Good afternoon, colleagues. Thank you to Ms. Brace and her grades 3 and 4 choir from Mildred Hall School for their wonderful rendition of O Canada.

Colleagues, today we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the national flag of Canada. It was on February 15, 1965, that our iconic flag, with its distinctive red and white maple leaf design, first flew proudly on Parliament Hill in our nation’s capital. In 1996, February 15th was declared

National Flag of Canada Day to mark the introduction of Canada’s national flag.

At its inauguration in 1965, the Speaker of the Senate declared, “The flag is the symbol of the nation’s unity, for it, beyond any doubt, represents all the citizens of Canada without distinction of race, language, belief or opinion.”

Since 1965, the flag, as a symbol of Canada, has become known the world over and is associated with the Canadian ideals of democracy, freedom and respect.

Maple trees are not common in this part of the country. However, we proudly fly our Canadian flags across the Northwest Territories as a symbol of unity with fellow Canadians across this country as well as those representing our country around the world.

Later this afternoon in the Great Hall of the Legislative Assembly, the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, Mr. George Tuccaro, will host a reception marking the 50th anniversary of the

Canadian flag. All Members of this House and all members of the public are invited to attend this celebration of our flag and the great country that it represents.

Please join me in celebrating the 50th anniversary of

the national flag of Canada.

Thank you, colleagues. Orders of the day. Item 2, Ministers’ statements. The honourable Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Mr. Ramsay.

Mr. Speaker, the tourism industry offers opportunities for economic development throughout all regions of the Northwest Territories, and federal funding can support this growing and vibrant industry.

On February 9th , along with myself and Mr. Don

Morin, chair of Northwest Territories Tourism, the federal Minister responsible for the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, announced a contribution of approximately $2.8 million to support tourism development in the Northwest Territories. The contribution includes just over $1.4 million for tourism projects supported by the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment and $1.4 million in funding for NWT Tourism. These funds will be spent over the remaining current fiscal year and in 2015-2016.

The funding dedicated to Industry, Tourism and Investment’s tourism projects will include research, the development of a visitor exit survey, community tourism development and training activities.

There will be an emphasis on five communities with emerging tourism opportunities: Lutselk’e, Fort Resolution, Fort Simpson, Deline and Tuktoyaktuk.

I would like to thank these communities for their vision in pursuing tourism for economic development, the well-being of their residents, and cultural vibrancy. Funding will support baseline research to measure the impacts of these investments as well a series of initiatives to build community tourism capacity.

The investment in NWT Tourism will take place over the same time period. This funding will support the implementation of a two-year marketing plan to further promote the territory to target markets in Asia, Europe and North America. Marketing activities include advertising and promotions, attendance at trade shows, market research and the development of a five-year marketing strategy.

This strategy will respond to new opportunities such as the emerging market in China and other Asian

nations. It will guide the annual marketing plans going forward. The overall goal of these activities is to increase the number of tourists visiting and spending money in the Northwest Territories.

I am pleased to share that Industry, Tourism and Investment will also be contributing funding to these two initiatives through existing tourism support programs. Our share includes $5.7 million for the ITI tourism projects and $1.4 million for NWT Tourism over two years, bringing the total investment announced by our two governments this week to approximately $10 million.

Mr. Speaker, the number of tourists discovering our spectacular territory continues to grow every year. Tourism brings around $130 million to the Northwest Territories each year and employs 2,500 people. To further grow this important sector, we need support, and the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment welcomes and appreciates the investment of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency.

Once again we would like to thank the federal government for their continued support. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Lafferty.

Mr. Speaker, all children in the NWT deserve the best possible care, nurturing and support, so that they can develop physically, emotionally, socially, culturally and spiritually. When these supports are in place right from the start, children are more likely to grow up to become healthy, productive members of their communities and society.

The departments of Health and Social Services and Education, Culture and Employment continue to work in partnership to ensure that there is increased access and participation in early childhood programs, enhanced quality of early childhood services and improved integration and collaboration at all levels of the early childhood system. Achieving our vision and goals requires an effective, comprehensive and coordinated approach to improve early childhood developmental outcomes. Today I would like to update you on some of the achievements in our Right From The Start - Early Childhood Development Action Plan.

In December 2014, Education, Culture and Employment launched the Early Childhood Staff Grant program. This program supplements the traditionally low wages of the early childhood

sector, to help attract new people and encourage them to further their post-secondary training. Making the field more attractive to trained people is critical, as the quality of early childhood programs is directly related to the number of years of training that staff have. To date, we have received more than 140 applications and the first payments will be made on February 13, 2015.

Mr. Speaker, we also successfully implemented another key action identified in the Early Childhood Education Action Plan. In January 2015, 10 successful applicants were awarded the first ever Right From The Start Early Childhood Development Scholarship. At $5,000 each, these scholarships will help our northern students to achieve their goals and complete their early childhood development post-secondary training, investments further benefitting our NWT children.

To support new parents and caregivers as they embark on the important journey of raising children, ECE will give them iPads filled with useful early childhood apps and resources. We know this generation of parents is much more technologically savvy, and we want to provide them with resources that will assist them in raising their children. Distributing the iPads will also give us an important opportunity to introduce new parents to early childhood staff and resources available in their communities. What better way for relationships to develop than learning about fun and relevant resources that benefit modern parents and caregivers as they are raising their children. These iPads are the techno “baby bags” of the future. I look forward to seeing how tradition combines with innovation to continue serving our children and families in the NWT.

Mr. Speaker, these are but a few of the commitments and innovations emerging out of the Right From The Start Framework and Action Plan very actively underway. These developing programs and services are streamlining and improving access for our families with young children and creating an understanding that investing in our youngest children is an investment in the future of the Northwest Territories. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Minister of Justice, Mr. Ramsay.

Mr. Speaker, in every community visit, when discussing corrections and justice issues, we hear that on-the-land programming helps people heal and reconnect to their culture and values. In the Department of Justice, we know this to be true. This type of programming has long been a cornerstone of programming in the NWT.

In the Assembly last year, I talked about work the department has undertaken to ensure inmates are receiving appropriate cultural and on-the-land programming while in NWT corrections facilities. Finding capable partners with the right kind of cultural knowledge and experience to deliver these programs is essential to their success.

Our first efforts to identify groups, elders and individuals who could help us deliver the Wilderness Program for low-risk offenders were met with limited response and we were unable to select any qualified contractors. The Department of Justice, however, remains committed to developing this programming and has been actively engaging communities to help identify potential operators.

We believe that significant community involvement is essential for an effective Wilderness Program. Over the last year, corrections service staff have talked with communities to ensure potential operators of on-the-land programs are aware of our interest and will be able to deliver these specialized corrections-based cultural programs. We are committed to building a program with significant community involvement.

Recently, an expression of interest was again publicly advertised. We also sent it directly to those who might be interested in partnering with us in this work. I am pleased to advise the responses are encouraging. Over the next several weeks, community partners who may be able to fulfill the program needs will be invited to come and have an open discussion with departmental staff. These discussions will ensure both the operators and staff have a strong mutual understanding of the Wilderness Program and associated requirements.

After these discussions, we hope potential applicants will have increased capacity to successfully respond to a request for proposals for the Wilderness Program early in the next fiscal year. Aligning the needs of the inmate population and the interests of the operators and staff is critical for the success of this unique program.

Mr. Speaker, in order for inmates to turn their lives around, we cannot underestimate the need for strong community partnerships, support of the corrections service and the willingness of inmates to participate in these on-the-land healing programs. We are working to be supportive and constructive as we build sustainable and effective programs in partnership with our communities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise Members that the Honourable Robert C.

McLeod will be absent from the House today and Monday to participate in the Federal/Provincial/Territorial Ministers of Sport meeting and to cheer on Team NWT at the Canada Winter Games in Prince George, British Columbia.

As well, Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise Members that the Honourable Glen Abernethy will be absent from the House today due to illness. 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. I told my colleagues in the Regular Members’ Caucus this morning that I was going to title my Member’s statement today “The Butcher, the Baker, the Candlestick Maker.”

Mr. Speaker, we talk a lot about jobs in this House; we talk mostly about government jobs. And government jobs are wonderful for those who have them and those who aspire to have them, but our economy cannot function without the janitors, the room attendants, the servers, the cashiers, the gas station attendant.

When I left the building where I live this morning, I passed by the lady vacuuming the lobby. I took an extra effort to give her a warm greeting and a good morning. I know very well the importance of workers in the service sector and the importance to private small business that their dedicated and quality work brings to the operation of business that serves the needs of our communities.

I grew up in a small ma and pa business. I am the butcher’s daughter. My parents worked long days at the store. Our lives revolved around service to our loyal customers. My mother came home tired at night, often falling asleep at the supper table.

I want to say also, thankfully it was a grocery store, because they had enough food then to feed their five kids when they used the product that was past its prime and they couldn’t sell it anymore. We always joked about that because my brothers are over six feet tall, so it obviously didn’t hurt them.

My dad, 18 years ago tomorrow, coincidentally, I got the phone call that my dad had died of a sudden heart attack. I want to say today that he was my mentor, my idol, my hero, and every time there’s something to report, I miss still, to this day, being able to call him up and talk to him about it. So, he was a small business owner and he only had a Grade 3 education, but he was definitely the

smartest man that I knew. He worked hard with integrity to support his family. He loved small business and he loved politics, and I’m so glad that on his last visit to the North, he had a chance to sit in this gallery 18 years ago and be recognized in this House.

But, Mr. Speaker, I’d like to send my respect out today to the hardworking people in the private sector serving the public. It’s honourable work and it’s integral work to the operation of our economy. There are lots of ma and pa businesses and lots of people working in the service sector in all of our communities and I think we should show them the gratitude and the appreciation that they all well deserve. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On April 1, 2014, the NWT achieved our long sought after goal of devolution, and with devolution the GNWT accepted seven pieces of federal legislation as our own. We established NWT acts that mirrored the federal acts.

At the time many residents expressed concern about adopting these laws exactly as written by the federal government, unchanged and unevaluated. Many questioned when the legislation would be evaluated, when it would be amended to suit the NWT, our unique government and territory. We certainly heard a commitment from the Premier to review the seven pieces of devolution legislation. I think he was asked three or four times to make that commitment, but commit did, in keeping with the saying we heard many times last year that we would first devolve, then evolve. Consultation was promised and amendments seemingly forthcoming after that.

But the commitment was a hollow one, Mr. Speaker. To date there has been no indication that these seven acts will see an evolution anytime soon and the consultation has been minimal. There’s a link on the GNWT website which allows for residents to send in questions or comments about devolution, but nothing else that I’m aware of.

A far greater commitment to consultation and action is needed. We need a commitment to face-to-face consultation, a commitment to in-depth analysis of each one of the devolution bills to determine what amendments are needed, a commitment to bring amendments forward as soon as possible and a commitment to public hearings or forums so residents, NGOs and businesses can discuss these acts and the changes needed.

We Members know that there’s a long list of legislation, other than the devo bills, that needs

updating, amending, or new laws that need to be built from scratch, and we know that the government has a priority list of what legislation should be tackled when. So, is there a schedule for consideration and revision of the legislation we inherited from Canada? We’ve not seen any evidence of that. We’re approaching the one year anniversary of devolution. I believe there should have been some action, some movement on this by now, yet there is not. Are we as a government concerned for the NWT and our environment, or are we happy to carry on, safe in a devolved territory, hanging on to the coattails of the federal legislation and willing to ignore the need for legislative change?

If we do care, effecting legislative change in the mirrored devolution legislation very soon will prove that to our people. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Member for Deh Cho, Mr. Nadli.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know that we can all agree on the importance of elders and seniors in our communities and the importance of respecting our elders. We can show our respect in many different ways. We learn from the traditional knowledge and wisdom of our elders. We recognize their lessons about the land and its history. In our homes and in our families, we celebrate the role of grandparents, aunts, uncles and other role models in raising our children.

But today some of our seniors are at risk. Today I want to talk about the Deh Gah Gotie Senior Citizens Home in Fort Providence.

Community leaders have come to me with concerns about security and safety at this facility. I’ve been told that the RCMP don’t always respond to calls, and even the daytime staff and the nighttime live-in caregiver. These security issues are still affecting the health and safety of residents.

The band has been working with the government to address these problems. Over the holidays the band organized volunteers to visit with the residents and make sure they were not being bothered.

I’m looking forward to these issues being addressed in meetings between the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation and the RCMP. I’m also looking forward to the planned renovations of the Deh Gah Gotie Senior Citizens Home, to make sure our seniors have the quality care, support and housing that they deserve. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Nadli. Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to follow up on my comments yesterday regarding our need for revenue to fund our programs. Some jurisdictions worldwide have done precisely what this government says is impossible. Deriving meaningful public benefits from their non-renewable resource extraction, they have built programs and heritage funds that are the envy of the world, through higher taxes and resource revenues, while pursuing progressive policies aimed at mitigating unintended, harmful effects of exploitation activities.

Norway is perhaps the best example we’ve all heard about. Thanks to resource revenue and taxation policies, they have a trillion dollar Heritage Fund to pass on to their children and to remove the “bust” from the “boom and bust” resource extraction economy we both share.

Contrast this with our neighbours to the south in Alberta, a population whose citizens have, in a sense, been subjected to a government-enabled corporate fleecing. Alberta’s Heritage Fund is just $16.6 billion and is only slightly larger than it was when it started in 1976.

Economic globalization has affected the current price of oil, which has them singing the blues, proposing to cut programs and discussing tax increases.

Norway, a progressive nation with smart taxes, sound early childhood and educational programs and a population that understands the benefits of paying taxes, is also an evidence-based country that recognizes its role as a global citizen. With recent science indicating we must move away from fossil fuels and leave them in the ground, they have chosen to divest their National Pension Fund of investments in 114 companies, including all coal mining operations and Alberta’s tar sands. They now regard these resources as liabilities, not assets, and judge “there to be high levels of uncertainty about the sustainability” of their business models.

Companies reliant on fossil fuels and those engaged in harming the environment are seen as morally opposite to Norway’s investment goals and representing an investment risk. Many companies will find themselves stranded in a world that does not want what they offer. Clearly, as our own Mark Carney has indicated, the smart money is moving away from the economy based on destructive fossil fuels.

The Minister of Finance has kindly committed to providing committee a discussion paper on revenue options, outlining in great detail, I’m sure, all the reasons it can’t be done. I would ask the Minister to

show some rare leadership in Canada and include a “can do” discussion of Norway’s enlightened success.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to finish my statement. Mahsi.

---Unanimous consent granted

Mr. Speaker, I would ask the Minister to show some rare leadership in Canada and include a “can do” discussion of Norway’s enlightened success and how we can achieve the same benefits for the residents of the NWT. Mahsi.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It has been several years since Hay River has had a full-time resident judge and remand in its South Mackenzie Correctional Centre, SMCC. It was not too long ago that we had a full-time judge that lived in Hay River, that worked in Hay River and travelled around the South Slave doing work for Justice. Along with that judge came remand, inmates that were waiting on trial. Several years ago the Department of Justice, in their wisdom, decided to remove remand out of Hay River and centralize Yellowknife. We’re very concerned with this. There are a lot of extra costs for travel. We’re shipping inmates up to Yellowknife, waiting for their trials, holding them here in Yellowknife as opposed to closer to home and dealing with Justice in the territory, in the South Slave territory.

We have added pressure on our RCMP who have to travel with these inmates. We are concerned that the next step is to centralize everything back into Yellowknife with our justice system. We need to get back the justice system in the South Slave and in the Hay River area. I will have questions for the Minister of Justice on how we get back Hay River’s judge and the remand.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to take the opportunity today to recognize a very special and iconic lady in the Beaufort-Delta region, Ms. Elizabeth Greenland. Elizabeth and her family have lived in the Inuvik region for years and they’ve contributed to making Inuvik what it is, have helped develop the traditional and the cultural ways of life, and continue to do that today. Ms. Elizabeth Greenland has demonstrated great wisdom,

traditional knowledge, leadership, strength and guidance not only for her family but people in Inuvik and throughout the Beaufort-Delta. Her commitment to cultural and language conservation has been demonstrated within her own family where her own family speaks Gwich’in.

Ms. Elizabeth Greenland, I’ve known her for a very long time, and I’ve actually participated in one of her dance groups. She’s had dance groups for years and years over the years and these dance groups have performed at various functions in Inuvik and throughout the Northwest Territories. She has created a lot of great jiggers, two steppers as well as a lot of great square dancers. Yes, like myself.

On February 10th , Ms. Elizabeth Greenland and her

family celebrated her 95th birthday.

Thank you, colleagues. On Friday, February 13th ,

the community of Inuvik will come together, and members of the Beaufort-Delta will join in celebrating her life and her legacy that she has left behind in Inuvik and throughout the Beaufort-Delta region, at Ingamo Hall with a feast and a dance starting at six o’clock. I invite all people in the Inuvik region who will be in Inuvik at that time to come, say thank you, shake her hand and tell her mahsi for all the work that she’s done for people of the North. I would like Members here to join me in congratulating Elizabeth and wishing her a very, very happy birthday.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First of all, I’d like to thank Mildred Hall School choir for singing O Canada in the Chamber today, and I look forward to listening later in the Great Hall to the Yellowknife Choral Society’s rendition as well.

Mr. Speaker, as we heard from you, this Sunday, February 15th , will mark a unique day in our history.

As mentioned, not only is this day our annual National Flag Day of Canada but it also represents an incredible milestone. Our flag is turning the big 5-0. It is without a doubt, our Canadian flag is an admired symbol that unites all Canadians from… [English translation not provided.]

It is recognized both at home and abroad representing a country of peace, prosperity and generosity of spirit.

I am happy to see in the House today that our NWT Legislative Assembly recognizes our national symbol of unity and keeps our annual tradition during our winter session.

With Valentine’s Day just the day before, I know there will be lots of love left spilling over for all Canadians to share in celebration.

Therefore, I want to wish all Range Lake residents, all Northerners, all Canadians a special National Flag Day this Sunday in celebration of our symbol of pride and what makes us truly unique around the globe. Thank you.