Good afternoon, colleagues. Welcome back to the Chamber. Orders of the day. Item 2, Ministers’ statements. The honourable Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Mr. Bob McLeod.

Mr. Speaker, today I’d like to highlight the progress this government has made toward reducing the cost of living in the Northwest Territories. Reducing the cost of living, and in particular energy costs, is a key priority of this government’s strategic plan.

On December 1, 2010, lower electricity rates were implemented in many of our Northwest Territories communities. The electricity rates in the thermal community zone are now approximately 40 cents per kilowatt hour for businesses and 47 cents per kilowatt hour for residents. These rates are far different from the previous rates that ranged from 50 cents up to over $2 per kilowatt hour. Also effective December 1, 2010, was an increase in the threshold of the Territorial Power Subsidy Program from 700 kilowatt hours per month to 1,000 kilowatt hours per month during the winter. This change was aimed at families. Lower electricity rates and support for families will significantly lower the cost of living and help us to reach this Assembly’s goal of creating sustainable, vibrant communities.

Two years ago we embarked on a review of electricity rates, regulations and subsidy programs in the Northwest Territories.

Through extensive public consultation we heard about the challenges faced by Northwest Territories families and businesses in small communities. We know these challenges are real and we know that this government wanted to make a real change.

The Public Utilities Board provided the Government of the Northwest Territories with some recommendations to improve the Electricity Rate Policy Guidelines before the rates can be finalized. I am pleased to inform this Assembly that today I have issued these revised guidelines to the board. The Public Utilities Board will now undertake a brief process to finalize the electricity rates established on December 1, 2010, and this will be the final technical step in establishing new electricity rates.

This new approach to our electricity system was the result of the collective efforts of many. I would like to thank all the Members of this Assembly who, through the Standing Committee on Priorities and Planning, have been extensively involved in this effort from the beginning. We had a great deal of discussion and debate and I feel we can all be proud of the fundamental change that has been brought to the Northwest Territories electricity system.

I would also like to thank the Northwest Territories Power Corporation, Northland Utilities Limited, the Public Utilities Board, the Northwest Territories Association of Communities, and all the community governments that participated in the review.

If anyone has any doubt of the impact this change will bring across the Northwest Territories, I have in my hand a recent electricity bill for the Nahanni Butte General Store. From December 22, 2010, to January 4, 2011, the store used 2,468 kilowatts of electricity for a total charge, including GST, of $1,156.80. This is a savings of $4,343.20. Before the change in electricity rates this bill would have been well over $5,500. The Government of the Northwest Territories will work with the businesses to ensure that reduced costs for business will lead to lower prices for consumers overall.

Going forward, there is still more work to do as we strive for continual improvement within our electricity system. I am confident we will be able to address any challenges that lie ahead as we work together to continue to lower the cost of living for Northwest Territories residents. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to report the release of the DVD documentary “Non-Violence: A Strength-Based Community Inquiry” which was developed as part of the GNWT Family Violence Action Plan, Phase 2. Implementing phase 2 of the plan was one of the activities that the Government of the Northwest Territories identified under the Building Our Future initiative of our strategic plan as a way to achieve this Assembly’s goal of sustainable, vibrant and safe communities.

Violence has a devastating effect on our people and communities and is compromising our collective future. Over time we have learned that finding the road back to our healthy ways isn’t going to happen by focusing on what is wrong or broken in people. We will find our way back by recognizing and building on the strengths that people have, Mr. Speaker. A strength-based approach listens closely to what is important to people in their decisions to live a non-violent life.

This documentary was premised on a strength-based approach and looks at what works in a person, a family and in a community. It is a wonderful collection of northern men’s personal experiences of non-violence, compassion, strength and human potential. This documentary confirms that deciding to use non-violent behaviour is a personal choice and taking responsibility for one’s own behaviour is the first step.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the people who participated in the making of the documentary, especially those who shared their personal knowledge and experiences. It is my hope that this documentary will serve as a useful tool to any person or organization addressing violence in the North and helping people, families and communities to support the choice of non-violence.

The documentary video is being distributed across the Northwest Territories and is also available on our website at the Department of Justice. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This year we recognized NWT Mental Wellness Week from February 6 to 12, 2011, with the theme Mental Health for Everyone. It is an opportunity to raise

awareness about the importance of maintaining good mental health and to work towards reducing the stigma of mental illness.

The NWT celebrates Mental Wellness Week several months earlier than the rest of Canada. We can all appreciate that during the cold dark days of February, good mental health should be on our all our minds.

Mr. Speaker, in Canada, one in five people will experience a mental health issue such as bipolar disorder, depression, psychosis or schizophrenia at some point in their lifetime. More than 70 percent of adults living with a mental illness say the onset developed before the age of 18. Mental illness is a health issue that we cannot ignore.

Mental illness affects people of all ages and from all walks of life. Most individuals find ways to live with their illnesses, but how they are treated by others often proves to be more of a challenge than the illness itself. This stigma and discrimination are key barriers that stop people from seeking help. Those who experience problems with their mental health should not feel alone or embarrassed to seek help. It is important that residents of the Northwest Territories know help is available and where they should go to get the support they need for any type of mental health issue.

Mr. Speaker, through the Community Counselling Program, health and social service professionals are available to provide support and referral services to all communities in the Northwest Territories. Anyone who wants help to maintain their good mental health or who would like to access mental health or addictions services can call their local health centre or go onto the Department of Health and Social Services website for more information.

For others, assistance can be found through speaking with elders or religious leaders. The important thing to remember is you are not alone and there are people willing to listen and help.

Mr. Speaker, within the Health and Social Services action plan, A Foundation for Change, the department is committed to ensuring people have timely access to appropriate health care providers.

The Yellowknife Health and Social Services Authority in partnership with the Stanton Territorial Health Authority and the department have integrated its community-based mental health services into one community mental health team that provides services locally and coordinates specialized services for the entire Northwest Territories. This is the first step in building a stronger mental health system from the ground up.

Mr. Speaker, as you know, one of the priorities of this Assembly is to improve the effectiveness and

efficiency of government operations. This restructuring is a good example of how we are supporting the sustainability of our system by focusing on administrative and program efficiencies to manage our costs and improve the delivery of mental health services.

It is critical that persons with mental health concerns receive the services they need at the appropriate time. Integration of services also provides seamless support for those with mental health issues in Yellowknife, leaving the psychiatric unit and returning to the community.

The new integrated mental health team, Mr. Speaker, is located in the former Gibson Medical Clinic site in Yellowknife. It includes a total of eight mental health counsellors, a psychiatric nurse, support from a psychiatrist, two adult service case managers, one receptionist/admin staff, one team leader for mental health integration and a manager of community mental health and addictions.

Mr. Speaker, Northwest Territories residents are well served with timely access to the services they most need. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Item 3, Members’ statements. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to talk about the continued deficit at Stanton Hospital. Between the budget years of 1999 and 2000 to the budget year of 2009-2010, which is 11 budget cycles, Stanton has all but one fiscal year been in deficit. That is one year that they did not have a single deficit, Mr. Speaker. It is hard to imagine 11 budget cycles. From what I can tell, it was the one budget year that the Stanton board fired itself, oddly enough.

For 11 years, what have they been doing over there? Adding up each unbudgeted deficit year after year, Stanton has accumulated, if you add those 11 cycled years together, a $33.6 million deficit when you add them and stack them up.

So what is this telling me or what should it be telling the administrators of the hospital that certainly something is going wrong? Is the budget for Stanton Hospital appropriate? Are they budgeting well? What is happening with the administration over there?

The staff are taking a beating as we complain about this hospital, but the real people who should be getting the message are either the Minister’s office or the administration of the hospital. Mr. Speaker,

just like the big banks in the U.S., thanks to Obama, Stanton has received a one-time bailout not that long ago. It was referred to as relief funding as they try to do it to brush away or hide under the carpet the deficit problem. It received a generous $22.7 million from this government to hide, bury or cover up the deficit problem.

Mr. Speaker, the deputy minister of Health had stated in Committee of the Whole that, on February 7

th

, page 49 of the Hansard -- or perhaps maybe

the Premier wants to finish my statement, Mr. Speaker, because he might have something to say about the deficit -- but she said that there has been a zero-based review on Stanton. Well, I am not sure what her definition is, but I looked it up from my definition and budgeting means starting from a blank sheet of paper, building up from the bottom so you know what is going on and knowing where it should be going. But, Mr. Speaker, it seemed when I asked about where was that detail, they watered it down, diminished it, started to hide the work, talked about how old it may be, rather than standing behind it proud of that work and trumpeting what they are doing, to save themselves from this continued embarrassment. They find more reasons to deny what is happening over there rather than trying to solve the problem.

Mr. Speaker, I will have questions later today to ask about that so-called zero-based budgeting and how it actually really worked out. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I spent this past week raising issues related to family violence. Today I wanted to speak about V-Day.

V-Day is a global movement in over 140 countries to stop violence against women and girls by promoting creative events to increase awareness and raise money. In 2010, volunteers from around the world produced over 5,400 interactive V-Day events educating millions of people about the reality of violence against women and girls.

Mr. Speaker, in 11 years the V-Day movement has raised over $75 million worldwide and reached over 300 million people. V-Day North is the fourth V-Day North campaign. Every V-Day North benefit will donate 90 percent of its profits, split evenly amongst Alison McAteer House and the Centre for Northern Families. The remaining funds will go into the V-Day 2011 Women and Girls of Haiti Spotlight Campaign.

The Alison McAteer House provides a home for women and children who are experiencing violence. Women and children have access to counselling and other support mechanisms while there, and stays at this facility can last up to 6 weeks. The Centre for Northern Families provides an invaluable service as a temporary shelter for women in crisis, one-on-one counselling for clients and referrals to other helpful agencies in the community. The centre also runs a healthy baby club, a toddlers’ club and a walk-in clinic once a week. Mr. Speaker, I’d like to thank the staff and management of these facilities for all the great service that they provide to the residents here.

Mr. Speaker, events like V-Day are so very important to addressing incidents of family violence. Getting the message out there, educating people and overall awareness is paramount in curbing domestic violence in our Territory. The funds raised certainly will go to a great cause.

I’d like to encourage everyone to attend the planned fundraising events taking place over the next few weeks. I’d also like to thank the organizing committee and Ms. Nancy McNeil, the V-Day North coordinator, for providing the information to Members.

Mr. Speaker, I wish V-Day and V-Day North organizers all the best in their pursuit. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A couple of weeks ago I had the honour of heading into the community of Ulukhaktok with the Minister to open up our new facility for arts and crafts with the Co-op. We provide the venue for traditional crafts and fabric and other sewing materials that are hard to get.

Currently the arts and crafts centre employs two people and plans to be expanding soon. The possible applicants eventually will work on the arts and crafts in the centre. They will require some training. These workshops are taking place now and start within a week; knitting qivuit right in the community of Ulukhaktok, which is really good to see; printmaking and carving, carvings being made right on site. Eventually the community hopes it will employ six printmakers, three knitters and hopefully 10 carvers, which is all good employment and I really want to commend the Minister of ITI for all the hard work he’s put into this project.

The connections between arts and crafts and the Inuvialuit tradition are deeply connected. Traditional patterns and images on everything from cloth we wear, the sleds that we build, Mr. Speaker. When

the community has pride in arts and crafts that we create of our ancestry, these creations result in a prouder community. This arts and crafts centre will be critical in preserving and promoting skills in traditional arts and crafts. If we lose these skills in the community, we lose it forever. Mr. Speaker, that would be a big loss for the Territory.

Mr. Speaker, Ulukhaktok Arts and Crafts received funding from the Northwest Territories Business Development and Investment Corporation under the Subsidy Companies Program to operate and manage costs. BDIC also provides accounting, marketing and operational support as the arts and crafts centre goes through the early stages. The arts centre will be governed by the directors selected for the community, by the community: Louie Nigiyok, Warren Wright and Pawan Chugh and Joseph Perry. Under the governance of these dedicated people -- and also Nellie Cournoyea, our CEO and chair of IRC, who was a big help in this program -- will provide employment to residents and exposure for the community...

Mr. Jacobson, your time for your Member’s statement has expired.

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

---Unanimous consent granted

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. The Arts and Crafts Centre will be governed by dedicated people and the crafts centre will continue to provide employment for the residents’ exposure, community pride in our arts and culture and preservation in traditional skills.

Again, I’d like to thank the Minister, Bob McLeod; MLA Hawkins; chair of IRC, Nellie Cournoyea; and the Co-op board, and all who have helped in this project. I know in the whole Territory, my carvers and printmakers are the best in the Territory.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the Minister of Health and Social Services has already delivered her Minister’s statement, this is Mental Wellness Week. It is encouraging that so much more awareness today is being brought to this topic of mental wellness. When we see Olympic athletes like Clara Hughes in a media public service announcement talking about her struggle with depression, that was once considered something to be shrouded in secrecy can now be talked about openly.

As a young mother I suffered with postpartum depression and anxiety. Unless you have experienced depression, it’s very difficult to understand. It’s not something you can just snap out of. Although it’s so frustrating for people who are around you and love you and support you to want to say snap out of it because they see you suffering, you cannot always just snap out of it by yourself.

When you’re in the depths of depression, it’s hard to think outside of it. When you’re outside of it and moved beyond it, it’s hard to imagine what it was like being in it. It is such a surreal illness.

When I was diagnosed I was referred to a specialist who, through our discussions, was able to determine that I had a genetic predisposition to anxiety and depression. I would not have known that until I hit a rough patch in my life, as I said, as a young mother. When I was a kid I didn’t understand why my dad would sometimes disappear into the basement and just be gone, sitting in a chair down there, for an extended period of time. I was a kid. I didn’t understand it. I didn’t try to figure it out. But I was able to share with the doctor that I had observed this as a child and he said most definitely that he was probably suffering from the same thing that I was struggling with.

I’ve never shared this publicly, but my own sister three years ago struggled similarly with postpartum depression. It went on for many years with her. She committed suicide three years ago; actually, right during this budget session, and I had to go home.

It affects many, many of our friends. It affects many, many families, if not all. It is encouraging to me that through family support and by the grace of God, I was able to overcome it. People may look at me and think I have accomplished a lot in my life, but I want to tell you, I’ve been there. I’ve been in the depths of depression and anxiety and I was able to overcome it.

We all respond differently. I’m not a person that doesn’t fight back. I don’t suffer in silence. When I’ve got something biting me, most everybody around me is probably going to know about it. But not everybody has that personality. They need our support and our understanding and I appreciate the awareness today.

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

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Communities all across our North strive

towards self-reliance and self-sufficiency. I’m pleased to speak about Nahanni Butte today, the community in my riding that took a big step towards this.

Last month the community of Nahanni Butte and Canadian Zinc signed an impact benefit agreement for the development and operation of the Prairie Creek mine. There was a commitment for jobs, training and community contributions. This impact benefits agreement is an example of how First Nation communities and industry can work together to advance interest on both sides.

The agreement is thanks in part to the hard work and dedication of Chief Fred Tesou and former Chief Morris Vital, the Nahanni band council, and many community members of Nahanni Butte. Our people have a lot to bring to this project and I believe that both Canadian Zinc and community leadership have made a wise decision to work together for mutual benefit.

Like other leaders in my region, I hear every day about small communities that struggle with unemployment and lack of economic development opportunities. Canadian Zinc has already established an office in Fort Simpson and continues to advance the mine towards production, which is currently undergoing environmental assessment by the review board. The mine’s lifespan is estimated to be about 20 years but the company has identified potential for many more years after that.

In operation, the mine will directly employee about 220 people and be an economic boon to the region. Now that the agreement is in place, it is up to the people to make the most of the opportunity it offers, especially our youth. Leadership needs to ensure continued communication and collaboration with Canadian Zinc to ensure that the impact benefits agreement, opportunities and benefits are delivered as intended.

Achieving the objectives of the IBA will need the support of the Government of the Northwest Territories in training and business development programs to help the community to take advantage of the employment and business opportunities from the project. I am pleased that Nahanni Butte and Canadian Zinc were willing to move ahead with this agreement and I look forward to the benefits that this mine project has to offer to Nahanni Butte and the Deh Cho region, and the Northwest Territories.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s official: the town of Norman Wells is losing its natural gas. I spoke about this topic earlier and I’m

going to speak to it again because it’s a serious issue.

Norman Wells is facing an energy crisis. The Town met in January to form a natural gas committee and discuss options for alternative energy sources. So far the options available are: woodchips, wood, solar, hydro, wind, diesel and propane. The Town is hiring a consultant to help choose the best one.

Later this year all natural gas stoves in Norman Wells will be replaced with electrical models. Already there are concerns about the adequate power supply and the cost of converting to electricity. Restaurants are concerned that the electric stoves will be too expensive to operate. Dryers and other appliances will increase the load. Where is the Government of the Northwest Territories in helping the community meet this demand?

The Town has approached the government and NTPC to investigate the cost of converting to diesel. Earlier in the life of this Assembly the government spent a lot of money and time to reduce the cost of utilities in our small communities. We talk about how we need to get communities off diesel. Now we are proposing to put diesel into a community. This is a step backward that will come at an enormous cost not only to the residents of Norman Wells but to all taxpayers and to the natural environment.

The Northwest Territories Power Corporation mandate is to be responsible for electrical generation and distribution in the Northwest Territories, and that includes Norman Wells. We’re facing some big challenges here. All commercial users will be off the system by June 30, 2013, and gas supplies will shut off to the residents as of June 30, 2014. We have a deadline. We can’t count on the Mackenzie Gas Project to solve this problem. We need the Power Corporation to step up and work with the people of Norman Wells to find the solution.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As we’ve heard already, this is Mental Wellness Week and I want to speak on it as well.

It’s no secret to any of us that in the NWT our communities and our residents struggle with the issue of mental health. We struggle for any number of reasons: the after-effects of residential school, drug and alcohol addictions, the aftermath of child apprehensions, family violence, stress from parenting, caring for elders or parents, and just from being a kid in today’s world. As a government

we struggle to help our people be mentally well, especially our youth. Incidents of youth suicide are all too prevalent in the NWT.

The government says it recognizes the need and provides for programs and services in the area of mental health and addictions and, yes, we do provide supports to and in our communities. But it’s not enough. The needs are many; the resources are few. We have far too many residents who are mentally ill but can’t get the treatment they should. They are the homeless living on our streets or in our shelters. They commit offences and crimes and end up in our jails. What they really need is proper treatment but we don’t have the programs, services and facilities to provide it for them.

Too often the critically mentally ill are admitted to hospital only to be released a few short hours later and released without any consideration for their after-care. Several non-government organizations here in Yellowknife assist in these situations as much as they can. They provide impromptu after-care but they do so without targeted funding to do it. Most of the time the client is released and left totally on their own and the result is that these clients do not get the medical assistance they need. They reoffend and end up right back in the hospital or jail. We have to stop this vicious cycle of repetition.

I’m pleased that Health and Social Services is currently reviewing the mental health and addictions programs and I was earlier pleased to hear the Minister announce the coordination of mental health services here in Yellowknife between the hospital and the primary care clinic. Both actions should give us positive results but more is required. This government currently spends just $8 million of its $344.5 million health and social services budget on mental health programs and services; that’s 2.3 percent and it is inexcusable.

We lack permanent psychologists and psychiatrists. We lack facilities for addictions treatments and for day-to-day consults and appointments. We lack mental health workers.

I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted