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

---Unanimous consent granted

Thank you, colleagues. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I cannot accept that answer, Mr. Speaker. That answer means that we will value the formula more than the students. That answer means that we will condemn children to a life with only a fraction of learning.

We can make a difference. The Minister can make a difference in these children’s lives. I’ll be asking him to do that later today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Blake. The Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s a pleasure to rise today to talk about a very important subject that I’m very passionate about as well as the realignment of Highway No. 4, but I’ve always been passionate about first aid and the training that we can ensure others can have.

I’ve got a long history of being a First Aid instructor many years ago in a previous life that I did long before politics, and I can tell you many people have often told me that they wouldn’t know what they would do if they hadn’t had first aid training. You know, I hear things like it’s easy to distinguish the difference between hypothermia and heat stroke certainly by the circumstances in some of the things that you see by the way that they react, but the average person may have trouble identifying what’s the difference between a stroke and a heart attack. So people have often told me that they find it challenging or if not insurmountable to want to help but not know what to do. So it almost paralyzes people.

I think what we have here before us today is an opportunity that if the Department of Education mandated in our schools, in our junior highs, that all our kids learned first aid. It’s been well known and well documented and it is a fact that even bad first aid is better than no first aid. I mean, I put the question out there that what would people do if we were alone on the land, or out waterskiing at Fred Henne, or even just at home by themselves with somebody else who had an incident and they were the only ones there to ask. In panic, what would they do?

We could be a new jurisdiction, one probably leading not just this country but probably even the world on this subject by saying we take this so seriously and our education system demands this, that we get our youth finally trained in first aid and we would continue that.

A lot of people today would tell you that the reason that they don’t take First Aid is quite simple. It comes down to time and money. So let’s take those

excuses away, let’s empower our youth and let’s ensure that we can provide good training that could help people. We may be saving the lives of our loved ones, our friends, and by that we would be good stewards of our future.

As I said, no first aid is almost a shame. We could be changing that dynamic today by mandating our schools starting this school year, which would start in September obviously, by a change of this paradigm. We can be leaders, and as I’ve often said, it’s a lot more enjoyable driving the bus than being under it. So let’s get ahead of this problem and show the world that we mean business in training our youth. Thank you very much.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Item 5, reports of standing and special committees. Item 6, returns to oral questions. Item 7, recognition of visitors in the gallery, Mr. Bouchard.

Thank you, Mr. Bouchard. Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize my sister-in-law Cecile Deneyoua here. I’d also like to recognize my lovely sons, one of my sons, my youngest son, Chase. He’s also here. Of course I’d like to recognize my lovely wife. I love you, honey.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Ms. Bisaro.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to take this opportunity to recognize a couple of constituents in the gallery, Ms. Jenni Bruce, who is the chair of NWT Tourism, Mr. Josh Campbell – oh, he’s slipped away on me – he is the public relations officer for UNW, and one of our municipal councillors in attendance, Ms. Lydia Bardak. Welcome all.

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Mr. Moses.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. At this time I would like to recognize Brian Desjardins, who is a long-time friend and who did great work in tourism up in Inuvik and he’s doing it now across the Northwest Territories and he does a really great job. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Moses. Mr. Bromley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize some constituents: Kyla Kakfwi-Scott, if she’s still up there, and is that her sister up there? Yup.

---Laughter

I’d also like to recognize Christine Windman of Weledeh and, of course, Lydia Bardak, city councillor. I don’t know if Mr. Whitford is still up there. Is he? Mr. Tony Whitford – everybody knows Tony – and any other members of the Weledeh riding that I might not be able to see here, given my eyes are getting old, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Mr. Ramsay.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s a great pleasure I get to welcome to the Assembly here today Mr. Brian Desjardins, the executive director of NWT Tourism. Also, Ms. Jenni Bruce, the chair, and also with them is Mr. Ron Ostrom and Carlos Gonzalez. Welcome. As well, I’d like to welcome Mr. Tony Whitford, no stranger to this House and the former Member for Kam Lake. Welcome, Tony. And Ms. Lydia Bardak, city councillor. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. After 17 years I’m glad you remembered who I am.

I’d like to take this opportunity to recognize a good old Metis boy from Fort Smith who’s made very well, and my companion for dinner just about weekly, and a man who has a long, sterling reputation in serving the people of the Northwest Territories, my friend and colleague, Mr. Tony Whitford.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. I’d like to welcome my daughter here today, Kirstin, who flew in from home. Welcome.

My executive assistant Shirley and her daughter Nina Larson. Welcome, Nina.

Then to Mr. Yakeleya’s family, welcome to the House. Then Mr. Tony Whitford again. I always tell Tony that you’re the only guy that probably did every job in the Legislative Assembly right across the board. Keep up the good work, Tony. It’s always good to see you.

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

Item 8, acknowledgements, Mr. Nadli.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I’d like to recognize the community of Enterprise for being distinguished with the Energy Action Award

from the Arctic Energy Alliance. The Hamlet of Enterprise receives its water by trucked delivery from Hay River. To save money and energy, the community decided to reduce its water use. Community members and businesses exchanged their top-load washers for energy-efficient ones, Energy Star front-loading washers, replaced toilets with low-flow toilets, replaced shower heads and taps with low-flow models. Qualifying members received Energy Efficiency and Incentive Program rebates from the Arctic Energy Alliance for their efforts. Not only was water use reduced, there were fewer water truck deliveries to Enterprise, thus reducing greenhouse gas emissions. I’d like to congratulate the community of Enterprise. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Nadli. Item 9, oral questions. Mr. Bouchard.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I indicated in my Member’s speech, my questions will be for the Minister of Health today. After a review of the Midwifery Program is completed, when will the department deliver the commitment of the Midwifery Program?

Thank you, Mr. Bouchard. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Beaulieu.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There is no question from the department that midwifery would be an important part of the health system. The plan is to look at the Midwifery Program in the fiscal years of 2013-2014 to see where we could possibly put some midwives in position. We also have to do this in conjunction with a review of the physician services.