: Thank you. Mr. Speaker, there is no denial that this has been a very difficult year in the world of northern aviation. Recent air tragedies and the recent loss of aviation pioneers like Mr. Paul Laserich of Adlair Aviation have made some of Range Lake constituents ask what can be done to remind us of the ongoing contribution of aviation in our communities and to commemorate those who risk their lives for the safety and well-being of others.

Bush Pilots Monument in Yellowknife’s Old Town was established in 1967, dedicated to bush pilots and engineers who lost their lives flying in the Northwest Territories in the 1920s and the 1930s. Although the contribution of these individuals should not be marginalized, the Northwest

Territories has yet to formally establish a permanent memorial for those who have lost their lives since. It is sad to say, but 44 years have passed for the Bush Pilots Monument, and apart from a new plaque in 1999 and the maintenance by the City of Yellowknife, we, as a territory, have done very little to commemorate our fallen northern aviation heroes.

For the record, there are no other official aviation memorial sites in the Northwest Territories. However, we know that the Government of the Northwest Territories is allocating upgrades to the Norman Wells float base that is to include an aviation museum. Therefore, I ask this government why an aviation memorial could not also be incorporated during these upgrades. It would seem simple, but as Northerners who depend so much on aviation travel, wouldn’t we agree that having multiple aviation memorial sites throughout our land would be the proper way to deal with respect? Many think so, including the constituents of Range Lake.

Mr. Speaker, as a resident of the North, I am always concerned why it takes a series of public tragedies for one to reflect on why something has not been done correctly. Therefore, in the spirit of respect and moving forward, I ask that this government look at formally establishing permanent memorials for our northern aviation pilots and for those aviation victims who have sacrificed their lives since 1967. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Blake.

: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. For a number of years the community of Tsiigehtchic has been asking for a full-time nurse to be permanently stationed in Tsiigehtchic. The community has also set aside housing, should a full-time nurse be available to work in the community. I do believe there is legislation stating that every community must have a nurse. I would like to let the honourable Minister of Health know that I am willing to assist him in any way I can to meet the needs of the community.

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

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] …things I will be talking about and I would like to talk to you in regard to education and

about wondering how you might be able to assist us in coming up with a new school. [Translation ends]

…and I also know that money is going to be very tight, as Mr. Premier had said. But that is no excuse for planning for the needs of the people in Nahendeh, and particularly the young people of Nahanni Butte and Trout Lake who need new schools.

It seems we can spend more than $100 million on a super school in Inuvik and more than $180 million on the Deh Cho Bridge. Next to these projects, schools in Nahanni Butte and Trout Lake may be tiny but they are no less important. We have to educate our students wherever they live, including in our small communities.

The school in Nahanni Butte is an old log building. It really does need to be replaced. We also need to get started in Trout Lake. The situation there is even worse. Technically there is no school. Parents send their kids to the recreation centre for classes. Government has told the community that this was temporary, and this has been going on for way too long. The teachers are working hard, but the current system is not fair to them either. Their students that are from kindergarten to Grade 10 are jammed in the small, renovated area in the recreation centre. There is no gym in the community as well. I have been pushing for new schools in Trout Lake and Nahanni Butte for several years. What does it take to get some action for these communities?

It is the Department of Education’s duty to provide students with a healthy learning environment and that duty extends to all students across this territory, not just Inuvik and Yellowknife.

I want this government to do what is right and spend its money on the most important necessities in our regions and small communities. A decent education and facilities is a fundamental right. That means schools in Trout Lake and Nahanni Butte should be built before we spend money on new mega projects. The planning must begin now. Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to talk about emergency protection orders and the concerns that have arisen out of that.

The Protection Against Family Violence Act has been in force for about six years now, and I have no doubt that the emergency protection orders that have been issued have been instrumental in preventing violence against many people such as

women and children. However, recent events have certainly highlighted potential abuse in this process and it has created terrible consequences that we have seen. The act does not provide relief for people who have been subjected to emergency protection orders that have been based on false claims and information. In the end, the onus for that person to clear themselves has been defined as someone who has had threatening or violent behaviour is they have to go to court and pay the court costs themselves to clear their name. The fair and unnatural justice isn’t a prevalent solution in this particular case. It falls upon the accused to now prove that they have become the victim.

Now that the emergency protection order process has been in place for a few years, I think it is now a good opportunity to take a look at this particular process to see how we can make sure that the system is fair for both those who are seeking protection and justice as well as those who have been accused. Ultimately, the question today before the House will lie is simply this: Will the Department of Justice allow an injustice process to stand or will they find a way to work through it? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to pay tribute to Kenneth Frank Delorme of Fort Resolution who passed away in October. He was more commonly known as Tinker.

Ken Delorme was born on April 12, 1969, and passed away on Monday, October 24, 2011. He was only 42 years old.

Ken had terminal cancer, with no cure, and spent many months in the hospital in the North and the South. Although Mr. Delorme may have been in a lot of pain and turmoil, he never once complained. Ken was a Metis man who loved life and lived it with a passion. He kept his humour about him until the day of his passing.

Ken was a family-oriented man who devoted a great deal of his time to his wife, children and siblings. He always felt connected to the land and enjoyed nothing more than being outdoors in the wilderness.

Tinker was a good hunter, trapper and fisherman and provided for his family. He learned to do the cultural and traditional skills at a very young age from his father and maintained this for his entire life. He always made sure he was never short, or his family was never short, of wild meat, fish or foods from the land. Tinker worked as a carpenter, truck driver and buffalo rancher.

Mr. Kenneth Delorme was a young man with a lot of wisdom. Over the past four years I got to know Ken. He gave me a lot of good, sound advice. It was always given for the benefit of the people of Fort Resolution. When I spoke to him for the very last time, he said, “Remember, we still have to build a road to Big Eddy.” For my friend Tinker, I will continue to work on that road.

Tinker is survived by his wife Cynthia; five children, Travis, Kenneth, Jordan, Adam and Tia; two grandchildren, Hailey and Harlin; four siblings, Lucy, Warren and his wife Velma, Richard and Grant; numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and a great-nephew. He was very close to all of his family and spent a lot of time with them. Tinker was a son of the late Eva Fabien and Angus Delorme.

Today I would like to pass my condolence on to his family and friends, especially his wife and kids. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to rise today to pay tribute, as well, to a constituent on the recent achievements of this constituent. That constituent is Dr. Curtis Brown, who is with us in the gallery today. He is an educator that has spent 23 years or so working between Nunavut and the Northwest Territories, mainly in the Northwest Territories and mainly his time as superintendent of the South Slave Divisional Education Council.

In that capacity, Dr. Brown has provided innovative leadership. His leadership over the years has been recognized in the North by the Government of the Northwest Territories. In 2006 he received the Premier’s Award for Excellence; in 2009, the Premier’s Award for Collaboration; in 2009, again, the Excellence in Education Award.

Most recently Dr. Brown has been awarded the 2011 Canadian Superintendent of the Year by the Canadian Association of School Administrators for his work in the Northwest Territories. This is a prestigious award. It is equivalent to the Stanley Cup for administrators, and it is a singular achievement for a Northerner to make it. It is a credit to Dr. Brown. It is a credit to the government and to the Department of Education and he has served the people of the Northwest Territories very well by those achievements. As a result of this award, he also gets to go to Houston, Texas, in February, to represent Canadian Superintendents at the American Association of School Superintendents.

I would like to ask colleagues in this House to join with me in congratulating Dr. Brown for his singular award and thanking him for his years of service.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Lafferty.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. It gives me great pleasure to recognize some of the people in this gallery, members of the Official Languages Board and Aboriginal Languages Revitalization Board here in Yellowknife this week as part of their board meetings. They are in the gallery joining us today. Vance Sanderson from Fort Smith, Emily Kudlak from Ulukhaktok, Lucy Lafferty from Behchoko, Georgina Biscaye from Fort Resolution, Margaret Leishman from Kakisa, Rosa Mantla from Behchoko, Elizabeth Hardisty from Fort Simpson, Nadine Koe from Yellowknife, Dora Grandjambe from Norman Wells, Wendy Mantla from Behchoko, Ann Kochon-Orlias from Colville Lake, and also I would like to recognize Albert Canadien who is the director of official languages within our department.

I would like to recognize Dr. Brown who just received his prestigious award. Congratulations. I would like to also recognize my constituent Jonas Lafferty who is a Tlicho interpreter from Behchoko, and also Barb Zoe, my new constituency assistant out of Behchoko. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The Member for Frame Lake, Mr. Ramsay.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize a constituent of Kam Lake, Mr. Jeff Corradetti.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Sorry, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Beaulieu.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize a couple of people in the gallery. I’d like to recognize the father of my grandson, Mr. Vance Sanderson – he’s chairman of the Official Languages Board – and my cousin Georgina Biscaye from Fort Resolution. She’s the chairman of the Aboriginal Languages Revitalization Board.

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. It gives me great pleasure to recognize my eldest sister Betty, Elizabeth Hardisty, who is in the gallery with the Official Languages Board. Great to see her here. Mahsi cho.

Ms. Bisaro.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s my pleasure to recognize today an ex-constituent who

has now moved into the Kam Lake riding, Mr. Jeff Corradetti. I’d also like to recognize constituent Cheryl Fountain and last but not least my hardworking constituency assistant, Amanda Mallon. Welcome to the House.

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. The Member for Hay River North, Mr. Bouchard.

Thank you, Mr. Bouchard. The Member for Boot Lake, Mr. Alfred Moses.