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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Over the last three years and 10 months I have received a number of questions and concerns from constituents on the amount of services and supports provided to families living with children with autism. Based on conversations with the previous Minister of Health and Social Services, it is clear to me that this government does not offer much in the way of dedicated services for these individuals.

Autism is a growing problem both in Canada and the Northwest Territories. One in 110 children born today will live with autism to many different degrees of effect. One in 70 male children born will have autism. Based on these statistics, seven-plus children are being born every year in the Northwest Territories with autism. This means that during the life of this 16

Legislative Assembly, approximately

28 children have been born with autism in the Northwest Territories and will need support.

This is a problem that affects more than just Yellowknife. It is a reality in all of our communities and must be addressed. Currently, families living with children within the NWT but not in Yellowknife have to relocate their families to Yellowknife in hopes of receiving any services. Families will be disappointed when they arrive and find no dedicated services for children living with autism. As a result, they may have to join many of the families in Yellowknife who have had no choice but to leave the North for other jurisdictions throughout Canada and go where dedicated services exist.

My research shows that all provinces in Canada support dedicated services to children living with autism. If we had even a portion of these services available, either through the GNWT or a private provider, we would be able to help families remain in their home communities, including Yellowknife.

I know of some specialists in the South who would be interested in providing these types of services here in the Northwest Territories. Many of these can be done by distance, with short-term visits here in the Northwest Territories. Education, Culture and Employment could become an active partner when the children reach school age.

Great technology and programs exist. Our system should be able to effectively build upon many of these opportunities for the sake of our children. Good people who want to remain in the Northwest Territories would not have to leave in order to provide quality opportunities for their children if we were to be proactive.

I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

Let’s find a way to support our residents and find a way to help them in their homes and their communities. I know it’s the dying days of this Assembly, however, the current Minister of Health and Social Services will continue to be the Minister of Health and Social Services until October. As such, later today I will be asking him to direct his department to do some research and provide some options for consideration by all Members of the 17

Legislative Assembly early in

the life of the next Assembly.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Members have heard numerous statements and questions from me in regard to our justice system, and today I want to continue on with that theme related to root causes.

In May I talked about recidivism and the drastic increase in the number of violent crimes being committed in our territory, often by criminals who are committing a violent offence for the 17

, 18

,

and sometimes even 30

time. The question I’ve

been getting as an MLA representing a riding here in the city of Yellowknife is: how safe are our streets? When we have an RCMP inspector stating that this past June was the busiest month that the RCMP have had in Yellowknife in the last four years, well, that’s a very disturbing situation for me, and I really do believe that the government has got to be paying attention. A night out in downtown Yellowknife on a Friday or Saturday night should not end up with a person getting swarmed, jumped, robbed, or assaulted.

Again, the root causes of this increase in violent crime in our community are drug and alcohol related. Everybody knows that. As a government, what exactly are we going to do about that? We

spend well over $70 million annually in providing services and programs in the areas of corrections and policing. Why are we not seeing numbers turning in a positive direction? It is time that we start to measure the success of the programs and services we provide with real numbers.

Key social indicators need to be taken stock of right at the very beginning of the life of a new government. The goal of this incoming government would be to see those key social indicator numbers come down after four years, not go up. This certainly would help lend a level of accountability to a new government.

The bottom line is, business owners, residents, and constituents, and even the RCMP are saying that things are getting worse, not better. It is time that the debate over a government run and operated alcohol and drug rehabilitation centre in the city of Yellowknife is resurrected. Could the root causes of crime in our community be better addressed by a dedicated service centre for addictions? I absolutely think so.

I will have questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services at the appropriate time.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Over the summer a very interesting and serious concern came forward to my office. It was the issue of emergency medical pick-up of a person who was at a well-known northern lodge. We all have heard about the government preaching for years about how important it is to get active and be active, to ensure that we live healthy lifestyles and stay healthy as long as possible. This occasion was clearly no different than matching one of those wonderful campaigns about being active. However, during this outing a serious respiratory problem became the highlight of the occasion and overtook this fun event, becoming a serious priority of this family.

These types of priorities... I don’t have to lecture this House, as everyone knows when it’s a respiratory issue it can be life or death. So unable to completely gauge the seriousness of this medical emergency, they did what every other normal person would do: they called for help. The call for help went out. To their surprise their call, though heard in the sense of the communication sense, was denied any type of support. The reason being that they are not at a health centre. So they were told to find their own way in for services.

It only seems to reason that not everyone can be sick at a health centre. It only seems to reason that not everyone can be sick or seriously ill in a community that has an ambulance service. So to be clear, the seriousness of the call was heard, but the issue came down to the fact that you were not in a community that had a health centre so you have to figure it out on your own.

After hearing this serious concern, I brought it to our Health Minister, who was actually well versed on this particular situation. Unusual as it is, the policy says you’re on your own.

Today during question period I will have some questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services to ask how you are going to directly change and update the policy. Because, as Northerners, we take great pride in our traditions and lifestyles of being out on the land. This alone says, wait a minute, you may want to rethink that policy. I will have questions later today.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today with great sadness and a heavy heart to pay homage to one of our own. Our own Gwich’in boxer Jonathan Steven Andre. Jonathan was born to May and James Andre on March 30, 1980, in Teetlìt Zheh, which is Fort McPherson. His grandparents, John and Rachel Robert of Teetlìt Zheh and Anthony and Carol Andre of Tsiigehtchic.

Jonathan’s early life was one of turmoil and trouble. He had battled with drugs and alcohol, and with violence and anger. However, in the last decade, much to everyone’s surprise and happiness, Jonathan turned his life around.

In 2007 he left home to move to Yellowknife where he began training as a boxer. It was in Yellowknife where he met Andrea, the love of his life. Jonathan and Andrea later moved to Edmonton where he later joined the Cougar Boxing Club and where he had a great amateur career where he won 22 out of 29 fights, including back to back Alberta Provincial Junior Middleweight titles in 2008 and 2009.

Jonathan turned pro in October 2010 where he had a record of two wins, no losses, and where he was very competitive.

Jonathan was well known and respected for his work ethic and his quiet and respective demeanour. Mr. Speaker, it was apparent that he had high ambitions and was also highly regarded in the boxing community. If you met Jonathan, you’d know him to be a calm and reserved young man who was very considerate of whoever he met. While

Jonathan was a gentleman outside the ring, he was also known as a fierce competitor as he took his training seriously.

Jonathan worked for the Edmonton Break and Clutch in which he was looking forward to returning home to Teetlìt Zheh, Fort McPherson, and to partake in the Midway Lake Music Festival. He was going to speak to the youth about how he turned his life around and how they can also do the same thing.

Mr. Speaker, he credits his family, his faith, and his girlfriend for helping him strengthen his life.

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

---Unanimous consent granted

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. On Sunday, June 26, 2011, Jonathan was struck and killed by a speeding car as he walked across 118

Avenue in Edmonton.

Thirty-one years old, way too early for his time.

Jonathan was survived by his parents, James and May; his sister, Jayda; his nephew, Liam; his brother, Fraser; and his love, Andrea.

Jonathan was very proud of who he was and where he came from, proud to be Gwich’in, proud to be from Teetlìt Zheh. Jonathan Steven Andre was laid to rest in Teetlit Zheh on Sunday, July 2

. He was

our Gwich’in boxer and we are all so proud of him. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Item 4, reports of standing and special committees. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.

Your Standing Committee on Government Operations is pleased to report on its review of Bill 10, Northwest Territories Heritage Fund Act, and commends it to the House.

Introduction

The Standing Committee on Government Operations is pleased to report on its review of Bill 10, Northwest Territories Heritage Fund Act. The bill would establish a Heritage Fund for the present and future residents of the Northwest Territories, to extend the benefit of today’s economic development and resource development for future generations.

The bill sets up the framework for investing funds allocated to it by the Legislative Assembly. Those savings will become the principal of the fund, which are permanent contributions. Only gains on the principal can be withdrawn, and such withdrawals cannot begin for at least 20 years.

Bill 10 received second reading in the Legislative Assembly on March 10, 2011, and was referred to the Standing Committee on Government Operations for review. The review began May 19, 2010, with opening comments from the Minister of Finance. The committee then held a public hearing in Yellowknife on May 20

, and a public clause-by-

clause review on August 12, 2011.

Support for the Bill and Recommendations from the Public

All submissions to the committee supported the creation of the Northwest Territories Heritage Fund, and included thoughtful suggestions for strengthening the bill. The committee received oral and written submissions from:

• Canadian Federation of Independent Business;

• Pembina Institute;

• West Point First Nation;

• Ecology

North;

and

• Alternatives

North.

In addition, a written submission was received from Weledeh MLA Bob Bromley. The committee thanks all those who contributed their time and effort to this important initiative for the people of the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, at this time I`d like to pass the floor over to my colleague and member of Government Ops, MLA Abernethy for Great Slave. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The majority of the submissions agreed on the following:

1) The act should describe the purpose of the fund

as ensuring continuing benefits to current and future NWT residents from revenue generated by the development of non-renewable resources;

2) The act should specify what Heritage Fund

withdrawals can be used for;

3) The act should set a fixed annual percentage of

defined revenue sources for deposit into the Heritage Fund;

4) More than 10 years is required for funds to

accumulate before any withdrawals (at least 20 years was the most common suggestion);

5) The fund and projects it contributes to should be

free from political interference; and

6) The fund should be managed at arm’s length

from government.

Half the submissions also recommended that the Heritage Fund be invested ethically, with standards for doing so described in the act.

One intervener suggested that one goal of the Heritage Fund should be to minimize future tax increases.

One submission advised that the Heritage Fund should be able to issue government-guaranteed bonds in which the public could invest.

Committee members carefully considered all this input, including the need for transparency and regular reporting to the public on the management and performance of the fund. The committee shared the Minister’s view that the cost of managing the fund in its early years be kept to a minimum in order to maximize returns.

Balancing public feedback and practical necessities, committee members brought five amendments forward at the public clause-by-clause review on August 12, 2011:

1. Describing the purpose of the fund as providing

benefits from ongoing economic development, including the development of non-renewable resources;

Mr. Speaker, I`ll now pass over the final reading of the report to my colleague Mr. Hawkins.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, Mr. Abernethy.

2. Ensuring that Section 96 (as well as Sections

89, 97 and 100, as originally proposed) of the Financial Administration Act applies to the Heritage Fund, providing for properly detailed annual reports, tabled in the House;

3. Extending the “no withdrawal” period from 10

years to 20 years;

4. Providing for a committee review of the

Northwest Territories Heritage Fund Act every 10 years, and determining that the first review should include:

a. An examination of the operation of the act;

b. Recommendations respecting how to obtain

public input on the expenditures to be made from the fund;

c. Recommendations respecting independent

oversight and management of the Heritage Fund; and

d. Recommendations

respecting

any

amendments that should be made to the act;

and

5. Establishing the Northwest Territories Heritage

Fund Act only be amended by a special two-thirds majority of Members of the Legislative Assembly.

The Minister of Finance concurred with all the amendments except the final one. Thus, the first four amendments are included in the bill as referred to the Assembly for consideration in Committee of the Whole. The Standing Committee on Government Operations appreciates the Minister’s cooperation in the development of this historic bill.

Additional Comments and Recommendations

Members of the Standing Committee on Government Operations agree with the Minister of Finance that the Northwest Territories Heritage Fund Act, while a major step forward, represents a `bare-bones` framework for investment. It will be the job of future Assemblies to flesh out the act and regulations to ensure sufficient public input and accountable, independent management when the time is right. It will also be the job of future Assemblies to allocate money to the fund. Growth of the fund will be a significant challenge in the next several years. However, once the Heritage Fund is established, NWT residents will expect to see deposits made, even if they are modest.

Mr. Speaker, I have three recommendations.

Recommendation 1

The Standing Committee on Government Operations recommends that the 17

Legislative Assembly Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures strongly consider adding the automatic referral of the annual report of the Northwest Territories Heritage Fund to the terms of reference to the appropriate standing committee.

Recommendation 2

The Standing Committee on Government Operations recommends that the government draft regulations for the operation of the Heritage Fund and refer them to the appropriate standing committee for review and feedback in a timely manner.

Recommendation 3

The Standing Committee on Government Operations recommends that the Caucus of the 17

Legislative Assembly establish a process

convention to facilitate the referral of a limited category of regulations to standing committee for review and comment prior to their final enactment.

Mr. Speaker, that now brings me to the motion.

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Great Slave, that Committee Report 6-16(6) be received by the Assembly and moved into Committee of the Whole for further consideration.

Mr. Speaker, thank you very much.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Motion is on the floor. Motion is in order. To the motion.

Question is being called.

---Carried

Committee Report 6-16(6) will be moved into Committee of the Whole for further consideration.

Item 5, returns to oral questions. Item 6, recognition of visitors in the gallery.

Colleagues, I would like to direct your attention to the presence in the visitors’ gallery of our Chief Electoral Officer, Mr. David Brock; Deputy Chief Electoral Officer Nicole Latour-Theede; and the returning officers for each of the electoral districts in the Northwest Territories: Phoebe Parent, Deh Cho; Shauna Morgan, Frame Lake; Tessie Gonzales, Hay River North, and a constituent of mine; Heather Coakwell, Hay River South; Arlene Hansen, Inuvik Boot Lake; Juanita Bourque, Inuvik Twin Lakes; Mary Beauchamp, Kam Lake; Daryn Erigaktuak, Mackenzie Delta; Harriet Koyina, Monfwi; Deborah Stipdonk; Nahendeh, Molly Nogasak, Nunakput; Marjolaine Larocque, Range Lake; Margrit Minder, Sahtu; Margo Harney, Thebacha; Tony Lafferty, Tu Nedhe; Pam Dunbar, Weledeh; Gazira Chan, Yellowknife Centre; and Pat Thagard, Yellowknife South.

I hope I got those names right or didn’t do too badly on the spellings. Welcome to the Assembly.

I would also like to recognize in the Assembly today the Speaker from the Ontario Legislature, Mr. Steve Peters, and his executive assistant, Maggie Head. Welcome to the Assembly.

The honourable Member for Monfwi, Mr. Lafferty.

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

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