Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today we’re speaking about poverty, which is an issue in all our communities across the NWT. In the small communities it can be very difficult for people to get out of poverty because there are not as many opportunities. Here are some numbers that speak for themselves.

The employment rate in the territory is 67 percent, but in many of our small communities that rate drops into the 30 percent range. At the same time we have 19 percent of households in core need across the Northwest Territories. What this tells me is that if we can get more people into the workforce and if we can improve our housing situation, we’ll make a big difference.

In our Caucus priorities we talk about increasing job opportunities where they are most needed, addressing housing issues, and strengthening and diversifying our economy. We talk about decentralization of GNWT jobs, fairer rent scales for public housing, and infrastructure projects. These are all areas that will help to reduce poverty in the communities. I think we’re on the right track.

I look forward to working with Cabinet and other members of the Standing Committee on Priorities and Planning to make sure that by the end of our four-year term we will be able to say that we have made a difference and have reduced poverty in the Northwest Territories.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As everyone can see, we’re having a theme day today on the issue of poverty in the Northwest Territories and the need for this government to organize its efforts across government to address the issue of poverty. I find this topic difficult to quantify and define. When we think of poverty, there’s really no clear definition. It’s a very relevant term. Do we assess poverty in terms of monetary attainment? Are people who have more, more content than people who have less? How much is enough to live a dignified existence? What are the factors that contribute to people living in poverty?

I’d like to put my comments about poverty in the context of the Canadian dream. We are told that Canada is the envy of other nations and of people looking for a new start in a land of opportunity. We need to ensure that our land is a land of opportunity for our people.

As a government we have a large role to play in making opportunities available to people to reach their potential and we know that these goals are best reached by healthy, educated people. When we make these opportunities available and people choose not to avail themselves of them, then we analyze what are the barriers to people accessing and partaking in everything possible to give them a full and meaningful life. Even after that there are still going to be gaps in spite of our best efforts. Then there’s the scenario of our government becoming so custodial that we disempower people by taking away their necessity to fend for themselves, creating dependency and lack of purpose and self-determination.

I’m a firm believer that we can do everything we can as a government to break down systemic barriers that lead to poverty, but at some point people also need to be encouraged to have the drive to pursue their dreams and the resulting sense of achievement and accomplishment that comes from achieving that. The government is not, and never will be, the answer to all the problems, but necessity is a great motivator and we must be sure that our programs and services do not diminish that motivation in people to be all that they can be.

I think that in order to establish a good Anti-Poverty Strategy in the Northwest Territories we must work extremely closely with our non-government organizations. They have the first-hand experience in what they do and this is the way that our efforts will be most effective and best coordinated.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize a number of people in the gallery today. Suzette Montreuil from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Mackenzie-Fort Smith is here; Lorraine Hewlett, chair of the Public Service Alliance of Canada and the Regional Women’s Committee; Julie Green, director of community relations, YWCA Yellowknife; Aggie Brockman from Alternatives North; Arlene Hache, executive director, Centre for Northern Families; Dayle Hernblad, Yellowknife Homelessness Coalition; Katie Randall, Valerie Miyok, Jeremy Flatt, and Amanda Mallon, board members of the NWT Literacy Council; Elizabeth Portman and Peter Chynoweth of the United Church; and France Benoit. Those people are all here particularly on the poverty issue. I’d also like to recognize Josh Campbell and Joy Newton of our Member of Parliament Dennis Bevington’s office.

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The honourable Premier, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m pleased to recognize Mr. Scott Messenger from the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology department of marketing and communications. Welcome, Scott.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d also like to recognize two staff members from the MP’s office, Joy Newton and Josh Campbell. I’d also like to recognize our honourable colleague David Krutko, a former Member of the House here. I’d also like to say how happy I am today to see my wife and my son. I love you both.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize a few constituents, as well, today and take the advantage here before us. I’d like to recognize Julie Green and certainly acknowledge her hard work as the representative of the YWCA. She’s one of the directors there. Peter Chynoweth, who is the minister of the United Church. Joy Newton, although I’ve spoken to her many times over the phone, I have never actually met her in person, so it would be nice to have that pleasure. Last, but certainly not least, I would like to recognize Chase Yakeleya, who is a good friend of my son. He’s sitting up there in the gallery today and he’s the well-known son of our good colleague Mr. Norman Yakeleya. Great to see a young guy in the audience there today.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s a great pleasure to see so many people in the gallery today. I won’t go through the list that my colleagues have already gone through, but I’m particularly pleased to see so many members from the NWT Literacy Council, from the Yellowknife Homelessness Coalition, from Alternatives North and from the Y. Welcome to all of you. I’d like to specifically recognize three people, two constituents: Lorraine Hewlett and Suzette Montreuil. I would like to specifically welcome my constituency assistant, Amanda Mallon, to the House. Welcome everybody and thank you for coming.

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to make special recognition of my former colleague Mr. David Krutko, who I served in this

Legislature with for 16 years. I have taken up his seat in the Legislature. I have taken up his seat in committee. I will follow his proud tradition of firing the odd surprise shot over the bow.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s my pleasure to recognize a few visitors in the gallery today. I’d like to first recognize Mr. Tom Hoefer, the executive director of the NWT and Nunavut Chamber of Mines. Mr. John Ketchum, who is the GNWT manager at the Northwest Territories Geoscience Office. Both men were instrumental in the Geoscience Forum that was recently held and I thank them for that. Also with them this afternoon is Mr. Christian Bertelsen. He’s the acting director of minerals and petroleum with Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada. I’d also like to welcome this afternoon our Order of Canada recipient Arlene Hache, my former colleague Mr. David Krutko from the Mackenzie Delta, and everyone else that’s joined us here this afternoon in the Legislative Assembly. It’s great to have you here.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Mr. Dolynny.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s a privilege to have so many great volunteers and hardworking people that deal with a lot of serious issues in our community. More importantly, I’d like to make reference to one of my Range Lake constituents, Valerie Miyok, who is the administrative assistant for the NWT Literacy Council. Welcome to the House. Of course I would be remiss because of my statement today on Betty House and the tireless efforts of our true champion Ms. Dayle Hernblad, who is the homeless coordinator for the Yellowknife Homelessness Coalition. Thanks, Dayle.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, would like to recognize Mr. David Krutko, former Member for Mackenzie Delta. Thank you for all your hard work.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize a constituent and employee of the Status of Women Council, Samantha Dechief.

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. I, too, would like to welcome Chase and Cheryl to the House today. Welcome. I’d like to recognize

anyone that has not been recognized already. Thank you for coming and joining us today for the day’s proceedings. Thank you very much.

Item 6, acknowledgements. Item 7, oral questions. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.