Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to continue a discussion today on the downtown day shelter. Back in my December 13th Member’s statement and questions, I asked the government about its intention to extend the much needed services that are provided by the downtown day shelter to people who are homeless. In the Minister’s reply he talked about the department’s intention to continue that partnership with the City of Yellowknife, but he also continues to go on in the context of once the review is done, they will continue that funding.

It’s no surprise to anyone in this House, and certainly the community, that I’m a definite supporter of the downtown day shelter and I agree with the principles of why it exists. The department’s objectives of that contribution agreement were built around the fact that we should provide a warm place for clients to access washrooms, telephones, et cetera. It also provides support and referral information to other agencies and to operate between 7:00 in the morning and 7:00 at night seven days a week.

From the sounds of that, some if not most of those particular objectives are being met, but the sad case of the reality here is not all of them are being met. At the same time I’m hearing several complaints over the last couple of years regarding many serious issues, such as on-site drinking, substance abuse, abuse to staff, and quite frankly, I’ve heard other things I dare not say in this House.

With that being the case, I’d like to talk today about how we’re going to address some of these particular problems. I emphasize I am a supporter of the downtown day shelter, but it cannot exist in the same type of partnership that it’s existing in now.

It would be technically correct if the Minister of Health and Social Services says to me, oh, Mr. Hawkins, that’s a John Howard Society problem, they must deal with this; and he may be technically correct. However, as long as the GNWT’s money is going in as a partner, as a full partner, as a major partner in this objective, we do have a say as to what is happening down there. We should have a say before we renew this particular contract.

I will say without any hesitation that the environment there needs to be safe, respectable,

positive and it must provide referrals to other agencies out there. We must create an environment that is safe, respectful and positive, I say again.

I will be asking questions to the Minister of Health and Social Services, because we must meet these mutually agreeable objectives. Because we care for these people, we wouldn’t waver on any of these.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Public consultation towards the recreational leasing policy framework has no sooner been launched than they’ve gone off the rails. Overwhelming feedback from First Nations, leaseholders and the public has demonstrated such basic flaws in MACA’s process and planning that we’re back at square one. How much more wise it would have been to start with consultations, especially given the dearth of MACA’s knowledge and capacity.

Incredibly, the rights of First Nations have not been taken into account. MACA failed to provide the consultation documents directly to the Yellowknives Dene when the process was launched and the Minister should have consulted with the YKDFN before the public discussions began. The result: The YKDFN has called for no new leases until completion of the Akaitcho process.

MACA recommendations are based on inadequate and verified research. The 35 new leases proposed includes a 300 percent increase on one lake alone and is based on an office exercise without site visits to verify suitability. Worst of all, no effort was made to tap into the intimate knowledge of local leaseholders. Recommendations failed to acknowledge that an explosion of Walsh Lake leases will swamp the already inadequate facilities at the Vee Lake landing. There is no recommendation or cash to provide landing infrastructure to accommodate a doubled or tripled parking and docking demand.

Most fundamental is the illusion of land management supposed by the recommendations. MACA has a responsibility for managing lands but no familiarity with the land. MACA has responsibility for regulating land use but admits to having essentially no capacity for enforcing the regulations.

What does this mean for the future? This consultation is intended to result in a policy for the whole NWT. The fundamental clause of this effort gives little confidence in a result that will meet our land management needs throughout the NWT. Possibly most chilling is a commentary this makes on our prospects for devolution of land management. The federal government is doing

nothing to control squatting on federal Crown land, devotes no resources and tolerates a squatting free-for-all. This is the resourcing and good stewardship we propose to take down in a devolution deal?

We need to take the time to do this right and start over. I’ll be asking the Minister questions on how he proposes to turn this work around.

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Item 4, returns to oral questions. The honourable Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation, Mr. Robert McLeod.

Mr. Speaker, I have a return to oral question asked by Mr. Dolynny on February 8, 2012, regarding policy on carbon monoxide detectors.

The Member enquired as to government policy on the installation of carbon monoxide detectors and their usage in public housing in the NWT.

I can advise the Assembly that the 2008 National Building Code requires that all buildings heated by a fuel-fired appliance have a carbon monoxide detector hardwired into the electrical system. This is not a requirement for houses built prior to 2008.

All public housing units built subsequent to 1995 have carbon monoxide detectors hardwired into the electrical system. In older units we have taken steps to install detectors, including using battery operated carbon monoxide detectors when hardwiring was not possible. The carbon monoxide detectors are checked at least once a year as part of the local housing organization’s regular preventative maintenance schedule.

I appreciate the Member raising this very important issue and I strongly encourage all homeowners in the NWT to install a carbon monoxide detector in their homes in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, Mr. Robert McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m pleased to recognize our partners in Betty House that we have in the gallery with us today: Ms. Lyda Fuller from the YWCA, Ms. Dayle Hernblad from the Homelessness Coalition with the City of Yellowknife, and I think we also have sitting

up there Ms. Kate Wilson, who has done a lot of work with YWCA.

Last but not least I’d like to recognize a gentleman that I’ve had an opportunity to work with for a number of years in my capacity as Minister of MACA: the mayor of Yellowknife, the outgoing mayor of Yellowknife, Mr. Gord Van Tighem. It’s been a pleasure working with you, sir.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize my beautiful wife and my gorgeous son up there. I want to say thank you to my wife. In my language I want to say… [English translation not provided.] In my language it means honey, I love you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize and express appreciation for all the work of the Homelessness Coalition and especially mention Mr. Mayor Gordon Van Tighem, a resident of Weledeh.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, wish to make special recognition of a couple of people here today. Of course I would like to recognize Chase Yakeleya, who is a good friend of my kids. I as well would like to recognize someone special in the gallery: Kate Wilson. We’ve been good friends for many, many years; way back when we used to be neighbours in Willow Wood. Hello, Kate.

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

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, would first off like to recognize a hardworking Page from the riding of Frame Lake, Brenda Joyce-Hotte, who has been working with us all week. I believe she will be back next week to work hard for us again.

I would also like to recognize the members of the Homelessness Coalition who are with us, particularly Mayor Van Tighem, my mayor and also the president of the NWT Association of Communities; Lyda Fuller and Kate Wilson with the YWCA; Dayle Hernblad, who is the city’s homelessness coordinator; and last but not least,

Amanda Mallon, who is a Homelessness Coalition co-chair but also my very hardworking constituency assistant. Welcome all.

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

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize one of the Pages who is going to school here in Yellowknife but comes from Trout Lake: Ms. Sheyenne Jumbo, daughter of Ruby Jumbo. Also of note, she is an author of a Slavey book. Welcome.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, want to recognize the members of the Yellowknife Homelessness Coalition that are with us today. In particular I wanted to recognize Mayor Gordon Van Tighem, who has put in 12 years of great service to the city of Yellowknife and I know the Association of Communities is going to miss Mayor Van Tighem when he’s gone. I want to wish him all the best.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. I, too, would like to welcome Chase and Cheryl into the House today. Welcome. It’s always good to see you.

I’d like to thank our Pages for all the hard work you’ve done this week. Thank you very much.

I’d like to also welcome His Worship Mayor Gord Van Tighem. It’s always good to see you here in the House, Gordon. It was always good to be working with you in the past too. Thank you for all the hard work you’ve done.

I’d like to welcome all visitors in the public gallery here today and thank you for taking an interest in our proceedings here today.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Government of the Northwest Territories Aboriginal Languages Plan was tabled in the House just about a year ago. The plan states the vision of a time soon to come. The Aboriginal languages are used extensively on a daily basis to communicate in NWT homes and the communities as well as within the organizations and agencies providing services to the public. I want to ask the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment if he would look at advancing this further by establishing an Aboriginal languages agency or secretariat in the government to continue on with this plan.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Lafferty.