Good morning, colleagues. Orders of the day. Item 2, Ministers’ statements. Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Abernethy.

Mr. Speaker, last May we presented Our Elders: Our Communities, a strategic framework outlining the government’s commitment to support elders and seniors who wish to live in their own homes and communities for as long as possible, and ensure that services are available when this option is no longer viable.

As the backbone of our communities, elders and seniors should be supported and given the best care possible. Seniors are the fastest growing population in the Northwest Territories. Over the past decade, the seniors demographic has grown at a rate of more than 5 percent per year, and this trend will continue. Meeting the health care and social needs of elders and seniors is a high priority for our government.

Our Elders: Our Communities gives us a framework to identify gaps in our system, and where we need to take action. Priority areas include home and community care services, integrated and coordinated service delivery, caregiver supports, elder-responsive communities, accessible and current information and sustainable best practices.

The guiding principles within Our Elders, Our Communities strengthen the development of programs, services and supports to seniors and elders. There are seven key principles: • Choice means knowing that seniors can make

or be an active participant in making ones’ own choices.

• Respect and dignitymeans that we treat elders

in a manner that imparts value, importance and self-worth.

• Equity acknowledges and celebrates the unique

characteristics of elders.

• Awareness, promotes community, regional and

territorial programs and services aimed at keeping elders in their communities.

• Access ensures elders have access to culturally

appropriate services and support, and access to information that allows individuals to be knowledgeable and to make informed decisions about healthy options available.

• Safety stresses safe, supportive and secure

environments free of fear, exploitation and violence.

• Empowerment, which refers to providing

opportunities for elders to continue to reach their full potential, with access to educational, cultural, spiritual and recreational resources, and to continue to make a positive contribution in their communities.

These principles align with the rights set out in the Northwest Territories Seniors Charter and, together with our priority areas, provide a roadmap for the development of programs and services to support healthy and active aging within elder-responsive communities across the Northwest Territories.

By taking action in areas identified in the framework, we will help elders and seniors remain in their communities as long as possible. The Department of Health and Social Services continues to engage the Health and Social Services Authorities and Avens – A Community for Seniors, to advance shared work in areas such as training in palliative care and approaches to care that focus on the needs of the elder, and developing policies to support the implementation of new continuing care standards. We’re also planning for new long-term care beds across the Northwest Territories, including Avens in Yellowknife.

The department is also working with the health and social services authorities to enhance home care services. Currently, home support is available in most NWT communities and home care is available in communities with nursing staff. Elders day programs are available in several

communities, which provide an opportunity for elders to socialize and have a nutritious meal as well as participate in Elders in Motion, an active living program offered by the NWT Parks and Recreation Association. Keeping healthy, active, and connected to each other is critical to well-being, and programs like these play an important role in elders’ lives.

I am pleased to report that new facilities are being built and resources are being developed to help seniors achieve a high quality of life. The Department of Health and Social Services is working with the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation to address independent housing needs in our communities and incorporate space for home care and elders day programs into the designs for new seniors housing units.

Any improvements to our programs are not possible without partnerships. The Department of Health and Social Services has also been working with the NWT Seniors’ Society and the departments of Justice, Municipal and Community Affairs, Education, Culture and Employment, and the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation to update the Seniors’ Information Handbook. We are also developing a companion booklet for caregivers.

The Seniors’ Information Handbook provides a comprehensive list of government programs and services that seniors and their caregivers can access to help them make informed decisions and remain independent and active in their home communities.

The companion Caregiver Booklet will provide information to assist families caring for their loved ones. The plan is to release these documents this spring.

Another example of collaboration is the Aurora Research Institute’s recently released report, titled “Influences on Quality of Life of the Older Adult” in the Northwest Territories. Working directly with the NWT Seniors’ Society and communities, Aurora College faculty and students gathered valuable, current information on the quality of life of seniors and elders across the Northwest Territories that can help support informed decision-making and direction for leadership, advocacy, education and research. Later today I will table this report.

Taking action in priority areas to improve the programs and services for elders will not be a short-term undertaking, Mr. Speaker. The Department’s work is ongoing and will continue through transition. We have established numerous partnerships to help ensure seniors receive the support they need. As we move forward, we will continue engagement with Aboriginal governments, nongovernmental organizations and community members to ensure our programs and services are delivered in the best way possible.

Together, we are working toward our vision of aging in place, and best health, best care and a better future for residents of the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. The honourable Minister of Transportation, Mr. Beaulieu.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to recognize the recent and ongoing improvements made by NAV Canada at 17 of our airport sites with community aerodrome radio stations and at Wekweeti and Colville Lake airports.

NAV Canada is the private corporation responsible for civil air navigation services and weather within Canadian airspace. It has recently invested in the weather observation systems at 19 of our airports in the NWT. This improved weather information, now available 24 hours a day and 365 days a year, will support safer and more effective air transportation services for our communities and residents. The Department of Transportation has assisted NAV Canada in these installations by providing land, material, and construction and coordination assistance.

Mr. Speaker, reliable weather data is critical to airport and air carrier efficiency and safety. Airline operators make decisions on whether to fly or not based on available weather information. In a potentially critical situation, such as a medevac flight, the availability of current and accurate weather information allows operators to make flight decisions quickly.

The changes made by NAV Canada mean pilots can now rely on improved data and tailor their flight schedules to respond to weather conditions with a higher degree of confidence. The new weather observation systems can operate in an unattended mode to deliver sufficient, real time, accurate weather 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. This information will be accessible even when community aerodrome radio stations are closed for any reason.

In addition, the new automated weather observation systems in Colville Lake and Wekweeti provide cameras which can be accessed remotely to provide airline operators with views of the airport and runway without ever leaving their offices.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to report that all 27 airports in the NWT now have access to weather information that is no more than 75 nautical miles from their sites.

The real-time, accurate weather data provided through these investments to the weather observation systems will benefit our residents and communities through improved air services

between communities and allow for improved decision-making and faster response times by the medevac service contractor.

Mr. Speaker, the Department of Transportation continues to work with our partners, such as NAV Canada and airline operators, to make improvements to our air transportation system. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. The honourable Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. McLeod.

Mr. Speaker, today I am pleased to recognize the members of Team Northwest Territories who represented our territory at the 2015 Canada Winter Games in Prince George, British Columbia, from February 13th to

March 1st . The 139 athletes, coaches and mission

staff were from 11 communities in the Northwest Territories including Aklavik, Deline, Fort McPherson, Fort Providence, Fort Simpson, Fort Smith, Hay River, Inuvik, Ndilo, Sachs Harbour and Yellowknife.

They participated in the sports of badminton, biathlon, cross country skiing, curling, hockey, figure skating, judo, shooting, speed skating and squash. I know that each and every one of them trained hard and did their very best to represent the NWT and their communities at this premier national event. I would like to make special mention of Brent Betsina of Ndilo, who brought home the silver medal in judo, the NWT’s first medal at the Games since Brendan Green’s win in 2007.

Mr. Speaker, I am also pleased to report that the City of Yellowknife and officials from MACA were in Prince George to gather information related to the consideration of a bid by the city to host the 2023 Canada Games. Earlier this year Mayor Mark Heyck and I launched a public process to inform and advise the citizens of Yellowknife of the benefits that hosting the Games could bring to the city and the NWT. The mayor is also leading a task force to develop a business case for City Council’s review that will examine what resources will be needed to successfully host the Games. I am looking forward to assisting and expressing our government’s full support for hosting the Games in Yellowknife.

Mr. Speaker, the Northwest Territories will also be hosting the 2018 Arctic Winter Games. Just last month the Arctic Winter Games International Committee visited Inuvik and Hay River/Fort Smith to review bids from those communities.

These will be the first Arctic Winter Games held outside of Yellowknife since the 1978 Hay River-Pine Point Games.

I am confident that, regardless of the community that wins the bid, the real winner will be the sport community and youth in our communities. Ensuring NWT residents are able to participate in and experience these important multisport games is one way we are supporting healthy, educated people in communities across our territory.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, I want to thank and recognize the parents, coaches, managers, sport officials and Sport North staff and volunteers for their tireless work in preparing our Canada Games team. I also want to thank and recognize the City of Yellowknife, the towns of Hay River, Fort Smith and Inuvik and the communities in those regions supporting the 2023 and 2018 Games events. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Honourable Premier, Mr. McLeod.

Mr. Speaker, all around the world International Women's Day represents an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of women while calling for greater equality.

Each year International Women's Day is celebrated on March 8th . The first International Women's Day

was held in 1911. Thousands of events occur to mark the economic, political and social achievements of women. Organizations, governments, charities, educational institutions, women's groups, corporations and the media celebrate the day.

In the Northwest Territories we have made great strides for women’s equality. We have many powerful women leaders who have not only contributed to their communities but who have shaped the future of the Northwest Territories. More and more women are employed in jobs that historically only men have done. The Government of the Northwest Territories continues to promote capable women to senior management and other positions of influence within our government.

The Status of Women Council continues their good work to support more women to run for election. I was pleased to attend the 2015 Campaign School and speak with many of the women and their supporters who will be running in the next territorial election. Having balanced representation in this House and in other leadership positions allows us to be stronger and wiser together.

This weekend the Status of Women Council will host the annual Wise Women Awards and I will be attending to offer my congratulations to the many wise women from across the Northwest Territories.

Other organizations in the Northwest Territories like the Native Women’s Association contribute to women’s equality through their support programs

and advocacy work. I would also like to recognize the new and dynamic organization Dene Nahjo who recently held a circumpolar women’s leadership here in Yellowknife.

Mr. Speaker, when we support equality for women, we support equality for all our residents, strong individuals, families and communities sharing the benefits and responsibilities of a unified, environmentally sustainable and prosperous Northwest Territories.

Make It Happen is the 2015 theme for International Women’s Day, encouraging effective action for advancing and recognizing women. I encourage all Members of this House and those listening today to consider how they can make it happen. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As our Premier has just so eloquently outlined, International Women’s Day is coming up this Sunday and you will see that many Members in the Chamber today are wearing purple in recognition of International Women’s Day. Today I would like to talk a little bit about elected leadership at the territorial level.

As the Premier said, we have strong women in leadership at all levels in all of our communities. Mr. Speaker, 1975 was the first fully elected Legislative Assembly. It was the 8th Legislative Assembly and

since that time, in that past 40 years, I would like to recognize some of the women who served in this Chamber, starting with Lena Pedersen, who represented the Central Arctic for four years, elected in 1970; Lynda Sorensen, elected in 1979, representing Yellowknife South for five years; Eliza Lawrence, representing Tu Nedhe from 1983 for four years; Nellie Cournoyea, representing the Western Arctic and then renamed Nunakput for 16 years, starting in 1979; Jeannie Marie Jewell, representing Slave River and then later renamed Thebacha, from 1987 and spent eight years in this Legislative Assembly; Rebecca Mike, from Baffin Central, starting in 1991 representing for four years; Sandy Lee for Range Lake, elected in 1999 and served in this Legislature for 12 years; Manitok Thompson, elected in 1995 from Aivilik riding, and she served here for four years prior to division and I believe may have served in the Nunavut government after that; and, of course, in 1995 I was elected and honoured to be elected to this

Chamber, and we won’t talk about how long I’ve been here.

---Laughter

There have only been 10 women ever elected in 40 years of elected government, and number 10 is my colleague Ms. Bisaro, who was elected in 2007 and has served two terms in this Legislative Assembly.

I also had the honour, along with Ms. Bisaro and the Premier, to attend the Campaign School that was put on by the Status of Women Council and had a few words to say there. With an election coming up, Mr. Speaker, if I can seek unanimous consent, I’ll have a few comments on what women might think about the upcoming territorial election. Thank you.

---Unanimous consent granted

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Member for Range Lake, Mr. Dolynny.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. International Women’s Day on March 8th presents

an opportunity for all Northerners to draw attention to women’s equality and gender parity. We celebrate this opportunity with many strong political women leaders in this room and from around the territory. We are here today to give meaning to greater transparency of leveraging balance within ourselves and humanity.

As a male politician, I have the opportunity to set an example for men everywhere to support the rights of women and by giving credibility to what this day really means instead of what people think it means. No matter who you are, everyone should be in favour of equality of genders, because it’s about the justice of being treated as equal that’s at stake.

Fighting for gender equality is not about money and power; it’s about basic human rights, nothing more.

When women are empowered, they measurably improve the lives of everyone around them, their workplace, their families and their communities. If we truly care for a better society and believe that everyone has a fair chance to be what they can be and do what they want to do, then we must do away with institutional privilege and support a society that is gender just, equal and democratic.

So, although we have come closer to achieving parity between men and women in areas of health and education, we still have much to do in the transparency of leveraging balance in our economic well-being. With a slumping economy, we are at a significant crossroads. Our population is aging, the fertility rate has fallen and our future workforce will be smaller. Now, more than ever, we need to leverage our gender diversity where the talents of both men and women are in full force. We can no longer afford to leave so much potential behind, as our economic future depends on it.

So on March 8th , I ask all men, if you care about

this future, then give this day its due consideration and contemplate without fear of judgment, a society free of gender bias and inequality. As we heard from our Premier today, let’s make this happen. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. Member for Hay River North, Mr. Bouchard.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s Kamba time! Mr. Speaker, this weekend is Kamba Carnival, one of the first carnivals in the Northwest Territories, and obviously the travel with the carnivals are starting this spring. Obviously, it’s the first sign of spring.

I look forward to going back to Hay River this weekend and partaking in some of the events. Last night they had a youth talent show. Obviously, we have a lot of people coming in from throughout the North; actually, sometimes we get Alaska. A bunch of people come in for the dogsled races. We have pancake breakfasts coming on. This afternoon is an official half day off for the community of Hay River. There’s going to be a bingo, obviously. There’s going to be hand games. I’m looking forward to not participating but actually seeing it. I’ve never really seen it take place, so I’m going to get there. Saturday night there’s a talent show and obviously there are many events going on, so I look forward to it.

Some of the people are travelling – I know Mr. Nadli and Mr. Blake are considering coming for this big event – and we look forward to seeing a lot of people from the Northwest Territories and throughout the northern area.

It’s Kamba time, Mr. Speaker. Thank you very much.

Thank you, Mr. Bouchard. Member for Deh Cho, Mr. Nadli.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The recent rollout of cellular service to communities that didn’t have such services was exciting. I understand that both governments supplemented the overall cost of establishing the network and also cellular power in some communities.

Now people in those communities that have cell service can enjoy keeping connected through their mobile phones and also keeping up with Internet technology. Some people now cannot live without their mobile phones.

Mobile communications enables greater communications and access to the Internet and is very convenient. Having this kind of technology bodes well for attracting tourists and also gives those visiting the NWT an enjoyable experience.

Advances in cellular expansion to small and remote communities are a step forward. Such services mean a more confident travelling public and also, at the same time, it makes communications more possible.

We’re stepping closer to the reality of having 911 services across the NWT. There are limitations, however. Because of limited subscribers in some communities, there is limited coverage. As an example, the radius of coverage in Fort Providence is limited in some areas. That was discovered recently when a few people who were stranded were unable to communicate home. What happened was that the search and rescue was dispatched, and the people made it home safely. But if we had expanded cellular service, then it would have been possible to communicate to the home base and encourage people that, yes, we’re okay.

The corporate view is that because we have limited subscribers, we will have limited coverage in communities. I think those corporations that provide cellular services have to have more than a corporate view; they need to have a community perspective and a sense of community in providing those services. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As we’ve heard already, Sunday is the 104th International

Women’s Day. Sunday is also the 24th celebration

of the NWT Wise Women Awards.

International Women’s Day is March 8th and it’s a

global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women, past, present and future. International Women’s Day honours the work of suffragettes who marched and fought for the right for women to vote, and the women who continue to fight for women’s rights today. In many countries across the world, International Women’s Day is a national holiday.

On International Women’s Day we all need to spread the message of women’s empowerment, to the friends, family and men in our lives. It’s a day to celebrate the women in our lives and our communities, to honour the advances women have made but, at the same time, remember the need for continued action to ensure that the equality fought for and gained by women who have passed before us is maintained in all aspects of our society.

Gloria Steinem has said, “The story of women’s struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist nor to any one organization but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights.” How true that is, Mr. Speaker. Until all of society accepts responsibility for and achievement of women’s equality, it will not happen.

Of the world’s 1.3 billion poor people, nearly 70 percent are women. Between 75 and 80 percent of the world’s 27 million refugees are women and children. Of the world’s nearly 130 million children who are not in school, two-thirds are girls. On average, women earn between 30 and 40 percent less pay than men for the same work. Women, more than men, continue to be victims of violence. Rape and domestic violence are significant causes of disability and death among women worldwide.

This year’s theme for International Women’s Day, as we heard, is Make It Happen. Everyone is encouraged to “paint it purple,” as we all have done, – thank you very much, colleagues – on March 8th to show support for International

Women’s Day.

Sunday we will honour five NWT wise women who each in their own way have contributed to changing our world for the better by making it happen. I’d like to name those ladies, Mr. Speaker. • Annie B. Gordon from Aklavik, for the Beaufort-

Delta region;

• Caroline Bonnetrouge from Fort Providence, for

the Deh Cho region;

• Pertice Moffit of Yellowknife, for the North Slave

region;

• Judy Lafferty, Fort Good Hope, for the Sahtu

region;

• Maggie Sikyea from Fort Smith, for the South

Slave region.

Congratulations to this formidable group of women, and thanks to each one of you for your work to better your community and the NWT. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. The Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, Mr. Moses.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I too am honoured to take the opportunity to appreciate and show respect to the women across the Northwest Territories for their dedication, their hard work, their persistence and compassion to the people of the Northwest Territories. We all know women in our communities who take that role on, who are leaders, who are protectors, who are caregivers, who provide for the community. We do have a strong history in the Northwest Territories of female leaders past and present. In fact, we have two of them that sit in this House today. I appreciate working with them and the experience that they bring into the House and to the committee meetings,

As we celebrate the economic, political and social achievements and continue to work to empower women in the Northwest Territories, we’ve also got to understand that there are women out there that support people in the communities. As I said, they’re mothers, they’re caregivers, they’re grandparents who take care of their grandchildren, they’re single mothers who take the role of the father and the mother who provide for their young children, and we have strong elder women in leadership who continue to carry on the cultures, the traditions, the stories and the languages of the past as passed down to our generations and generations that are yet to come.

I just want to take the opportunity to also recognize, as we sit here in session for six weeks, the women who support our staff and support Members who sit in this House for long hours during the day and support them during these, I guess you’d call them hard times because they’re long meetings. We have to recognize those women who support our Members of this House and the staff of this House when we have these long days.

I’d like to take this opportunity to recognize one special lady and that’s my mother who is a very strong lady in her own right. I know she’s watching and I just want to say thank you for all that you’ve done for me. Mahsi cho.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The most vulnerable people in our communities are children. They have little control over their circumstances and often are affected by the poor decisions of others. It often falls to the elders, the grandparents, to assume care of the wee ones in the hopes that the parents will return to good health.

Keeping families together this way is something we can all get behind. When grandparents take over care of their children before the kids are apprehended, they get no financial support because they are family. If children are apprehended and then grandparents are allowed to foster them, they are eligible for remuneration at foster parent rates. Yet formal involvement of child and family services is scary, adversarial, traumatic, expensive to everyone, and leads to a high rate of apprehensions. This forces grandparents to seek support through income assistance, a stigmatized program known for its red tape and poor treatment of clients despite their noble efforts and intent. It penalizes grandparents who are taking proactive steps to prevent apprehension of the children and makes no provision for grandparents whose earnings disqualify them from income support. Nor does it recognize the housing issues when the addition of children increases family size beyond the suitability of the grandparents’ home. Often, being retirees on fixed incomes, these are huge and frequently insurmountable burdens for the grandparents. While they desperately want to keep their families together, they often suffer from shortages or are unable to manage it financially.

A new approach is needed if we want to keep families together. The department needs to engage in non-adversarial outreach so that grandparents feel safe approaching child and family services for help. Such a process may increase the number of grandparents eligible for help and will also improve outcomes. Collaboration between families and the system reduces trauma for all and exemplifies the Child and Family Services Act’s principle of least intrusive measures. Revising the policy on voluntary agreements and assisted fostering so that struggling grandparents can more easily qualify for aid as foster parents would be steps in the right direction.

We know it’s better for all concerned if children whose parents are going through a rough patch could stay within their families, communities and cultures. Grandparents are frequently willing and capable to provide the care needed, but they need support to do it. Let’s meet them halfway with a policy that this situation demands and make it happen. I will have questions. Mahsi.