Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Three points I want to speak on in my opening address. It has to do with the motion that the Sahtu Secretariat passed at their meeting. The Sahtu Secretariat

asked if the Aboriginal governments and the First Nations governments and the Government of the Northwest Territories talk about a process where they can sit down together and start discussing constitutional development. It’s imperative that the Sahtu people want to have this discussion to continue to protect the dignity and culture of the Sahtu people, more so now that they have a land claim. They want to know how we will continue to coexist in the future and what type of laws will uphold the Aboriginal way of life.

We are creating a new home. A devolution agreement is not too far away. The Sahtu people are saying that they need to sit down with this government here, and with all First Nations governments and look at how we’re going develop this new constitution in the Northwest Territories. That is what they want to do.

Another thing that the people in the Sahtu region have some problems with, and I want to talk about the land and water board restructuring and the regulatory process that’s going on. When the Sahtu Land Claim was settled, it was in the spirit and intent that as much control would come to the Sahtu people in the communities. Hence, the reason that the board was set up. People wanted to have this when the land claims were negotiated. Governments agreed. We shook hands on it. But now we look at it. The government has found a way to open this very important chapter and say we could do it without going back to the table. We don’t know if the governments shook hands in good faith or if their hands were held behind their back, crossing their fingers, saying that’s okay.

This is not fair, it’s not right and it’s not just to the people in the Sahtu. I say this because I was the chief negotiator in the Sahtu Land Claim Agreement, and I know that when we sat across from Osborne, the chief negotiator at that time, that this is what the people wanted in their land claim agreement. Here today we talk about some McCrank report. All reports say we need to streamline. We’re doing fine in our region. If we go ahead with that report, we’re going to take the control out of our region.

Government has a funny way to work and get its way. I think the word is bullying. That might be something that we want to look at with the federal government. This issue here was talked about when I talked to the chairman in the Sahtu region and Norman Wells. Basically, he said what are they doing. We don’t have an issue with this. That tells me that the federal government has a plan, had a plan that totally disregards and disrespects the spirit and intent of a negotiated deal that we had. We made that deal. We went to the communities and we told them about the deal, and I truly believed David Osborne when we shook hands on

this deal. But somehow it seems that is not the case.

History is repeating itself. Broken promises once again are being told, are being seen, and we’re witnessing it.

My last point here has to do with my discussion last night – actually, yesterday morning – with one of the leaders in the Sahtu communities that talked about the government policies. Some of them work against my people and their culture. For example, having traditional foods at government facilities such as the Aven Manor, the correctional institutes, the hospitals. Why can’t we get the Aboriginal foods into those systems? We always seem to come up with policies and policies that say we can’t do it. Our people grew up on wild animals, caribou, fish, seal, ducks. But when you come into a government system, they have so many papers that it discourages you from bringing food into our facilities or helping our elders with their life in the community.

Our culture teaches us to go into the people’s houses and help them with medication. We went to Colville Lake. Two old elders live there and their nephew helps them. He said, you know, one time I went there and they were taking their medication and these elders couldn’t read or couldn’t understand how much medication they took. Then they are taking them and after awhile they were walking around like zombies in their house. It was kind of comical when the guy was telling me, but that’s the case of how we come to this day that it makes it hard for people to take care of the elders.

We have just completed some budgets. We just completed how we want to do the operations within the government for next year. I hope this government and ourselves here look at how we start bringing some of these programs to the people, but more so, change some of these programs that could fit the people’s needs in all our communities.

These are my comments for the opening address.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Bromley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to return to item 9, written questions, on the Order Paper.

---Unanimous consent granted

My questions are directed to the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, and it’s on the availability of agricultural lands.

1. What is the amount of land leased for commercial

agricultural use according to total area, number of parcels and average size of a parcel?

2. What work is underway to evaluate and inventory

land that could be offered for commercial agricultural use?

3. What activities is the department carrying out,

including working with municipalities, to increase the amount of agricultural land available and to promote the commercial development and productive use of agricultural land and what supports are being offered to potential developers?

Thank you, Mr. Bromley Item 12, petitions. Item 13, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 14, tabling of documents. Mr. Ramsay.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document, entitled “Minister of Transportation’s Report to the Legislative Assembly on the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act, 1990.”

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document, entitled “NT Energy Strategic Plan 2012-2014.”

As well, Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document, entitled “Public Accounts 2010-2011 Section I and II.”

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Colleagues, I have tabling of documents. In accordance with Section 21(1) of the Retiring Allowances Act and Section 11.1 of the

Supplementary Retiring Allowances Act, I hereby table the Pension Administration Report - Retiring Allowances Act and Supplementary Retiring Allowances Act at March 31, 2011.

Pursuant to Section 21(1) of the Legislative Assembly Retiring Allowances Act and Section 11.1 of the Supplementary Retiring Allowances Act, I wish to table the Annual Report on the Northwest Territories MLAs’ Pension Plans for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2011.

Pursuant to Section 21 of the Legislative Assembly Retiring Allowances Act, I wish to table the Legislative Assembly Retiring Allowance Fund Financial Statements for the year ended for March 31, 2011.

Pursuant to Section 5 of the Legislative Assembly and the Executive Council Act, I wish to table the Summary of Members’ Absences for the period of December 7, 2011, to February 6, 2012.

Mr. Bromley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to table two documents. The first is entitled, “Letters and E-Mails Received in Support of the Need for Urgent Action on Climate Change.” The second one is entitled, “Proposal for Substance Abuse Pre-Treatment/Aftercare and Counselling.” Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Item 15, notices of motion. Mr. Dolynny.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that, on Monday, February 20, 2012, I will move the following motion: now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Sahtu, that the Legislative Assembly strongly recommends the Government of the Northwest Territories establish a territory-wide campaign to denounce bullying, including cyber-bullying, and provide information and resources for schools, parents, victims and bystanders;

And further, that the government review anti-bullying legislative measures being undertaken in other jurisdictions and bring forward a bill for consideration by this Assembly within 18 months;

And furthermore, that the government provide a comprehensive response to this motion within 120 days.

Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time I will be seeking unanimous consent to deal with this motion.

Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. Item 16, notices of motion for first reading of bills. Item 17, motions. Mr. Dolynny.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to deal with the motion I gave notice of earlier today.

---Unanimous consent granted

Thank you, colleagues. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

WHEREAS bullying includes a range of repeated, intentional or hurtful behaviours such as threats, name calling, physical abuse, physical violence, shunning, shunning and excluding, stealing or breaking of person’s things and coercing people to do things they do not want to do;

AND WHEREAS in recent years, the use of social media and other information and communication technologies to bullying, also known as cyber-bullying, has become increasingly problematic;

AND WHEREAS people who are subjected to bullying may experience a range of harmful consequences including a loss of self-esteem and confidence, feelings of being unsafe and scared, depression and physical injury;

AND WHEREAS the effects of bullying may continue to be felt long after the bullying ceases;

AND WHEREAS the Northwest Territories does not have a territory-wide public education initiative, policies or legislation to counter bullying;

AND WHEREAS the Members of this Legislative Assembly which denounce all bullying behaviour in our schools and in our society at large;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Sahtu, that this Legislative Assembly strongly recommends the Government of the Northwest Territories establish a territory-wide campaign to denounce bullying including cyber-bullying and to provide information and resources for schools, parents, victims and bystanders;

AND FURTHER, that the government review anti-bullying legislation measures being undertaken in other jurisdictions and bring forward a bill for consideration by this Assembly within 18 months;

AND FURTHERMORE, that the government provide a comprehensive response to this motion within 120 days.

Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. The motion is in order. To the motion. Mr. Dolynny.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank our colleagues for allowing us to stand here today. These are the first steps towards what I refer to as proper legislation. We have to start with the measures first. This is why the motion is on the floor today.

As indicated earlier with my Members here, the idea to create, and formulate and coordinate all the needed measures that go against all the inter-department boundaries that this motion will have to touch on, it takes a coordinated effort to get to the proper legislation in the future.

We need this government to denounce bullying. By this motion and by giving the parameters thereof, this gives our government the ability to move forward. You have to provide an aggressive campaign on TV, radio, Internet. You have to find every means possible to get this message out to all the citizens and especially the children of the Northwest Territories. This measure that we have before us today as a motion, I believe is a symbol. This is a starting point this government can use, and use for all, including our victims, but for all people and territories.

We have heard earlier today from our children out there through Our Voice, Our Choice. This is being student driven. We owe it to them to go forward and help them along their way.

This also helps us to look at the root causes of this behaviour. I think that is a very underlying issue that tends to be forgotten in the process as we prepare for legislation in the future. As indicated here by one of my Members, we have to talk about the postnatal, the preschool and early childhood

development. These are critical areas that the measure of this motion will be balanced against.

Mr. Speaker, this can’t just be a yearly campaign. Our government owes it to the people to be something more than an annual event. This has to be something within the breadth of our existence as government and something we can be proud of. Everyone here were either children or are mothers and fathers. We can’t allow our children and our students to live in fear. We need to support them. It is our turn, Mr. Speaker. This motion I think is the first step that we can tip the scales and help these victims. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. To the motion. The honourable Member for Deh Cho, Mr. Nadli.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I speak in support of this motion. I believe bullying has to stop and should be stamped out in the communities, and in our homes and also generally in society.

I would like to also thank my colleague and acknowledge the leadership of Mr. Daryl Dolynny for bringing this forward, plus to acknowledge the students that are involved in this project today and this initiative.

I think this is a start. Ultimately, we should be aspiring to ensure that bullying as a practice should not be condoned or tolerated. It should be stopped. We need government action. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Nadli. To the motion. The honourable Member for the Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.