Mr. Clerk, would you ascertain if the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, the Honourable George Tuccaro, is prepared to enter the Chamber to open the Fourth Session of the 17th Legislative

Assembly.

Good afternoon, colleagues. On behalf of all Members, I would like to thank Commissioner Tuccaro for opening the Fourth Session of the 17th Legislative Assembly. Also on

behalf of all Members, thank you to Kimberly Galbaransingh for a beautiful version of O Canada, and to pastor Ryan Peters from the Yellowknife Vineyard Church for leading us in prayer.

This House extends its welcome to everyone who has joined us today. I would like to take this opportunity to belatedly, but most sincerely, wish my colleagues, our guests in the Chamber today, and all Northwest Territories residents a peaceful and healthy New Year.

We have some special guests in the gallery I would like to acknowledge, a group of young men and women participating in the Ontario Legislature Internship Program. Members will be seeing them

in the Assembly this week as they learn about the North and consensus government. A warm welcome to you all. Please rise.

---Applause

I would like to welcome former Member, Minister, and former Speaker Mr. David Krutko to the House today.

---Applause

And His Worship, Mayor of Tuktoyaktuk, Mr. Mervin Gruben. Welcome.

---Applause

I’d never forget my presiding table officer, captain, former Speaker, Sergeant-at-Arms, Mr. Tony Whitford.

---Applause

I would like to take this opportunity to publicly extend the condolences of the House on the passing of Mr. Gordon Robertson, Commissioner of the Northwest Territories from 1953 to 1963. It was under the hand of Mr. Robertson that the seeds were sown that eventually led to the establishment of Nunavut in 1999. I echo the words of many others in highlighting Mr. Robertson’s dedication and love of Canada, particularly as it relates to the North.

Many of our communities have also lost loved ones since we last met, and when we lose loved ones in our communities, we all feel the loss. My thoughts and prayers go out to the families of Dusty Carothers, who lived in Tuk for years. He was a mechanic and helped so many people. He’ll be missed by the staff of EGT. He was a good friend.

Charlie Ruben of Paulatuk passed away. Condolences to his family and his daughters.

For my aunt, Emily Taylor, who passed away two weeks ago, to Linda, William, Bertha, Darrel, Ronnie, Mary Anne, my thoughts and prayers are with you.

Ten days ago we lost a good friend, Bob Heath from Inuvik, who passed away in Antarctica. I will be making remarks and condolences to his family here in the House tomorrow.

To all the families who lost loved ones, may you find strength and comfort in one another, and our thoughts and prayers are with you.

And finally, colleagues, I would like to remind you all of the decision made by this Assembly last November regarding the use of tablet computers in the Chamber during formal session.

The motion adopted by this House permitted the use of tablet computers during all proceedings in the Chamber, with some limited exceptions. Tablets may not be used during the prayer, at any time when the Commissioner is in the Chamber, during the Speaker’s opening or closing remarks or

rulings, during votes, or at any other time as designated by the Speaker.

This motion expanded the use of tablet computers in the 17th Assembly as a standard tool for all

Members. Members may now refer to a tablet in place of paper speaking notes.

As noted in the report of the Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures, tablet use has resulted in a reduction in the amount of paper used in this Assembly and has made retrieving information more convenient for all Members. Documents equal to several binders of paper can now be stored on one device.

Of course, colleagues, I cannot stress enough that all electronic devices in the Chamber must be on silent mode and must not disrupt the proceedings of this Assembly.

In November the House also agreed that the use of tablet computers is subject to the overriding discretion of the Speaker, to ensure order and decorum in the Chamber.

Please be assured that I take this direction very seriously and will continue to safeguard the dignity and decorum of this Chamber. I do this so that all Members can carry out their work in the most respectful and efficient manner possible.

I will close here, colleagues, since I know you are eager to begin your work. But first, to mark the opening of the Fourth Session of the 17th Legislative Assembly, I invite everyone to join the Commissioner and Members for a short reception in the Great Hall.

We will resume in 15 minutes. Thank you.

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Item 3, Ministers’ statements. The honourable Minister of Finance, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that I will deliver the budget address on Thursday, February 7, 2013.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Item 4, Members’ statements. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Blake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to welcome everyone back to the House. I would

also like to wish everyone in the Mackenzie Delta a happy New Year and all the best for 2013.

I would also like to congratulate six youth from Tsiigehtchic who won the Youth Hand Games Tournament in Tulita over the weekend. Starting with the captain, Jared Blake, Dale Blake Jr., Aiden Andre, Darius Andre, Thomas Norbert, and Davey Lennie Jr. Congratulations again on a job well done. These youth are learning a tradition that has lasted for many years.

Also, a thank you to Joey McCarthy who was the chaperone. Keep up the good work. Also, a job well done to the community of Tsiigehtchic for their support in sending the youth to Tulita for the hand games tournament.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to welcome all my colleagues back to session here. Throughout the years as a Member, we as MLAs get invited to functions and celebrations. We also get invited to other events that are sometimes not so celebratory, such as funerals and wakes.

I want to rise today to talk about the specific losses that we’ve had in the Sahtu. I’ve heard from our other colleagues of some of the people they lost in their ridings. For example, up in the Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Frank Firth, a good friend of mine that passed away in Fort McPherson, or the pilot for whom we just had a memorial in Inuvik.

Throughout the years as an MLA, from time to time we’re caught in either sitting in Assembly here or at one of the committee meetings or we get called to go to our communities to pay respects for the elder or young person. Sometimes there’s a conflict for us to either go or stay here and do business on behalf of the people or show our support for the people back in our communities. We deal with that from time to time. Death has no appointment. That is one of the hardest parts in our small communities. We look, and they have their own customs; people have their own customs and traditions how to handle death.

I just want to pay our condolences to the people in the Sahtu for the passing of the elders. I want to name off Marie Boniface, an elder from Fort Good Hope who passed away recently; Mr. Antoine Kochon from Colville Lake; Marie Therese Kenny from Deline; Elizabeth Kodakin from Deline. Of course, we lost some younger people: Mark Collier from Norman Wells; my cousin Johnny Lennie from Norman Wells last summer; Nicole Horassi; and a young lady from Fort Good Hope, Faith Kochon.

We offer our prayers to the families, and we’re thinking about them even as we’re working.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I open this winter session very happily by reporting on the tremendous achievement of Weledeh speed skating marvel Michael Gilday, Canadian National Men’s Short-track Speed Skating Champion.

On January 20th Michael edged out the reigning

Canadian champion to take the championship title. With that win, he qualifies to compete in his third World Championships competition later this year.

Given time constraints, I will mention just some of the spectacular accomplishments racked up by Michael since his first Gold ulu as a juvenile at the Arctic Winter Games in 1998. He is the present Canadian world record holder in the 1,500 metres, held the 1,000 metre world record from 2007 to 2009, and was the 500 metre Canadian record holder from 2009 to 2011. He was a member of the World Championship Canadian Men’s Relay Team in 2011 and the world record-setting men’s relay team in 2012.

Since his first World Cup event in 2006-2007, he has competed in 23 World Cup events, with a record of one Gold, four Silver and two Bronze medals. He has been a member of the Canadian National Speed Skating Team since 2008.

This past weekend Michael competed at this year’s fifth World Cup event in Sochi, Russia, and is now preparing for the last World Cup races of the season this weekend in Dresden, Germany. He returns to Europe for the World Championships in Debrecen, Hungary, in early March.

Michael will begin preparations in August for the Canadian Olympic trials. We look forward to him carrying his record-breaking streak forward to next year’s Winter Olympics in Sochi.

What a record! Michael Gilday shows how an individual can take on the world and win. Michael has the gift of talent, yes, but he also has the guts and determination, the advantages of excellent coaching and program support, the perseverance to overcome broken bones and get back at it, and the blessings of a supportive and inspiring family and community that have made him a world-class champion. He has written the name Northwest Territories in the rolls of international achievement and continues to make us all proud.

I ask you to join me in saluting this latest fabulous achievement and wishing Michael all the best. On to the Olympics!

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Before I begin, I would like to welcome all Members, Cabinet, staff and yourself back to what is going to be a very exciting six weeks of session here in our Fourth Session.

Last week I had a great opportunity to attend the very successful NWT Days in Ottawa. While we had many great ambassadors and excellent staff throughout the event, there is one particular group I would like to recognize, and that’s the youth ambassadors.

The Youth Ambassadors Program has been going on for a few years now and has been very successful. I have had the opportunity to see this program grow, develop and flourish into what is one of the best performances that I have witnessed with this group during the Spectacular NWT Gala event. They did a great job and made the NWT very proud, and their communities, families, friends and staff that put so much hard work and hours to get them to where they are. Whether youth ambassadors were guiding invited guests into the gala, handing out gifts, or just demonstrating Arctic sports and traditional games, they did a great job and they should be very proud of themselves.

Youth from all over the NWT who participate in this program have the opportunity to develop life skills and confidence that will help them be successful in the years to come, and become leaders of tomorrow.

At this time I would like all Members to please join me in recognizing and acknowledging the hardworking youth ambassadors and the great work that they do, and the hardworking staff that see this very successful program continue to flourish and develop leaders of tomorrow.

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

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Indeed, we have returned after our holiday break, and since that last break I have travelled in my constituency and will be following up on many important issues that affect my riding. I am the MLA with the most communities and there are many specific and general issues that I will raise. While territorial issues such as devolution, wildlife, and even the new Boundaries Commission are important, I always like to put my communities first.

It is hoped that, in our upcoming budget, resources will be available to address the concerns such as community wellness plans, training for our young adults, and even the completion of our capital projects in my riding such as the Trout Lake airport and the water treatment plant in Wrigley.

I can also say that this winter the oil and gas development in the Sahtu has affected my communities, and I will be addressing some of these issues over the course of this session. I see this as a huge opportunity to support the Sahtu’s needs while identifying a means of expansion of the Mackenzie Highway north of Fort Wrigley.

Be assured I will continue with my focus on mine and our two favourite words: Highway No. 7. Chipsealing from Fort Simpson to the Providence junction and a new stand-alone school for Trout Lake and even Nahanni Butte are high on my agenda.

I offer well wishes to my constituents and their families as we do our best to address their issues and the issues of our communities. Mahsi cho.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Prices at the pumps, Mr. Speaker. Who is protecting the public’s interests? The government can no longer stand idly by on this particular issue, so let me finally say, government, welcome to the file.

While prices continue to ratchet up, they move down like molasses in the winter, and as we all know, most of them tend to be frozen like our winter. The cost of living is a burden on everyday Northerners. It’s well beyond the tipping point, as we’re all well aware. So where is the McLeod government when it comes to monitoring and protecting the public’s interest on this problem?

If you ask anyone out there, they will all agree a 50 percent margin is a huge disparity between the fuel prices in Edmonton and in Yellowknife. It’s well beyond fair. We all know for a fact it costs a lot less than that to bring that fuel to the northern pumps. We also further know that everybody understands that a profit is okay, but it’s about a fair profit, and who’s protecting the public’s interest.

At the same time, there is recognition for higher costs, but at what cost? It really comes down to this: What is fair, is the consumer being held hostage, and is the government on the side of big oil or the NWT residents?

But all is not lost. There’s always opportunity in every single problem. This McLeod government could do something today besides the status quo on this file. Like other provinces who have taken the

lead, like New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, they mitigate the impacts and certainly the fluctuation between gas prices, and they regulate and control and protect their citizens in their jurisdictions. New Brunswick does not set a minimum price, so they allow competition to flourish, and they don’t discourage that. But they also keep in mind and they moderate a top price to ensure that their citizens are not taken advantage of.

To a certain extent, the Government of the Northwest Territories already does this through the petroleum products division. They already know how to regulate and protect consumers. Why is it such a challenge to watch our northern citizens be taken advantage of? The formula they use establishes and promotes fairness, consumer protection and stability within that province. It might not be perfect, but it’s better than doing nothing.

Information is easy to understand and the consumers are happy. Northerners work hard for their paycheques. Again, the other question that remains is: Will this government do something or stand idly by? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The Member for Deh Cho, Mr. Nadli.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good afternoon. I would like to take this opportunity to welcome my colleagues back to the House, and extend my best wishes for 2013 to the people of the Deh Cho and the Northwest Territories.

My focus today is getting back to the basics of governance. Government is working, on many fronts, to provide programs and services that contribute to the quality of life of all Northerners. There is much work that needs to be done to ensure that we use our resources efficiently and effectively.

Consensus government will be put to the test, especially in the 17th Assembly. Major issues hinge

on fundamental matters such as jurisdiction, treaty rights and Aboriginal title that have to be respected. We face many challenges. The cost of goods is increasing due to global market pressures in addition to the transportation costs associated with the remote locations of our communities, disparities in wage and job opportunities among our people, the high cost of living and diminishing funds for public housing.

Addiction tortures the lives of many people and compounds the pressures on our government, particularly in the areas of health and social services.

As the Northwest Territories moves closer to a final Devolution Agreement, the need to settle land

claims becomes even more apparent. The governments of the Northwest Territories and Canada, First Nations and local government must continue to work together to resolve issues and establish greater certainty for the future. I urge all parties to continue to work with fairness and integrity. Reaching agreements may involve some compromise in the short term, but self-government will bring greater authority and autonomy to our people, certainly to other governments and industry, and prosperity in the future.

With devolution, a large number of staff, programs and services will be transferred to the GNWT. What we have seen thus far with the transfer of responsibilities is concentrated in headquarters and regional centres. Members of this Assembly continue to insist that positions be moved into the regions. We must carefully consider the impact that this will have on our communities with both municipal and territorial resources.

By getting back to the basics of governance and what we really came here to do, we’ll be able to make fundamental changes and move beyond perceptions on both sides. The development of governance in the Northwest Territories is ongoing involvement. Now more than ever, we must get back to the basics to create the future of the Northwest Territories. Mahsi.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Happy New Year. Welcome back, and welcome back to all my colleagues. It’s good to be back.

My statement today celebrates the one resource that all Northerners have in abundance: snow.

World Snow Day was established by the International Ski Federation as part of an international campaign called Bring Children to the Snow. The second annual World Snow Day took place just last month, on January 20th , the same

day that Mr. Gilday achieved his excellence, so it’s fairly fitting.

Four hundred thirty-five organizers in 39 countries staged events this year that brought children and their families into a friendly, fun environment to celebrate all things snow. Yellowknife joined this year’s World Snow Day with a series of snow-related events, all free of charge. From what I witnessed and from what I read, the day was a tremendous success. Many Yellowknifers were able to try out a winter sport for the very first time, and were able to do that in a supportive, friendly, but chilly environment. It was 30 degrees that day; minus, of course.

In spite of the cold, it was a community celebration involving many volunteers and partners. Our local schools donated ski equipment to the Yellowknife Ski Club for the day. The Yellowknife Ski Club had many experienced skiers and volunteers on hand to help with 127 people who came to try out snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. The NWT Board Sport Association donated equipment, time and volunteers at the Bristol Pit with approximately 10 snowboarders there. The Great Slave Snowmobile Association offered a day of free riding, and the ice rink on Frame Lake at Somba K’e Park was open. At least three local businesses, the Smokehouse Cafe, Overlander Sports and Kavanaugh Brothers Ltd., donated their time and services for the day, and Yellowknife author Jamie Bastedo gave a talk about snow.

Other NWT communities had impromptu events as well, and for a second year, Fort Smith had the Muffaloose Stomp and Glide, a ski and snowshoe event along the Slave River.

The Yellowknife World Snow Day Committee is already planning for the third annual Snow Day in January of 2014. Hopefully, more NWT communities will join in next year’s celebrations. After all, winter is one of our best resources. No matter what the temperature, people should get out there and enjoy it. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. The Member for Range Lake, Mr. Dolynny.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Welcome back, and welcome back to my colleagues.

After a long period of inactivity in the diamond polishing and cutting industry, I’m very pleased to see that the production start-up of Deepak International (DIL) has finally arrived in the Range Lake riding. This revitalization comes at a critical time in our territory’s future growth and the global diamond industry, and we look forward to working with DIL to put the NWT back on the international diamond stage.

However, many Members of this Assembly are concerned on the long process that DIL had to endure to get to this point in manufacturing, and coupled with little to no information from the ITI department, nor the Minister on this recent announcement begs to ask why so much secrecy.

Now, I realize the concern that many in the department may have had due to past manufacturer failings. However, this production start-up company was self-financed with little to no risk to the public purse. So, again, why the delays and why the non-collaboration with standing committee or the riding representative?

I want to stress that these are very exciting times for the territory and for DIL, but the lack of information leading up to this announcement puzzles many Legislative Members.

It is further concerning that the department and the Minister appear to be operating in the cover of darkness when it comes to our revitalization of the secondary diamond industry, and as a Member of consensus government, and as a home to diamond manufacturing, we do have to ask, again, that question why.

Recently, with no agenda given or a current secondary diamond policy, our Minister undertook a world tour to places like London, England; Antwerp, Belgium; and Gaborone, Botswana, all under the guise of drumming up business with future diamond producers. With the taxpayer laying down this blanket of money for such expensive travel, one has to ask what was the Minister’s strategy to revitalize this industry, and was this new mysterious diamond framework discussed in consensus and a collaborative matter with Members of this Assembly prior to such travels. We all know the answers to those questions.

We have the unique opportunity at a second chance in this diamond industry, and we are being scrutinized by the industry itself. It is important that we support hardworking upstart operators like Deepak International Limited, and place caution in moving forward into this industry with no compass or roadmap. We cannot repeat the scars of our past.

I will have further questions for the Minister of ITI later today to help answer some of these concerning questions. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Lots of things about the North and how we deliver programs and services to our constituents is very unique to the North. Many rural and remote communities and, in fact, all of our communities have to occasionally rely on an employee, the use of medical evacuation charters. It is nothing like being in a large urban centre with a hospital where family and friends can support a family member through a medical emergency. It’s not even a given that a family member can fly later in a timely manner or travel by road if it is an off-road community, or can necessarily afford a flight or a road trip to accompany a loved one that has had to be taken out for medical assistance in emergency situations.

These times of medical emergency are often emotionally charged, or added to the stress of the threat to health and well-being, the separation from the moral support and calming support of loved ones. The patient is placed in a strange environment, not knowing what their future holds.

I’m not talking about medical escorts; I am talking about a plane that is transporting a patient in which there may be room for someone to accompany that patient. These charters are extremely expensive, and of course, we are thankful that our government freely provides this service to our constituents when a medical evacuation is necessary.

Today I am going to have questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services as to what this government’s policy is about family members accompanying, or one person accompanying a family member that’s on a medical evacuation. If this is not the policy of this government and if this cannot be accommodated, I’d like to know why. We need to do things that make common sense. I can understand that if there is medical equipment or other medical personnel on that plane and there was no room, then certainly the safety and well-being of the patient takes priority. But if there is room for a family member to accompany a patient to a regional or territorial centre or to Edmonton or from Edmonton on a medical evacuation charter, I think that common sense should prevail.

I will have questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services about this. Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Beaulieu.

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. [English translation not provided.]

Today I would like to speak about the passing of a good friend of mine, Henry Fabien of Fort Resolution. Henry was born September 23, 1948, and passed away on December 3, 2012. Henry was the third son of Albert and Rose Fabien.

Henry was a loving son, brother, uncle, nephew, cousin and friend. He had the utmost respect for anyone who had the pleasure of knowing him. Henry loved going out on the land. He enjoyed hunting and trapping during his lifetime. He took many hunting trips, trapping trips with his friends and relatives.

Henry sincerely loved his siblings and family. His times spent with them were his happiest times. He always loved teasing and spending time with his nieces and nephews. His jokes made light of any situation bad or good. That was his nature.

Henry enjoyed gardening, and every year he planted a garden in Fort Resolution. When his family came to visit, he would always cook up some wild food and fish, and have his fresh potatoes from the garden to serve with it.

Henry was predeceased by his father, Albert; his mother, Rose; brothers John, Louis, Lawrence; and his younger sister Georgina.

Henry is survived by his brothers and sisters, Eddy, Donald, Rita, Kaye, Angelina, Helen, Lorraine and his brother Robert Sayine Sr. Henry will be sadly missed by all of his friends and family, and my condolences go out to his loved ones. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It gives me great pleasure to be able to introduce a constituent and friend from Fort Smith, Mr. Keith Hartery, visiting and contemplating becoming a nursing student to add further to his service in the North. Welcome. Thank you.

Mr. McLeod.

The success of a lot of the programs that we offer as a government is dependent on the people on the front lines that implement them. We have three gentlemen up here that work with the youth that are part of the Youth Ambassador Program. Mr. Peter Daniels from Fort Smith, Mr. Shane Thompson from Hay River, and Mr. Donald Kuptana Jr. from Inuvik, a constituent of mine. Welcome to the Assembly, gentlemen, and a job well done. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. I would like to clarify that Donald Kuptana is from Tuktoyaktuk. He lives in Inuvik right now, working.

---Laughter

Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I would like to verify that Shane Thompson lives in Fort Simpson.

---Laughter

I would like to welcome Shane Thompson, as well as Colinda Blondin, to the House. She is the newest constituent of Fort Simpson as well. Welcome. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Ms. Bisaro.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is my pleasure to welcome a constituent today, Mr. Jeff Corradetti. I would also like to recognize my former

colleague, Mr. David Krutko, former MLA for Mackenzie Delta; and Lydia Bardak, the executive director of the Dene Ko Day Shelter. Thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Moses.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Further to my Member’s statement earlier, I’d like to recognize the hardworking and dedicated staff for the sport, recreation and youth division within MACA. I’d like to recognize Shane Thompson; a fellow colleague, Donald Kuptana; Peter Daniels; and new staff within the division Colinda Blondin, who I am sure she is going to do a great job with the Youth Ambassador Program and youth and volunteer sector. Welcome to the Assembly. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Moses. Mr. Bromley.

I would also like to recognize a former colleague, David Krutko, and the work that he is doing in the biomass industry. I think he is bringing that back home to us and sharing that with us. Very exciting stuff. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Mr. Blake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize former veteran MLA for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. David Krutko.

Mr. Bouchard.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize Shane Thompson. For the record, he is originally from Hay River. Thank you very much.

Thank you, Mr. Bouchard. Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My colleague beat me to it. I was going to recognize Mr. Shane Thompson, a former resident of Hay River and it sounds like soon to be resident of Hay River again. Bring it on home. Thank you. You’ve heard it here first.

Mr. Yakeleya.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize David Krutko also, a former Member of the House.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the gallery, I would like to recognize Ms. Lydia Bardak. She is always a stalwart attender here at the Assembly, so I want to thank her for her interest; as well as Mr. Krutko, a good friend and former colleague; and finally, last but not least, I would like to recognize the great Anthony W.J. Whitford, a constituent of Weledeh but a constituent who belongs to everyone. Thank you, sir.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. I would like to again welcome Mr. Krutko, a former colleague; and my cousin Wanda Norwegian; and my mayor from Tuk and a good friend, Mr. Mervin Gruben. Welcome to the House. I would like to welcome all visitors here in the public gallery for taking an interest in our proceedings here today, the first day of session. Thank you for coming.

Item 6, acknowledgements. Mr. Bromley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise to acknowledge and congratulate my constituent Michael Gilday on his January 20th first place

victory at the Canadian Open Short-track Speed Skating Championships in Montreal. Advancing steadily from his 2011 fifth place and 2012 third place finishes in this event, Michael Gilday is now the national champion in this world-class competition. Michael edged out defending champion Charles Hamelin and also placed fourth in both the 1,000 and 3,000 metre races.

I invite all Members to join me once again in offering hearty congratulations to Michael, and wish him great success throughout the remainder of this 2012-13 World Cup season. Michael, you make us proud. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Item 7, oral questions. The Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my Member’s statement I talked about some of the elders that have passed away in the Sahtu. Even more sadly, these elders that passed away, passed away outside of their communities, in Yellowknife, and it was very hard in the last days of their lives for family to come and receive any last messages from these elders.

I want to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services for a status update as to the proposed long-term care facility in the Sahtu. People in the Sahtu would like to see that facility up and running so we do not have to send our elders outside of the Sahtu to have their last dying days outside of their home communities.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The long-term facility in Norman Wells, as the Members know, is well underway. All of the planning is complete. It’s a matter of doing the construction phase. I think the land has also been decided upon. That was a little bit of an issue. Also, the plan is to have, at the time the health centre/long-term care facility is open, everyone that is going to be working there trained. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Minister, for the update for the people in the Sahtu. I want to ask about the staffing and the positions of the Sahtu long-term care facility.

Are there plans underway to work with his colleagues to look at some of these positions that would be in this facility, and what type of training opportunities will be there for the people of the Northwest Territories to take advantage of once this facility is open?

When is that facility scheduled to be opened and operational for the people of the North and for the people of the Sahtu?

All of the requirements that are in for a home, a long-term care facility, will be met. Individuals that are working there will be trained. The exact timeline, the schedule is that there will be some construction this summer, and then continuing on probably, if the unit is closed, in that there will be further construction until finished the following season.

I do believe the facility is scheduled to be finished at the end of the 2014-15 fiscal year. So through this coming fiscal year and being finished over the next fiscal year, with a full staff complement that’s needed to provide the service to the 18 long-term care patients that will be in there. Thank you.

Can the Minister inform me as to the training plan, training requirements that would be needed for this long-term care facility, and if he’s working with the Department of Education, Culture and Employment as to the possibility of formalizing a training plan that would allow the people in the Sahtu to take advantage and maybe require some of our students to upgrade to enter into a specific type of training for this facility? Can the Minister inform me that he’s working with his colleague to then work with the Sahtu leadership on a training plan for this facility?

I can assure the Member that, yes, there will be training. Right now the facility in Behchoko is under construction, and we need to train staff there, as well, as we’ll be expanding from an eight bed facility to an 18 bed facility also in Behchoko. So the nursing and the home care, and all of the workers that are needed to operate the

facility in both places will be trained, and I can assure the Member that the staff will be up and ready to go by the time the facility opens. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to let this government know we appreciate the health centre and the long-term care facility. It’s been in my books for a long, long time, and I’d like to say to them that the people in the Sahtu appreciate this.

Can I ask the Minister if there’s an outline or a time frame that he could provide to me in regard to a training plan, so I can inform and work with this Cabinet to let the people in the Sahtu know when these training opportunities will be available so that our young students who are graduating and finishing school can take further courses to upgrade and enter into this training program once it’s up and running in the Sahtu?

The Department of Health and Social Services and the Sahtu Health and Social Services Authority are currently discussing training requirements and working with Aurora College for that required training. So I can provide the Member with the plan and schedule as to what type of positions will be needed, and at what time the training will be required to be able to operate that facility. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. The Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Health and Social Services. It is in reference to my Member’s statement.

I would like to ask the Minister what is the policy of this government and of his department with respect to a family member accompanying a patient on a medical evacuation charter. Thank you.

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

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. The policy is essentially the safety of the individual that’s being transported as a first priority. So usually when there is room on a medevac, an individual, depending on the nature of the injury or the sickness of the patient, generally if there’s an opportunity or a vacancy within the plane, it’s usually filled by a health practitioner. That’s generally the policy, that if there’s an escort required or someone that needs to be with the

patient, that person gets flown in on the next available flight. Thank you.

So am I to understand that even if there is room on the plane that is being used for the medevac for an additional passenger, it would be the policy of this government that that passenger or family member would not be allowed on that medical charter? Is that what the Minister is saying? Thank you.

Like I said, the first priority is the health and well-being of the patient. Now, it is still a medical decision. So it would be the medical practitioners that are making the decision whether or not they think it’s safe for the patient if the individual would take the escort with them, whether it be a family member or somebody’s spouse and so on. But generally, usually when we use medevac it’s because it’s urgent, and under urgent situations we generally try to use the spaces in the facility for somebody that would be able to assist the patient if they were to become distressed during the medevac flight. Thank you.

I’m not completely familiar with what type of planes are used for medical evacuations, and certainly I understand that if a person is having a medical emergency, they do need to have a trained medical professional accompany them on that medevac if required.

My question is: Does the medical practitioner at the originating end of the medevac have the discretionary ability, if there’s room over and above medical staff on that charter, to allow a family member to accompany the patient on that charter?

Decisions made by medical practitioners, I suppose they would have that discretion.

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Final supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So I could go to a policy of the Department of Health and Social Services somewhere and find this discretionary authority of a medical practitioner to allow a family member on a medevac? I could find that policy in writing someplace?

Likely you would find a policy that indicates the decision for who goes on the medevac is made by a medical practitioner. I’m sure that it would describe any sort of discretionary decisions inside the policy, but I’m assuming that if it says that individual will make that medical call, then it’s not a political decision or an administrative decision. It would be a medical decision.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today my questions are for the Minister of Health and Social Services, and they are in regard to foster parenting and foster families.

We have a lot of compassionate families out there who are willing to take kids in and give them a good upbringing, a good lifestyle. Sometimes in these cases, some of the youth and children that are taken in to foster may have some type of behavioural challenge or attitude challenge that does really affect the home and the support in the home, and the home structure and the family structure.

I’d like to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services what specific programs are in place right now in the Northwest Territories that can assist these foster families, whether it’s counselling or some type of program to create that family structure and home structure that is right now kind of being affected by some of these children that might be taken into foster care.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The department has a program called PRIDE. It’s the Parent Resources for Information Development and Education. That is a program that the foster parents are under in order to be trained as foster parents.

Just to clarify, I’m not asking for what programs to train these parents to become foster parents. I’m asking what programs are in place to help the foster families whose homes are being affected by the youth that they’re taking in, whether it’s because they’re being overburdened, a lot of stress, and it’s affecting their home life and their work. I want to know what programs are in place right now in the Northwest Territories for these families to get help and build that foundation in the home.

The Department of Health and Social Services provides funding to the NWT Foster Families Coalition. The Foster Families Coalition supports the foster children or foster parents across the Northwest Territories. They are sort of like a network organization that provides the foster care assistance to everyone that is a foster parent across the Northwest Territories. I think that is really the key way that we assist foster parents as the support is necessary for them to continue to be foster parents.

In terms of this program, do all communities in the Northwest Territories have access to this program and how often does this coalition go out to the communities that really need

the support? I’ve been working with a family most recently who had to leave their community and head out of territory for a lot of work, and I’d like to ask the Minister if this coalition goes into the communities to do some outreach work or do foster parents have to go to the coalition to seek that help.

I don’t have any indication here that the Foster Parents Coalition travels; however, they do work with the various authorities at the regional levels to provide support, proper ways to retain foster children, and they provide some training. They also advocate for the foster parents. This is a group that does support foster parents right across the entire territory.

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Final supplementary, Mr. Moses.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As many of us know, there is a shortage of foster parents and foster families in the Northwest Territories. When we have a challenge where a family needs help, and they’re travelling out of territory where services need to be provided, I find that very discouraging. We need to get more work and more programs to help these families out and look into it further.

I’d just like to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services specifically what his strategy is to increase and recruit more foster families in the Northwest Territories.

The top recruiters for foster parents are other foster parents. Through this coalition and just the foster parents within the communities, some of the communities have groups that are head of the various foster parent organizations in the larger communities. They are helping the social workers and the child protection workers in the communities to recruit. Generally our recruiting is through foster parents and through child protection staff.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to ask questions about the recent report of the Commissioner of Environment and Sustainable Development on Financial Insurances for Environmental Concerns. The commissioner reviewed Aboriginal and Northern Affairs Development Canada, Natural Resources Canada, Fisheries and Oceans, and others, and reviewed their protection of public finances. Unfortunately, they found major shortcomings. Costs have now accelerated to over $8 billion of public liability. That’s taxpayer dollars.

The number one factor was intra-northern resource development projects. We’re standing to inherit this

very soon. The NWT alone likely has almost a billion dollars in liabilities right now that the federal government is working on.

Given the modest, I think it’s about $64 million for operations that have been negotiated for a land and environmental management regime, the clear shortcomings of the federal government as identified by the commissioner, and the likely unaffordability of the GNWT in light of such costs – I mean, those are 10 times what we expect to have for operations, 10 to 15 years’ worth of the net fiscal benefit we’re expecting – how is this being addressed in devolution negotiations?

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The honourable Premier, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The report was just released yesterday. From the accounts that I’ve read, most of the references were to other provinces or territories. The commissioner referred to mines in Nunavut and Labrador.

I should point out that we’re still negotiating the terms of devolution arrangements. Those considerations will be taken into account as we finalize the agreement.

The Northwest Territories is showing the way in terms of environmental protection with our mines. The three diamond mines have modern environmental agreements which had to put up the highest amount and levels of security for cleanup of the mines once they shut down. Certainly the Member is correct, as a smaller jurisdiction, when we achieve devolution, we’re going to pay a lot more attention to the inspections of mines because we have to make sure that we protect our interests.

The Premier is actually incorrect there. In fact, the report refers to the Northwest Territories extensively. We, of course, have some of the most globally featured dire environmental disasters from our mines currently ongoing. The report says that in 2011, 70 percent of site inspections required under operating permits were not done in the Northwest Territories, in fact. This is obviously of great concern and leaves these projects that are developing disasters that we know nothing about as we stand to inherit them. Uninspected and unregulated, we have no idea if these current operations aren’t contaminated sites in the making.

Will this government require that the federal government put that house in order, do its inspections, update the security amounts, and ensure security is trustworthy – all of which were identified as concerns by the commissioner – before we accept the transfer of responsibility for abandoned and operating sites?

If the Member wants to point fingers, I’d say he’s incorrect with regard to

inspections of the diamond mines in the Northwest Territories. All three of the mines have environmental monitoring agencies that are tasked specifically to make sure the mines are operated in an environmental way so that all the environment is protected. Those environmental monitoring arrangements have been in place for over 10 years.

The Premier again avoided the question and did not answer the question. The facts are clear that 70 percent of the inspections in the Northwest Territories, the commissioner has said, were not done in 2011 when our diamond mines were operating. All I can do is quote the commissioner.

My last question is: Additional issues were identified such as security shortfalls, lack of good and timely environmental information to our management boards and our First Nations who have responsibilities for environmental review process, concerned about impacts on fisheries and oceans offshore and so on, at the same time we’re disassembling the environmental protection regime, so failure of the Government of Canada to address regulatory issues that have been identified repeatedly in reviews, including reviews that they’ve done. What is our strategy, and how will we protect our people financially and environmentally in taking over this faulty and diminished protection system?

As the Prime Minister indicated, the commissioner’s report is a useful piece of advice that will help guide future decision-making. That will follow through to the Northwest Territories once it’s devolved. The question becomes are we better off now than we are in the future. I’m saying that, with devolution, our government will have to pay much closer attention to all of these environmental requirements because we are a smaller jurisdiction and we have to make sure that our interests are protected.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier today I spoke in this House about my concern with the Department of ITI and its Minister for not sharing a current roadmap of our outdated secondary diamond manufacturing strategy. Recently the Minister took to the world stage to drum up business for the North. Now, as noble as this may sound, the concern of many is what map or compass was he using.

The following questions for the Minister of ITI are to help understand what our course is in the diamond manufacturing area, what is its direction, have we cleaned up the mess from the first go around, and

are we ready to proceed on this international stage with this second opportunity.

My first question has to do with the apparent secrecy of the recent signing of Deepak International Ltd. as an approved diamond manufacturer. Now, we are all aware that the Minister has the authority to designate this approved status of NWT diamond producers, but why did the Minister take it upon himself not to consult the Standing Committee of EDI, nor the Member for Range Lake where the manufacturing is taking place, prior to signing this agreement?

Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. The Minister responsible for Industry, Tourism and Investment, Mr. Ramsay.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Travelling with me on the diamond and pipeline tour we had the deputy chair of the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure. As to the Member’s belief that we negotiated this in secrecy and we didn’t let anybody know, on numerous occasions as I appeared before the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure, when asked about the secondary diamond industry and what we were doing, I made it very clear that we were seeking investment.

When it comes to proprietary and confidential trade agreements with companies, that is something that has to be held in the strictest of confidence until such a time as it can be announced, and I would hope that the Member would appreciate that.

I do appreciate the Minister’s response to that, and I do concur that sometimes things need to be negotiated behind closed doors. However, imminent signing of agreements has customarily been shared with all Members, whether it was the diamond sector or oil producing sector. We just ask that the same courtesy be done with all Members on this side of the House.

We would all agree that our first attempt at the secondary diamond industry was a costly mess for taxpayers. That said, has the Department of ITI and its Minister seen to it that all related links to previous Government Certified Retailer’s Club of polar bear and polar ice diamonds be removed from public and industry stakeholders?

This government is taking its direction from the Diamond Policy Framework, which the last government brought into place in 2010 under the Premier in his capacity as the former Minister of ITI. I remember quite clearly pushing the last government quite hard to get that policy framework in place, which would establish rules of engagement for the government going forward.

Quite clearly, that Diamond Policy Framework states that the government will seek investment in a

secondary diamond industry. Gone are the days when government would put taxpayers’ dollars at risk in the development of a secondary industry. Folks that want to get into the cut and polish industry here in the Northwest Territories are doing so of their own volition, and certainly, we believe that it can happen here.

If the Member goes back in Hansard over the nine years that I’ve been here, my vision for what a diamond manufacturing industry here in Yellowknife would mean and what diamonds mean is quite clearly stated. I do believe that we are going to be mining diamonds here in the Northwest Territories for decades to come. I believe wholeheartedly that we can have a flourishing secondary industry here in the Northwest Territories. I think this is a very positive step that the government’s taken and we’re not finished there. I think there’s a lot more good news that is going to come.

Again, I’m working very hard at trying to attract new investment into the secondary industry and into the exploration area so that we can find more diamonds here in the Northwest Territories and get more jobs and opportunities for people.

Again, I do appreciate the Minister giving a great policy statement on how good things are, and I appreciate the fact that there are great things on the horizon. But I asked a question, which was did we clean up the mess, and I didn’t quite think that the Members here nor, I think, the people of the Northwest Territories received that response.

But interestingly enough, one only has to Google key words like GNWT, Retailer’s Club and polar ice diamonds and see that we have today companies like Basal Diamond out of Montreal still selling our alleged government certified polar diamonds. Can the Minister explain how is it this retailer is still linking their products to our defunct government certification program?

I thank the Member for bringing that to our attention, and I’ll certainly have the diamond policy folks at ITI act on that immediately. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Dolynny.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the Minister for saying that. I’d also recommend they do a full sweep. There were many more out there in cyberspace.

I believe that it is paramount that the GNWT have a solid secondary diamond industry strategy and policy framework from which to rebuild this international brand. When can we expect the Minister to show to the Members and to industry that we, indeed, have such a roadmap?

Mr. Speaker, I spoke earlier of the Diamond Policy Framework that the

last government brought in, one that I pushed very hard to see happen. If the Regular Members want the government to take another look at the Diamond Policy Framework, I would be more than happy to work with the chair of the EDI and the EDI committee to see that through.

Certainly, from where I stand, the previous government did a lot of work in this area. The Diamond Policy Framework is there and it states quite clearly what we need to do and how we are to go about seeking that investment, and that’s exactly what we’re doing. We’re getting out there, seeking investment. We want a vibrant secondary industry. We want that value added. As I said, as things progress here, we’ll certainly be keeping Members apprised of what is happening.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I just want to ask the Minister of Health some questions on the replacement of the Fort Simpson Health Centre. I’d just like to ask exactly what is the process right now for the Fort Simpson Health Centre. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The Minister responsible for Health and Social Services, Mr. Beaulieu.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’ve been dealing with the infrastructure people at Health and Social Services, and I’ve recognized that we’re, I think, at the very, very initial stages of looking at the health centre replacement in Fort Simpson. I don’t think it’s scheduled to be replaced within the next five years. Thank you.

Maybe I’ll ask the Health Minister to provide me the detail. I know that we have scheduled some planning study. I think it was for ‘13-14. If the Minister can confirm that, because I know that the facility did get an assessment by Public Works and Services saying that the planning study must be started soon.

Within the planning study, the department has allocated somewhere between $250,000 and $300,000 to complete a planning study. The planning study is scheduled to be finished by March 31st , this year.