever agreed on anything.

---Laughter

But that was part of the enjoyment. I mean, David and I have butted heads on a number of occasions and part of it I think we were just trying to see who could get madder, him or me. I want to tell you, David, you won that hands down.

---Laughter

But I’ve enjoyed my time working with him.

There are a couple of things I want to point out, Mr. Speaker. In Inuvik this summer we’re having the Truth and Reconciliation national event and we’re expecting over 1,000 people to come to Inuvik. It’s going to be a huge, huge event. I remember saying in the past that as a town boy we didn’t realize the challenges that those staying in the hostel were having to go through. We’re looking forward to this as an opportunity to show some genuine Inuvik hospitality, and we look forward to having all the visitors come to Inuvik.

Mr. Speaker, as I close out my Member’s statement, we’ve had a few people say that they’re not running again; we’ve had a few say that they are running; and I think in the seven years I’ve been here I’ve gained some valuable experience, which I think would allow me to contribute to Inuvik Twin

Lakes. So it would be my intention to seek re-election and I just wanted to have that come out today. So, thank you very much, I hope you all have a great summer, and everybody out there, please be safe. Thank you.

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

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

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. 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 Great Slave, Mr. Abernethy.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to take this opportunity to recognize Ms. Bren Kolson in the gallery. Bren is the mother of Kiera-Dawn Kolson that I talked about earlier today.

I’d also like to take the opportunity to thank all the Pages who have joined us over the last two weeks and have done all the hard work for us. In particular, two of the Pages from the Great Slave riding: Ms. Shanaya Haogak and Ms. Shania Richler-Beaulieu. Thank you all for everything you’ve done for us today. We’ve really, really appreciated it.

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. The honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is an honour to introduce in our gallery Premier for the day, Ms. Erin Nadli, who has come to watch our session and been involved in a number of things today, accompanied by her mother, Paschalina Nadli, and her aunt Edith Squirrel, and also accompanied by our intern at our press office, Victoria.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize Darrell Beaulieu, a resident of the Weledeh riding, and any other residents of Weledeh that might be in the gallery that I haven’t seen yet.

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

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to just highlight those Pages that are in here doing a fabulous job. More specifically,

those two students from Jean Wetrade Gameti School: Ms. Brenda Wedawin and Falicia McGee. I’d like to thank them for their hard work here.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Like my colleague from Great Slave, I’d like to recognize the work of all of the Pages that served the House during this sitting. Specifically, I’ve got a constituent, Miss Caleigh Matheson, who I would like to point out the work that Caleigh’s done. Appreciate that.

I’d also like to recognize the members of the Jacobson family who are in the gallery and my favourite little girl from Tuktoyaktuk, Mikayla Jacobson.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m pleased to recognize two representatives from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business: Corinne Pohlmann, the vice-president of national affairs from Ottawa, and Mr. Richard Truscott, the director of provincial affairs from Edmonton. I should point out that the Canadian Federation of Independent Business is celebrating their 40

th

anniversary this year. Welcome to the Assembly.

I’d also like to recognize Darrell Beaulieu, the chairman of our Business Development Investment Corporation.

Like all the other Members here, I want to recognize all the Pages; specifically the Page from Yellowknife South, Justin Krause.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s my great pleasure today to recognize a resident of Range Lake, but he happens to go to school in the Frame Lake riding. Mr. Tim Riviere is up in the gallery here and I wanted to note Tim is a grade 7 student at William Mac. He is shaving his head for cancer for the fourth year in a row and it’s his second year as a Relay for Life team member. He is the team captain for the Relay Rink Rats. He’s been the top youth fundraiser for three years in a row and has raised over $9,600 in those three years. This year Tim wants to raise $5,400 to bring his four-year total to $15,000. I want to say that if anybody can’t get a hold of Tim and wants to give me the money, I’m happy to pass it on. I challenge all Members to assist him in his goal.

Tim is accompanied today by Ms. Bianca Jorgenson from the Canadian Cancer Society. She’s the revenue development coordinator within Yellowknife and she’s the backbone of the Relay for Life event.

Last but not least, Heather Riviere is accompanying Tim and Bianca, and Heather is our very own legislative officer here.

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

I am also pleased to welcome Erin Nadli from my riding and my hometown of Fort Providence, who is now here with us as Premier for the day. Erin, along with many students throughout the North, entered an essay contest explaining why she wanted to be Premier for the day. She was quite surprised to find out she won. Her essay was about the importance of protecting the Dene land, about animals and climate change. The honourable Erin Nadli is a grade 10 student from Deh Gah School in Fort Providence. Erin plans to continue her education in the North and plans to further education and continue on to environmental law or social sciences. When we asked her about how she found her first few hours here in the Legislative Assembly, she said it was good and she was happy to find out that Premier Floyd Roland isn’t all that scary. I think she was a little bit apprehensive when she first got here. I want to say congratulations to Erin and welcome her to the Assembly.

I also wanted to recognize Paschalina Nadli, her mother, and Edith, who are here as chaperones with Erin. Thank you and have a safe trip home.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, want to recognize all the Pages; specifically the two Pages from the Sahtu and the community of Deline: Raymond Bernarde and Jordon Kenny.

I also want to recognize the support in the House for Members, especially for Mr. Jacobson and his family. It’s nice to see them here and to know that the real boss is in the House.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to as well recognize Victoria Velez. She’s the intern here with communications. She’s a constituent of Yellowknife Centre.

I, too, would like to recognize the Jacobson family. The longer I work with Jackie Jacobson, the more I feel for them. Very good to see them all here.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just want to say likewise to Mr. Hawkins in regards to look who it’s coming from.

Anyway, I’m honoured today to have my wife in the House. It’s spring break in Tuk and she’s working at the school now and not down here as much as I’d like her to be with me. My son Matthew and my daughter Mikayla, it’s good to have you here. I look forward to the day ending today.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to acknowledge the former MP of Western Arctic Mrs. Ethel Blondin-Andrew. She was recently recognized as a contributor to the building of our education system in the North. Mrs. Blondin-Andrew was given the honour of her name to stand beside others who were also named to the Hall of Fame in Education.

Mrs. Blondin-Andrew was the first Aboriginal MP to sit in the House of Parliament in Ottawa. Today Mrs. Blondin-Andrew continues to support our education system by representing the Sahtu on the Aurora College Board of Governors and representing the seven land claim organizations through the Sahtu Secretariat Incorporated.

I salute Mrs. Blondin-Andrew for her continuing efforts.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Item 8, oral questions. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This morning I received an excellent briefing from officials of Municipal and Community Affairs updating the work being done on the Recreational Leasing Policy Framework in the Yellowknife block land transfer area. Control of squatting and protection of the watershed of the Yellowknife drinking water supply are major issues for my constituents. Here again the biggest obstacle, though, is how to get comprehensive action in the negligent federal government on this issue.

The GNWT can hardly control squatting or protect our waters when the federal government does

nothing on immediately adjacent lands within the watershed. For example, 26 squatters are on the east side of Prosperous alone.

I’ve asked before and I’ll ask again, is this government demanding action from our federal overlords. Will he write the new AAND Minister and demand action?

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The honourable Minister responsible for Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Robert McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My understanding is that briefing went very well. We do have some concerns that have been raised before with the squatters on the INAC side of it. Or I’m not sure what it’s called now, AAND? On the AAND side of it. I can commit to the Member that at the first possible opportunity I will communicate to the federal Minister our desire to see them try to be a little more stringent on their part. This just goes to show another excellent opportunity as to why the devolution would work in the Northwest Territories, because we would be in control of the land and decision-making authority on those lands.

Thanks for the Minister’s commitment there. I did expect to hear the response that this is why we need devolution, of course, but obviously that will be then and this is now.

We control the lands on the west side of Prosperous, they control it on the east, and they’re not doing anything. I’m wondering, though, since the Minister mentions devolution, the federal government has indicated to the Premier and this government that they will give GNWT more involvement, at least now that an AIP is signed. How will the Minister of MACA use this opportunity to exert our influence, use our example, and get control of this intolerable situation?

There is an opportunity and commitment that was made by the federal government that we’ll have to explore to ensure that we take full advantage of it so that we don’t have the glut that we’re having over on the east side of Prosperous Lake.

I appreciate that commitment again from our Minister. Of course, that was just an example, the east side of Prosperous. It’s within the entire watershed. MACA is moving the Recreational Leasing Policy Framework forward proficiently and says public consultations will begin shortly. Can the Minister inform us of the schedule for consultations and give his assurance that the opportunity for input will be widely publicized so that non-resident users of the area will know they can’t contribute? Obviously, we have cottage owners that live throughout the city.

We see the meeting this morning with Prosperous Lake Association as part of the consultation process. As for an actual schedule, I would have to commit to the Member that I don’t have the actual schedule with me, and how they’re going to go about it and where they’re going to go. I will commit to the Member that I’ll get that information and I’ll share it with him.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thanks again to the Minister. I’m also well impressed with MACA’s new vigilance in enforcement to prevent new cases of squatting in the block land transfer area. Are you listening, federal government? Can the Minister say what the status on legal actions is here?

There have been a couple of cases where we’ve had to go after those that are squatters. We’ve had some complaints from people who hold legitimate leases. We’ve taken action against them.

I have to say that I’ve been very impressed with the buy-in that we’ve had from folks out there. They’ve had a lot of opportunity to come in and legitimize their leases. A lot of them have taken us up on that. I have to say I’m particularly impressed with the folks up in Inuvik at Airport Lake, where every single cabin out there has come forward and gotten applications to fill out.

We see this as a process that’s gone along quite smoothly. Of course, there are some challenges along the way, but I think we’re in a good position to meet those challenges and I think we’re going to be able to, at the end of the day, come up with a good product that’s good for the government and particularly good for the legitimate leaseholders, that way they don’t have to worry too much about the squatters out there. I see this as a process that’s working very well, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my Member’s statement today I talked about the Hydro Strategy and I’m certainly curious, at the very least, as to where the direction is now going with this strategy seeing as there has been a bit of setback with the Taltson expansion as well other issues such as the Bluefish needs almost $40 million investment.

Mr. Speaker, I look to the Premier for some guidance for the House as well as for the public as to where the Hydro Strategy is taking us from this

present position as the direction towards the future, noting the concerns I highlighted. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Hydro Strategy is one that encompasses the whole of the Northwest Territories. The Taltson is a piece of it, Bluefish and others. We’re looking at new areas of development. NT Hydro is working on their portion. We’ve been funding this work through the Ministerial Energy Coordinating Committee. NT Hydro, for its part, is working in partnership, for example, with the Yellowknives Dene First Nation to evaluate the hydro potential at Beaulieu River, and initial reporting we’re hoping will be completed this spring.

We’ve also hired a firm to help with the land corporations and municipal governments in Norman Wells, Fort Good Hope and Tulita to engage in gathering traditional knowledge on sites of hydro potential. As well, there will be some work done on the Willow or Brackett River near the community of Tulita. Recently it was done there. They’re screening a report there.

Looking at, as well, working with the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment and the work around, for example, the Sahtu land use plan, dealing with some of the hydro concerns or issues there. As well as looking at the multi-year fisheries, environmental and traditional knowledge study of the Great Bear River. As well as dealing with the feasibility of the Fort Liard geothermal, and of course, on the Mackenzie River with the Run-of-the-River Program that we started there last year and continuing this summer. We’re pulling that information together in the hopes that we will be able to have a renewed Hydro Strategy to be able to bring forward. I don’t have a timeline on that, though, as of yet. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, the cost of living is a very important issue for me as well as many Members, and I believe that any strides we can make towards the cost of living of Northerners does great things for the, I hate to say it, but the kitchen table economics for the everyday person, and power is a critical component of the cost of living here.

Mr. Speaker, I’d like to hear from the Premier as to what focus his direction has provided towards grid expansion or coordination of the territorial power being produced here in the North thus far. Perhaps with the work done on the Taltson to date could lend itself towards building a focus and a mandate towards that type of potential. Does the Premier have a comment or some aspects he’d like to lay before the House? Thank you.

The work that we have done around the Hydro Strategy and, more

specifically, on the Taltson, as the information has become available, it’s caused us to have another look at how we would continue with the work that’s been done on Taltson, looking at the grid connections here in the Northwest Territories as well as to southern potential customer base that is there. We know that Alberta is going through quite a process of having to remove its coal generation, so there’s a potentially large client there.

One of the meetings I’ve had with the chair of the corporation, and he shared this with the board, is that we need to look at the work that we’ve done on the Taltson to see how we can expand that work now, is there an economic base to look at the grid connection here in the NWT with a grid connection to southern Canada. It is also an issue that we raise numerous times when we meet with whether it’s western Premiers or the Council of Federation, where they talk about an east/west grid. We also remind them there needs to be a north/south grid. So we continue to work along those ways to see how we can continue to grow that potential.

Mr. Speaker, I’d like to thank the Premier for that particular answer. Mr. Speaker, the potential of southern customers such as Alberta I think is a great area that this Power Corporation should explore, because I think that Alberta has a significant demand of power and we certainly have a pent-up demand of clean energy that we could be selling them that could help sustain our pocketbooks or territorial purse for many years to come.

Mr. Speaker, if it was done wisely, we would have our own Churchill Fall example where Newfoundland provides cheap power…

Do you have a question, Mr. Hawkins?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. But let’s hope it would be affordable.

Mr. Speaker, has there been any work done on that aspect to become a direct exporter of power to Alberta? Thank you.

We have, as I was just saying, had a discussion with the chair of the Power Corporation, and through that board and the NT Hydro Corporation looking at the grid connections and if there’s an economic base for that, that work is starting to be reviewed. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Have any customers been identified for that type of potential partnership and does the Premier see an opening to work with the federal government to work with Alberta to create ourselves as the customer of choice, or I should say provider of choice to the province of Alberta, considering their

need for clean energy that the Northwest Territories has a lot of? Thank you.

Again, as I was saying earlier, we are aware that Alberta is going through a number of critical changes in its power generation moving away from coal-fired generation, having to replace it with either natural gas generation or clean hydro as a potential. We know that there are opportunities available. We have had that initial discussion to begin looking at that to see if there’s an economic base there where we can open that up, and that would also help us with our industry side here in the North when it comes to anchor tenants.

If there’s that grid connection, that means at times when they don’t need the peak, they can sell power that they purchase from us, as well, in that grid. We’re looking at that. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission has a five-year mandate, and that is to examine the legacy of the residential schools in Canada. Inuvik will host this historical healing moment of our past. We have a lot of GNWT employees who have been impacted by the residential schools and the effects it has caused. I want to ask the Premier how will our government support them in this Truth and Reconciliation event in Inuvik.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There are a number of ways we’re supporting the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, their work in helping the healing process. Through our workforce, we’re setting up for the volunteer basis that those who volunteer, we will support that initiative. Those who are attending as clients or those who will be attending as delegates, we’ve provided a process for that to occur. In a number of cases, whether it’s office space in kind, as well as trying to help with dealing with the 1,000 potential delegates that will be in the community, we’re helping in a number of ways. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, the residential school has been a very tough issue for a lot of communities. The residential school has also contributed to a lot of violence, a lot of addictions and a lot of different forms of abuses in our communities. As a matter of fact, Mr. Speaker, in 1998, when I did some of my training, a consultant from Santa Cruz, California, said to me that the residential school was a real festering ground for

these kinds of things to happen in the communities. I didn’t understand what he said, not until today.

Mr. Speaker, we know personally that some of these survivors are in jails; they are inmates at the correctional centres. I want to ask the Premier how will he allow the inmates to have the opportunity to participate at this Truth and Reconciliation process. Thank you.

Thank you. The process underway is working with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. They’re running and we’re supporting them in their work and delivery within the community. I can’t speak to it and I’d have to find out if there’s a process of if they’ve invited those within our correctional facilities. I think that when you look at the programs and services, that we do provide those who are in the facilities the counselling opportunities, on the land. In cases, we’ve reached out and tried to provide our own counselling over the years.

When this became a growing matter across Canada and the North, a number of departments got together to try and focus some of its programs to deal with those who’ve gone through residential schools. Thank you.

Thank you. It’s my understanding that Education, Culture and Employment has been the lead department to monitor and coordinate the GNWT’s support with the TRC Commission. I want to ask the Premier, through the Department of Education and Culture, collecting the archives and the photographs and putting this historical event together for the survivors and the community, if this even, or this collection at the end of the TRC process, will be made available to all the residents for a show and explain the history to the people at any public venue that could be sponsored by this government.

Thank you. We will, as we’ve done our own work in this, and being supportive of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission process, we’re going to be working with them to see how we can pool this together and come out with some process, documentation that we can, whether to showcase, put on display, have a historical record of it. We will work with them to see how we can pool that together. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Grollier Hall Residential School, Stringer Hall, opened in 1959. Grollier Hall closed in 1996; Stringer Hall in 1970. The community of Inuvik was part of our family. I wanted to ask the Premier what will he do to help the thousands of students -- there are 2,500 students that attended Grollier, and a number of students in the Sahtu and other outlying communities -- get to Inuvik. I know there’s a limited

number. How can we help also with the students, the community of Inuvik, to do this healing? How can the Premier help fund the students to get there?

Thank you. We know that the groups have been working in the North with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and have been looking to get additional support for some of the travel costs. Right now we’re limited to what we can do in in-kind support or with volunteers, with office space, with residential occupancy areas of trying to make some of our facilities open to them. So that’s the extent of what we’ve been focusing on doing.

We don’t have a budget line right now for travel, for example, and we know that a number of groups have been working with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to see if they can expand their program. Thank you.

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

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Today I have questions for the Minister of Environment on Pine Point and the clean-up of that site. I’d like to ask the Minister who is responsible for the clean-up of Pine Point Mines. Thank you.

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

The federal government, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Pine Point is clearly within the Northwest Territories. I’d like to know why that is the case. Why is the federal government responsible for cleaning up Pine Point?

Thank you. Because at this point they are the landlords, it’s Crown land. Should the day come with devolution, that site and its remediation would be dealt with through the devolution process, but at this point they are the landowner and responsible. Thank you.

Thank you. My understanding from the people in Fort Resolution is that the reason that Pine Point is not cleaned up is because Cominco continues to hold a lease in Pine Point. However, that mine has been shut down for 25 years. It only ran for 25 years. So my question is: what role does the territorial government have? The territorial government must have some role, regardless of devolution. Thank you.

Thank you. We played a major role as a government back when the town was in existence. As they dismantled the town

and shut down the mine site and people were relocated or left, we played a role in that capacity. The actual clean-up of the site, with the huge pits and the tailings ponds and all the other attendant problems were the responsibility of the federal government. We had a role where we made sure and encouraged them to complete it and conclude it. I flew over there a few years ago and it is still a very visible work in progress, with the pits wide open and work still being done in the tailings ponds. Thank you.