Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Final comments are due today as the Sahtu Land and Water Board decide whether to refer to environmental assessment the proposal by ConocoPhillips to test horizontal, multi-stage fracking. I’m urging the board to issue direction for a review.

Only last year the board issued a decision referring a similar proposal by MGM to environmental review. In issuing that decision, the board noted that because this is the first proposal of horizontal fracturing in the NWT, significant public concerns have been identified. There is concern regarding the environmental effects of hydraulic fracturing given the controversy elsewhere, and given the potential risks to surface and groundwater, referral to environmental review was warranted. All of these concerns are just as valid and pressing with the ConocoPhillips proposal.

Most importantly, we have yet to set limits and thresholds based on publicly set goals in relation to cumulative impacts. Regulatory mechanisms do not exist to actually enforce those targets, and monitoring enforcement and adaptive management processes on which to base permits and management of unconventional oil and gas exploration and development have not been developed.

More specifically, there are no plans for detailed monitoring or mitigation of greenhouse gas impacts including those directly related to the ConocoPhillips application, ongoing project activities or resulting from combustion of any oil or gas that eventually may be produced. Given the comprehensive and daunting understanding that humankind simply cannot afford to burn 80 percent of the already proven global reserves of hydrocarbons, this is surprising.

Public concern remains high in the Sahtu, territorially and beyond. Several jurisdictions in Canada and globally are realizing greater impacts than predicted and moving to restrict or even ban fracking. Questions remain about financial liability from environmental damage of extractive operations. The public is already paying enough to clean up or stabilize the toxic consequences left behind after inadequate reviews.

Our Ministers of Environment and development repeatedly purport to be environmental stewards. In recognition of the hazards of premature fracking and testing prior to establishing limits and thresholds with plans to limit cumulative impacts, and the monitoring and enforcement mechanisms needed to assure this, have the Ministers urged the

board to remain consistent and refer the ConocoPhillips to environmental assessment to protect our people?

I will be asking questions.

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The Member for Sahtu, the wise old Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you to my honourable colleague from Boot Lake. It sure goes against my affirmation this morning. I looked in the mirror and said I’m getting younger, I’m getting younger, I’m getting younger. And then he calls me old and wise. I appreciate that.

I want to talk about the Harriet Gladu Health Centre in Tulita. The Harriet Gladu Health Centre is a central, crucial piece of infrastructure in our community, and now more so important because of the heavy oil and gas exploration last year and the amount of activity that’s been happening around in the Sahtu communities, especially Tulita where the health centre wants to provide the best quality service that they can provide, and needs to be updated to serve the population that they are serving.

That’s why it is a concern to me that the plans to build a new Harriet Gladu Health Centre in Tulita are off the books. Our health centres are busting at the seams. We have the urgent need for the Stanton Territorial Hospital here in Yellowknife. We have the Midwifery Program in Hay River. We have the Colville Lake Health Centre. We have the Tulita Health Centre in Tulita. When we have the dental care services and the eye doctor’s care services come at the same time, it is jam packed. They are crowded like sardines in there.

Also, our health care is in crucial need of nurses. It has been noted that there are eight communities that have no full-time nurses in those communities. We have our work cut out for us.

However, I want to talk about the 32-year-old building in Tulita that was promised that they will get a new health centre. The design was put in place. We approved $100,000 to get it going and to see what will happen.

It is crucial that we get the tender loving care and that we get CPR for the Tulita health centre. Bring it back to life, put it back in our books, and tell the people we give you assurance that we will build you a health centre. The people were looking forward to this. I was doing my research. I noticed that the health centre is no longer in the books in the capital plan. I want to ask the Minister why.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just want to continue the thoughts of Mr. Yakeleya. He was speaking about broken promises by our government to our communities. This reflects upon the issue of Trout Lake and their school.

More and more families are returning to Trout Lake and the community is growing. It is a beautiful place. It is not surprising that people in the region are coming back after leaving for school and other pursuits. This is really good for the community and the people are happy about it, but the growth is putting more pressure on the school.

It is basically a one-room school that is more than 30 years old. The small renovation that was done cannot hide this fact and did not solve the problem. It is not a modern school with modern features or conveniences. It is overcrowded, with about 20 students. Replacing the school is a high priority for the residents and the community leadership. I have brought that message to the Education Minister many times and raised it in this House, as Members well know.

Given the critical need for a new school in Trout Lake, I do not understand the slow pace of advancing the project. Work is not due to begin until 2018. That is simply too far away. The school is already bursting at the seams. I have asked the Minister to initiate a planning study, but we are still waiting. The government has focused attention on larger infrastructure projects, and in the larger communities, I might add, that seems at the expense that is badly needed in the small communities. I don’t want to say that this is the pattern, but I am beginning to wonder.

I want to get at the most important issue here. Our young people need a good education. We know that education, good employment and good health are closely linked. We have worked hard on the Anti-Poverty Strategy and early childhood education programs. If we are going to see that pay off for our people, we have to deliver high quality schooling from kindergarten to Grade 12. Trout Lake needs a new school. It is as simple as that. We need to get on with it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to oral question asked by Mr. Hawkins on March 12, 2013, regarding highway emergency response protocols.

The Highway Emergency Alerting Protocol, or HEAP, was developed by the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs to assist the RCMP and selected community fire departments in responding to vehicular accidents on territorial highways and winter roads.

HEAP describes a uniform plan for emergency response to highway accidents in the various zones designated across the Northwest Territories. It is intended to establish a process and procedures to be followed by various agencies in responding to highway accidents. More specifically, HEAP guides:

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establishing command authority;

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dispatching

resources;

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accident

reporting;

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emergency landing strip procedures; and

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clarifying medevac coverage areas.

MACA is leading an interdepartmental advisory committee, composed of Justice, Transportation and Health and Social Services, to implement a plan to strengthen community-based ground ambulance and highway rescue services in the NWT, and to explore options to ensure the safety of residents and visitors who need medical assistance in remote locations. The committee’s work plan includes a thorough review of HEAP. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I mentioned in my Member’s statement today, I would introduce the special team of energy and determination from J.H. Sissons School. First I’d like to recognize Anna Pontin, who is the organizer of this initiative. Next I’d like to introduce Krianna Strowbridge. Krianna has a special talent speaking and she was an enthusiastic presenter. Followed by Arjun Budgell, who is a very articulate young man and he provided some enthusiasm as well. Thank you very much. Next, Matthew Weibe. He was the accountant on this project. Next I have Kea Furniss. She has a special talent speaking. As well, she was the young lady who I highlighted who donated her birthday money to this initial project. Certainly last but not least of this amazing six, we have Jack Kotaska. He brought focus and good money management skills to this initiative. The next I’ll run through really quickly. They’re supported by Principal Paul Bennett, who should be in the gallery right there. As well, to their aid they have David Pontin, who is the father of Anna; M.S. and Kay Naidoo, who are the grandparents of Arjun; Nalini Naidoo and Steve Budgell, who are the parents of Arjun; Doris Weibe, who is on the side there, sitting

next to her son Matthew; and I believe I have Carri Lauder and Jim Strowbridge here for Krianna. Again, I want to support all of these young students. Thanks very much.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Beaulieu.

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. It gives me great pleasure to recognize Paul Andrew and Laurie Sarkadi, from the Minister’s Forum on Addictions and Community Wellness. I’ll be tabling their report.

I see I’m also given opportunity to represent a couple of other folks who are supporting people: Dr. David Pontin, president of the NWT Medical Association, and Mr. Paul Bennett, principal of Sissons School. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Mr. Bromley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I see the amazing team working on homelessness is off to their next project already; very quick moving on their feet.

I would like to recognize some of the Weledeh residents. In particular, of course, Anna Pontin, also her dad, Dave Pontin, here today. This family is very active in these areas and Anna is carrying on the tradition.

Also, Jack Kotaska and also all those working on this, and other residents of Weledeh that might be behind me. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize a resident of Tulita, however, he’s living here in Yellowknife: Mr. Paul Andrew. I’d also like to congratulate the young team on their achievements. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. I’d like to welcome everybody in the gallery here today. Thank you for taking an interest in our proceedings, and welcome.

Item 6, acknowledgements. Item 7, oral questions. The Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In follow-up to my Member’s statement today, I’d like to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services what would be involved in proclaiming a day of recognition for families who have lost children that were yet unborn, children that are born

stillbirth and children that are lost to sudden infant death syndrome. What would be involved in our government when we declare a day as a day of remembrance or a day to recognize something like this? What’s involved? Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Beaulieu.

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. I am no expert in this area, but I notice that over the last couple of years a lot of the days that are dedicated to things such as this were started off by interest groups. So my first recommendation would be that if there’s an interest group that wants to discuss this with our department, that would be a good place to start.

I’m not aware whether there is an actual developed and formed territorial organization as yet, but I’m sure that even by bringing the awareness to this in the House today there could very well be responses to this. We would be following suit of other jurisdictions in Canada, such as New Brunswick, which I mentioned, which have already taken the lead to do this. I don’t think it’s something that would be costly to the government and I’m not exactly sure how the proclamation of certain days is undertaken, but I would certainly encourage anybody who shares an interest in this topic of remembering young people, young lives that have been lost, and remembering family members, if they could communicate that to us I’m sure that we could get a formal presentation and request to the Minister. Thank you.

Also, once the information is in, I think the next process we’ll have to look at is maybe a motion from the Member from the House to look at designating such a day. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. The Member for Range Lake, Mr. Dolynny.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Admittedly, the North needs more skilled workers than ever before and it’s paramount that we need to do everything possible to make sure that our residents succeed at being given those skilled jobs of the future.

I rise today as a follow-up to my Member’s statement in which I talked about some of the barriers facing our northern apprentices. One of those barriers is the current way we legislate and regulate our targeted wage subsidies that flow from the employer to the apprentice employee. My questions today will be directed to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Lafferty.

Can the Minister indicate when was the last time the Apprenticeship, Trade and Occupations Certification Act was reviewed and has this act kept up with current changes in labour market development agreements across Canada? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Lafferty.