Good afternoon, colleagues. Members, before we begin today, I’d like to draw your attention to the Canadian flags on your desks. February 15th has

been declared National Flag Day of Canada.

It was on this day in 1965 that a flag with the first red and white maple leaf design flew proudly over Parliament Hill.

Our flag, with its distinctive maple leaf, is recognized all over the world as the flag of a people who cherish the ideals of democracy, freedom and respect.

I know we don’t see any maple trees in this part of the Canada, but we proudly fly our Canadian flag all across the Northwest Territories as a symbol of our unity with all Canadians.

Please join me, colleagues, in celebrating our flag and the great country we live in. Thank you.

---Applause

Item 2, Ministers’ statements. The honourable Minister of Education, Mr. Lafferty.

Mr. Speaker, February 20th to 24th marks Education Week. We

are celebrating the academic achievements of students across the Northwest Territories and recognizing educators who support and strengthen our education system.

This year we are recognizing Dr. Curtis Brown and Mr. Allan Karasiuk from the South Slave region. Last fall Dr. Brown received the Canadian Association of School Administrators Award for the best school superintendent in Canada. As well, Mr. Karasiuk received one of forty 2012 awards for Canada’s Outstanding Principal from The Learning

Centre. They are tremendous educators and we congratulate them both.

The Department of Education, Culture and Employment is committed to providing a strong foundation for learning at all levels. There are numerous initiatives focusing on learners at different levels and providing them with the supports and tools they need to succeed. These include the Aboriginal Student Achievement Initiative, endorsed by Aboriginal leaders and all education board chairs through the Education Partnership Declaration; the Early Childhood Development Framework review and renewal; and the Literacy Strategy.

Mr. Speaker, the school doors do not regulate the education of a child. Learning does not start, nor stop, when students walk into or out of a school. Learning is a lifelong journey that includes the family and the community. With us all working together, our students will receive a full education. I look forward to working with Members of the House to support the education goals of all students in the NWT. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Mr. Ramsay.

Mr. Speaker, entrepreneurs and small business owners are a crucial part of the Northwest Territories’ economy. They are essential to creating an economic environment that is strong and diversified, providing each region with opportunities and choices.

The last few years have been challenging for business and investment in the Northwest Territories. The downturn in the global economy also affected this territory, and it is more important than ever to do what we can to help the NWT economy grow and develop. Today I would like to highlight recent work this government is doing to assist small businesses and improve the NWT business climate.

The Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment works in partnership with entrepreneurs, small business owners and local community organizations to promote and support economic prosperity in the NWT.

In 2010-11, ITI’s Support for Entrepreneurs and Economic Development Policy – referred to as the SEED Policy – contributed over $3.6 million to entrepreneurs, small business owners and local community organizations in the NWT. This year nearly $300,000 in additional funding is available to support entrepreneurs and small businesses.

This policy is focused on increasing business activity and employment, particularly in the smaller communities. Since its inception in 2008, the SEED Policy has been extremely popular with NWT entrepreneurs and small businesses.

ITI has also expanded its commitment to different economic sectors. We realize there is no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to business support. NWT entrepreneurs are a varied group. We have responded by actively engaging with the film industry to find the best ways to provide support, reviving the Prospectors Grubstake Program, and increasing funding for residents engaged in the traditional economy, and arts and crafts. As well, we will continue to eliminate red tape whenever possible to provide better services to our clients.

A goal of this Assembly is reducing poverty in the NWT. A key element in reaching this goal is ensuring support has a significant community-based component. To that end, ITI remains committed to the Community Transfer Initiative and the Community Futures Program. The Community Transfer Initiative places resources directly into the communities through a locally-based economic development officer.

Through the Community Futures Program, support is directed to the community level, where the Community Futures development corporations are operated and managed. Year after year we continue to be impressed with the results of these programs and the economic development they encourage directly in the community.

I am also pleased to announce the launch of the newly-designed investment website, InvestNWT.ca. Developed in partnership with the NWT Chamber of Commerce, the NWT Construction Association, the NWT and Nunavut Chamber of Mines, and the Conseil de développement économique des Territoires du Nord-Ouest, CDETNO, the site highlights the economic potential of the territory and contains a wealth of information for potential investors. ITI is working closely with CDETNO on the French version of the website and we hope to launch that in the spring.

Finally, I would like to highlight that the United Nations has declared 2012 as the International Year of Co-operatives. The International Year ofCo-operativesis intended to raise public awareness of the invaluable contributions of co-operative enterprises to poverty reduction, employment generation and social integration. The year will also highlight the strengths of the co-operative business

model as an alternative means of doing business and furthering socio-economic development.

Co-operatives represent a tremendous source of economic activity here in the North and their dedication to community is both appreciated and applauded. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Colleagues, before we go on today, I’d like to welcome Mr. Anthony “Tony” Whitford to the House; former Speaker, Minister, Member and Sergeant-at-Arms and recent recipient of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal. Welcome back to the House, Tony.

---Applause

The honourable Minister responsible for the Power Corporation, Mr. Miltenberger.

Mr. Speaker, high electricity costs are a fact of life in the North and are a significant component of the cost of living for the people of the Northwest Territories. External factors like global energy prices, our remote location and lack of economies of scale all contribute to high costs in our communities. Some costs of producing and distributing electricity in the NWT can be controlled, however, and the Government of the Northwest Territories remains committed to managing these in order to keep costs for our residents as low as possible.

Last December I updated Members of the Legislative Assembly on the work the Northwest Territories Power Corporation has been doing to make sure its structure and operations support the government’s efforts to contain electricity costs, including:

• a flatter corporate structure meant to keep

NTPC more effective and efficient in the long run;

• eliminating nine positions in the organization,

three of which were senior management positions, including the chief operating officer;

• bringing the bonus pay system into alignment

with the GNWT’s bonus system;

• creating apprenticeships that will give NWT

residents the opportunity to be trained in skilled jobs that contribute to life in the North;

• implementing significant cost reduction initiatives to offset rising inflation and increased diesel costs over the past five years; and

• a strategic plan aimed at excellence in three

areas customers look to most: reliable service, price and keeping our commitments.

Other steps the government of the NWT has taken include new rate zones that spread the costs of generating and distributing electricity across more people, so no community is stuck with unfairly high electricity rates. We also made changes to the Territorial Power Subsidy Program – at some cost to the GNWT – to provide residential customers with more relief from the high costs of electricity while still encouraging them to conserve.

Even with these measures, the GNWT cannot prevent global energy trends and inflation from affecting the costs NTPC must incur to provide service to its customers. Costs continue to rise beyond the Power Corporation’s control and the rates it charges consumers are no longer enough to make up the difference. Very soon the Power Corporation will have to go forward with a general rate application seeking approval for new electricity rates.

A general rate application is an important part of the process for regulating public utilities. Through the GRA, the Power Corporation will explain to the Public Utilities Board why it needs to charge new, higher rates. Based on the information presented to it, and input from the public, the board will make a decision on whether or not new rates are justified. It has been five years since NTPC’s last GRA.

The GNWT is currently undertaking a due diligence review of the Power Corporation’s general rate application. We want to make sure we get our homework done and that only those costs that absolutely have to be passed on to the customer are included in the GRA. The review is examining cost pressures on NTPC, opportunities for operational efficiencies, and looking at how costs have risen for other electricity companies in the last five years.

The review will also consider strategies for mitigating rate increases, including the option of financial support from the GNWT to cover some of the shortfall between costs and revenues. Any financial support from the GNWT will have to be considered in terms of its impact on other programs and services in communities. Given the current fiscal situation, it is not likely that we will be able to cover the shortfall entirely, but we are committed to doing what we can to keep electricity rate increases as manageable as possible for our residents.

A final report from the consultants conducting the review is expected by the end of February. NTPC is expected to file its rate application in early March and the first rate adjustments may start as early as this April.

I will be providing regular reports to Members of this Assembly on the progress of NTPC’s general rate application and the government’s ongoing efforts to minimize the impact on NWT residents. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Item 3, Members’ statements. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to talk about the Hay River Seniors’ Society. This is a very vibrant and fun-loving group of seniors in Hay River, an association of which I am proud to say I’m a member.

I have a recent newsletter and I’m just going to use it to highlight the very busy schedule seniors keep in Hay River. They do get together often and have a very good time. They have coffee at their facility five times a week. They’re having a crib tournament in February. They’re having a fun bingo with a Valentines theme. They’ve produced calendars and cookbooks which are almost sold out. They have decided this year to again undertake the management of the Hay River Tourist Booth. That’s something that they did last summer. They set up a schedule so that when people came to Hay River and came to our Tourist Information Booth, they were greeted by seniors. They’re going to be involved in helping out with the fishing derby. They have dinners. They have their annual general meeting coming up. They’re involved in territory-wide work of abuse of older adults. They also have in their newsletter a little plug for our Seniors Parliament that they will be looking at sending a representative up for Hay River North and Hay River South.

Some stated priorities of this government are strong individuals, families and communities; sustainable, vibrant, safe communities. I want to suggest that the seniors of our communities are a very big part of that vibrant community and I am sorry to say that there is no direct funding for seniors’ societies that is provided by this government. Yellowknife is fortunate enough to have a large enough group that they can actually fundraise to hire a full-time staff person, but in a community the size of Hay River, even though there is a fairly good membership, everything is done on a voluntary basis. It would enhance their efforts and some of the activities they would like to participate in greatly if even there were a small amount of money designated through a budget of this government for support for some of those activities. I think we could count on them to put the money to very, very good use.

I know that there is project-specific money for the NWT Seniors Helpline, for example, and there is project-specific money related to other activities and workshops that the seniors have, but I think there should be money for communities that don’t have a seniors’ society and those who do, because

I think it’s extremely important for seniors to get together.

Later today I’ll have questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services on why we don’t have that.

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

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Today I want to speak about a project that is very important to the residents of Nahendeh, which is a replacement of the Fort Simpson Health Centre.

This item has been bumped from the capital item for another year. I just want to make note of that. I understand that it is tentatively on the books for planning in 2013-2014 with construction beginning in 2014-2015. I want to make sure to keep to that schedule.

There has been a patchwork of renovations and retrofits that have kept it running over the years but these are band-aid solutions, and expensive ones at that. The facility is nearing the end of its useful life and now it needs to be replaced.

There’s an essential piece of infrastructure not only for the village of Fort Simpson but for the entire Nahendeh region. The current health centre has a laboratory, X-ray, sterilization equipment, OBS, pharmacy room, two emergency rooms and five clinic rooms. In planning for the new centre, it is critical that we include all these same components so that the level of service is not downgraded in any way.

A few months from now we will be starting the process of reviewing the 2012-2013 Capital Estimates and I want to assure my constituents that I’ll be fighting to ensure that the planning dollars for this new Fort Simpson Health Centre are included in that budget so that construction can go ahead in the following year.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, Mr. Moses.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday we had a Minister’s statement regarding Aboriginal languages and revitalization into our Aboriginal languages across the Northwest Territories. I wanted to briefly touch on that today. It really sparked my interest, and being someone who

doesn’t speak their language, it’s something that I want to see brought forward over the next four years so that by the end of four years I’ll be able to stand here and do a Member’s statement in Gwich’in, and that some of our colleagues can do the same thing.

Aboriginal languages are the foundation of northern cultures. They define Aboriginal peoples, they describe northern values and beliefs, and they provide the framework through which northern people express their views and their visions. This was an opening address made by the Honourable Jackson Lafferty, Minister of ECE, in a report that was brought out in 2010. He also goes on to state that if nothing is done, we will lose our Aboriginal languages. As stated, I would like to see that this government moves forward into some of the work that the Minister is doing, along with Members on this side, so that these languages can be revitalized. In a briefing that was done earlier in this government, we noticed that languages across the Northwest Territories – it’s not just the Gwich’in language, not the Inuvialuktun language – all languages are declining and that needs to be addressed and fixed, as I mentioned.

Not only languages. We’re speaking about culture here. We’re talking about dance. We’re talking about music. We’re talking about all things that are associated with culture that can bring our people stronger so that they’re proud to be Northerners, proud of their cultures. That’s something that I want to see brought forth within the next four years and get stronger each and every year as we move forward.

Later today I will be having some questions for the Minister of ECE in regard to his Minister’s statement yesterday, and how we can move forward on this and start addressing some of the priorities in terms of the languages that have really declined and are in an emergency situation. Mahsi.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. During the last session while debating how best to act on climate change, discussion was sidetracked as a focus on rules obscured the meat of the debate. Nevertheless, recognition of the need for real action shone through. Public responses sent to Ministers, colleagues and myself showed overwhelming public support for GNWT leadership on a more responsible position to fight climate change.

Here are some sample quotes: “We’re in denial about what every major academy of science is telling us.” “The imbalance has wreaked havoc on

the environment.” “Our behaviour is folly of the worst type.” “This government ignores the pleas of impacted communities and risks the future of my generation.” Just a few quotes, Mr. Speaker.

Comments restated a main point: that when our descendants judge us on the preservation of the planet and their future, our policies will be seen as irresponsible, inadequate and blind. I grant that to be on the leading edge is demanding, but by subscribing to scientifically sustainable policies, in contrast to carbon intensive development, progressive jurisdictions and businesses position themselves to compete effectively in the non-petroleum-dependent economies being forced upon us.

So back to the point. Clearly recognizing the science as our government does, a policy target of 100 percent increase in our carbon emissions by 2020 from such much earlier level is highly irresponsible and unacceptable, and our public agrees.

So what are some suggestions to help this government correct this? First, let’s put in place a policy that reflects the science and aim for a 40 percent reduction in NWT carbon outputs by 2020, with a firm program of proven policies and laws that fully mitigate any large projects proposed. In place of the current void, the GNWT would commit itself to becoming carbon neutral in our and our wholly-owned corporations’ operations by 2020. These can be achieved by driving our expansion of renewables through informed policy, support of communities in development of alternative energy systems and early adoption of smart grid technology, and perhaps some purchase of carbon offsets. Besides terrifically enhancing local and territorial economic development, such action will substantially reduce cost of living in our communities.

We must be leaders in averting the environmental suicide current policies condemn our descendants to enduring. Let’s get it done. Mahsi.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I sat yesterday eating my cold Valentine’s Day supper shortly after a long and grueling debate on approving appropriations for this government to commence its due diligence on the Inuvik-Tuk highway, and it hit me: the Gravina Island Bridge. What does that have to do with the Inuvik-Tuk highway, you may ask. Let me tell you.

The Gravina Island Bridge controversy started in 2006 during the campaigning of Alaskan governor

hopeful, Ms. Sarah Palin. Coined as the bridge to nowhere, this behemoth project clocked at over $398 million was a proposed bridge to replace the ferry service between the town of Ketchikan, Alaska, and Gravina Island. In the end, the bridge project was cancelled, yet the elected Palin administration forged forward, with federal money that couldn’t be returned, to build a highway system which would have connected this proposed bridge.

Interestingly, this is where our similarity lies. This dead-end piece of constructed road was later coined the Road to Nowhere. History has a way of teaching us lessons in life, and although I strongly support the concept of connecting our Tuk neighbours to the rest of Canada, creating jobs, creating infrastructure capacity and much needed hope for the Beaufort-Delta, I am equally torn that this government is not doing a great job selling this concept to the Members on this side of the House or the people of the Northwest Territories, for that matter.

Decisions to move forward on this project are being hampered with emotional feelings or political lobbying rather than rational thinking. The Minister asking for a leap of faith or asking us to put our best foot forward or, heaven forbid, asking the Department of Transportation to trust them after what we have seen with the Deh Cho Bridge is not only unacceptable, it is insulting.

Mr. Speaker, I have complete respect and admiration for the people of Tuktoyaktuk. However, we don’t want to see our own version of the Road to Nowhere. It is up to the people of the Beaufort-Delta and the rest of the Northwest Territories to stand up and be heard. Let’s get the right answers to our questions and let’s put all the cards on the table, because we are heading down a path or, in this case, a highway where the point of no return is just around the corner. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It has almost been a year since the government closed the Joe Greenland Centre in Aklavik to elders who cannot live independently. Now there is a line-up of elders waiting to get into the facility in Inuvik which serves the entire Beaufort-Delta region.

I am not convinced that the Inuvik facility can handle all of the elders who need care. I am not convinced that sending the elders to Inuvik and Yellowknife from the communities is the best way to care for our elders. In my riding alone, there are more than 300 elders over the age of 60. In Fort

McPherson and Tsiigehtchic there is only one home care worker in each community.

Mr. Speaker, even if they can’t stay at home, the elders themselves would rather live in one of the Delta communities instead of Inuvik or Yellowknife. The reason is family and friends visit regularly and bring their elders traditional food.

The Joe Greenland Centre is part of our social and cultural fabric of the Delta, Mr. Speaker. The community of Aklavik was proud of its role in taking care of our elders.

Members of the 16th Assembly, a year ago, passed

a motion to continue providing long-term care for elders at the Joe Greenland Centre. For all of these reasons, I am asking the Health Minister to reverse the department’s decision to end long-term care at the Joe Greenland Centre. I believe the current building can be renovated to meet necessary standards, but if that is not possible, a new facility should be built in the Mackenzie Delta. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It was several years ago now, although it seems like just yesterday that the GNWT decided to implement the Supplementary Health Benefits Policy. The intent of the policy dated September 2007, was to provide consistent health benefit coverage for NWT residents who were not covered. But it also proposed to change the GNWT Extended Health Benefits Program to an income-tested model. Not surprisingly, there was considerable consternation, especially among seniors and residents with medical conditions requiring extensive treatment with expensive prescription drugs. There was great debate here in this House. Residents marched to protest on the sidewalks outside the House. There were numerous public meetings and consultations. Things seemed at an impasse.

A Joint Working Group comprised of Regular Members and Cabinet Ministers was formed in July of 2010. After considerable time spent discussing the policy, reviewing options, considering residents’ concerns, the Minister of Health and Social Services of the day tabled the report of the Joint Working Group which contained 11 recommendations.

The 2007 policy was rescinded and work began on some of the Joint Working Group report’s recommended actions. On April 1st of last year,

several administrative changes took effect. To mention just a couple, one is residents with access to third-party insurance would be asked to use it

first before accessing the Extended Health Benefits Program or the Metis Health Benefits Program. A second one is we now use the same drug list for NWT residents whether they are funded by a federal NIHB Program or the NWT Extended Health Benefits Program.

What is still lacking is coverage for what has become known as the working poor, residents who have no health plan through their employer, who are not a senior over 60, not a Metis, not a status Indian and not on the department’s specified conditions list.

It’s been almost a year now since the initial changes were put into place. The Joint Working Group recommended provision of coverage for this segment of our population, yet there’s been no information to Members since the last update on March 10, 2011. Is the department working to fill this coverage gap, or has that thought quietly slipped away?

We have to provide for all of our residents equally, Mr. Speaker. We’re not doing that now and it’s time for action. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. The Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. After the long deliberation yesterday of the supplementary infrastructure budget, I went home, I didn’t have any supper, I sat down on my couch, all alone in the dark.

---Laughter

However, Mr. Speaker, sitting there I thought about the rich resources that we have in the Sahtu region and the need for young people to start getting the proper education and training for the development that possibly could happen in the next four, five, or 10 more years.

We have a high population of young people. A couple of years ago, 45 percent of the entire Sahtu population was under 24 years of age. We need a Sahtu tech, a Sahtu college, a real college, real opportunity to bring the young people into one location. They have campuses in Inuvik, here in Yellowknife and in Fort Smith. We need a college like Keyano College or the college in Whitehorse.

We’ve had resource development happening since 1921. That’s over 90 years. We need to prepare our young people to get into the workforce. They are no longer the trappers and the hunters of my grandfather and the ancestors of my people. We need to properly prepare them to go out into the workforce. We need to get them ready and we need to start talking about partnerships with industry, the

different government agencies and the Sahtu leadership to start talking and planning for a Sahtu tech in our region and to prepare our young people.

It is irresponsible of this government to send our young people out with minimum training from the Aurora College campus. People are telling us the campus is not living up to what it should be. So we need to start preparing our people to do the things that are fair and just, and give our children a fair opportunity to make it in the world, because they can do it.

I’ll have questions for the Minister of Education and Culture at the appropriate time.

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