I’d like to thank the Premier for basically stating that this government is taking this matter very seriously and doing all it can to assist communities and Northerners with the high cost of living.

Several MLAs in Nunavut have made damning statements against Nutrition North. In places like Gjoa Haven, two small bags of groceries cost residents well over $100.

What is this government doing to collaborate with our territorial neighbours in Nunavut to tackle food insecurity across the entire North? Mahsi.

Thank you. As three northern neighbours, we get together on a regular basis, and as a matter of fact, we just met recently in Ottawa as the Northern Forum. Obviously, the cost of living is a big topic for all three territories. We’ve worked together to try to find ways to reduce the cost of living and we’ve looked at approaching the federal government to increase the Northern Resident Tax Deduction and what we’ve found is it wouldn’t benefit the lower income levels. It would benefit primarily the middle class and middle-income earners. So we are endeavoring to work together.

When I discussed this with the Prime Minister, he felt that we should find a way to address this problem. So I think together, if we put our innovation hats on, I think that we can identify some solutions that we can take forward and seek support at the highest level. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Nadli.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s encouraging that the three northern regions, the NWT, Yukon and Nunavut, are working together to try to tackle and meet the needs of our Northerners in terms of trying to curb the high cost of living.

In the interim, as the three governments are trying to work together, would the Premier agree to bring back the old Food Mail Program? Mahsi.

We’re not in the business of taking over programs that are legitimately with the federal government. I think the fact we’ve always said the best way to show our Arctic sovereignty in the Northwest Territories is to have healthy, sustainable communities and the best way to do that is to have food that’s available and to have food security. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Time for oral questions has expired. Item 8, written questions. Item 9, returns to written questions. Item

10, replies to opening address. Item 11, replies to budget address, day four of seven. Item 12, petitions. Item 13, reports of standing and special committees. Item 14, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 15, tabling of documents.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have four documents to table today. The first is a letter from Alternatives North to Minister Ramsay and calls to our broader representation or in-depth representation on the Mineral Advisory Board, and a similar letter from Ecology North. The first is dated 4th of February and the second is dated 6th of

February.

I’d also like to table, and according to my commitments to the Premier, the science behind the new knowledge that we need to leave most of our fossil fuels in the ground. The first is in Nature, published on the 8th of January 2015, entitled “The

geographical distribution of fossil fuels unused when limiting global warming to 2 degrees C,” wherein it says though we show that development

of resources in the Arctic and any increase in unconventional oil production are incommensurate with efforts to limit average global warming to 2 degrees C.

The second one is the Energy Policy…(inaudible)…Journal, No. 64, published in 2014 and entitled “Un-burnable oil: An examination of oil resource utilisation in a decarbonised energy system.” Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Item 16, notices of motion, Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Thursday, February 12, 2015, I will move the following motion: I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Thebacha, that, notwithstanding Rule 4, when this House adjourns on Thursday, February 12, 2015, it shall be adjourned until Monday, February 16, 2015;

And further, that any time prior to February 16, 2015, if the Speaker is satisfied, after consultation with the Executive Council and Members of the Legislative Assembly, that the public interest requires that the House should meet at an earlier time during the adjournment, the Speaker may give notice and thereupon the House shall meet at the time stated in such notice and shall transact its business as it has been duly adjourned to that time.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Item 17, notices of motion for first reading of bills. Item 18, motions. Item 19, first reading of bills. Item 20, second reading of bills, Mr. Abernethy.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, that Bill 44, An Act to Amend the Hospital Insurance and Health and Social Services Administration Act, be read for the second time.

Mr. Speaker, this bill includes amendments to the Hospital Insurance and Health and Social Services Administration Act that would require the Minister to:

• develop a territorial plan for health and social

services;

• authorize the Minister to establish regional

councils to provide advice with respect to health services and social services;

• authorize the Minister to establish a territorial

health and social services authority to replace a number of boards of management;

• address matters relating to the transition of

responsibility from boards of management to the territorial health and social services authority;

• require investigations into harmful events

experienced by patients and clients receiving health and social services;

• set out powers and duties of inspectors and

investigators;

• make consequential amendments to a number

of other acts; and

• make other related amendments to update the

act.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. The motion is in order. To the principle of the bill. Mr. Bouchard.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I support the overall act, but I know Hay River does have some concerns about the public sector, our hospital authority, that’s not in the public sector. I guess I would like to put that on record that there is some concern here. We do support some of the activities and changes here, but we do have some concerns going forward how we implement this. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Bouchard. Mr. Bromley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to go on record as supporting the principle of the bill and I appreciate that the Minister has been working hard to consult with the public. However, I have had some feedback that indicates some Aboriginal governments are still a little bit surprised at how rapidly this is advancing. I know the Minister has been meeting with those governments and I think that’s being resolved, but I did want to mention there was some serious concern that hadn’t been resolved. I look forward to, if we give second reading today, that we enter into a process where much of that concern can be fully vetted and dealt with by the Minister and committee. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Mr. Yakeleya.

Mr. Speaker, the Minister and I have had a tour of the Sahtu on this bill, and with the support we had from the Sahtu communities and leadership, we are actually looking forward to

seeing this bill come to fruition so that we know we can do some things that are different and beneficial. Right now we are experiencing some difficulties with the health system because of the way our system is set up in the legislation. The Sahtu is very supportive, all the communities that met with the Minister, and so I will be fully supporting this bill.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. To the principle of the bill.

Question has been called. Bill 44, An Act to Amend the Hospital Insurance and Social Services Administration Act, has had second reading and is referred to committee.

---Carried

Mr. Beaulieu.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to return to item 5 on the orders of the day.

---Unanimous consent granted

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize my constituency assistant from Lutselk’e, Mr. James Marlowe, in the gallery today.

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Item 21, consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters: Tabled Document 188-17(5), Northwest Territories Main Estimates 2015-2016; Bill 38, An Act to Amend the Jury Act; and Bill 41, An Act to Amend the Partnership Act, with Mrs. Groenewegen in the chair.