Item 2, Ministers’ statements. Honourable Premier.

Mr. Speaker, later this week I will be participating in the meeting of First Ministers in Vancouver where I will have the opportunity to collaborate on areas of priority to residents of the Northwest Territories, including the economy and climate change. Meetings of First Ministers are chaired by the Prime Minister and attended by all provincial and territorial premiers. The meeting called by the Prime Minister for this week will be the first such full-day meeting of First Ministers in over six years. It is important that we as Canada’s First Ministers to have the opportunity to collaborate on priority areas affecting all Canadians. The Prime Minister has also publicly committed to resetting Canada’s relationship with Indigenous people. I am pleased to report that our meetings this week will include time for First Ministers to meet with leaders of the national Aboriginal organizations. This is an area where the Northwest Territories has substantial experience, and I am looking forward to talking to my colleagues about why it is so important and how we make it work in our territory.

The federal government and the Government of the Northwest Territories share many common goals and priorities. Some of the areas where we can benefit from a strong partnership include climate change, infrastructure, and the cost of living. I appreciate the federal government’s commitment to making public investments to encourage economic growth, job creation, and broad-based prosperity. This is essential for the Northwest Territories as we work to evolve towards a stable, secure economy. Productive and effective intergovernmental relations between the Government of the Northwest Territories and the federal government depend on a sound understanding of each other’s interests and priorities, strategic engagement, and focused communications on key priorities that support both governments’ short- and long-term objectives. Earlier this month, I met with the Prime Minister to continue discussions towards meaningful federal engagement on key areas of interest. The Government of the Northwest Territories is also in the process of developing a strategy to ensure that the federal government understands territorial priorities, and sets groundwork for active partnerships in areas of common interest. In the interim, I am looking forward to meeting with the Prime Minister and my provincial and territorial counterparts this week. It is my hope that we will have fruitful discussions and begin to lay the groundwork for meaningful federal engagement on key areas of interest to the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi. Ministers’ statements. Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

Mr. Speaker, this government is committed to providing quality early childhood development programs that will help our children reach their full potential. We want our youngest citizens to have the best opportunity to become healthy, educated, successful adults who are well prepared to embark on meaningful and rewarding careers. One of the programs that support this commitment is Junior Kindergarten for four-year-old children in the Northwest Territories. Junior Kindergarten emerged as a result of comprehensive stakeholder engagement with community leaders, parents, families, elders, educators, and early childhood professionals, and is underpinned by international and national research. Free, safe, play-based early childhood programming, such as junior kindergarten, provides every parent and caregiver with a quality early learning choice for their child. For some, it may be the only early childhood education option in their community. In larger communities, where there is a range of choices available, it provides another option for children to learn and grow, and prepares and familiarizes them with the future school setting. While it is up to us, as territorial leaders, to provide optimal early learning and development opportunities for all children across the North, it is ultimately up to the parents and families to make their own choice about what is best for their child. While we believe that Junior Kindergarten is the right thing to do, its initial implementation raised concerns from some stakeholders. As a result, Junior Kindergarten was made optional in our 29 smaller communities, and we committed to postponing further implementation beyond those communities until a comprehensive external review was completed. The results of that review were shared with you last month, provided to our stakeholders, and made public. The report demonstrated a positive response from parents and educators in junior kindergarten settings, who identified multiple benefits to their children and families. It recommended that Junior Kindergarten continue in the existing sites and that expansion to additional locations must take into account community contexts, strengths, and needs. Any further implementation must also consider quality early childhood learning programs already available in communities, a review of the funding model, a clear communication strategy, implementation plan, professional development, and a targeted curriculum with necessary supporting materials. I welcome the recommendations the independent consultants put forward. Our next step is to talk to key stakeholders who were part of the review, to ensure a transparent and inclusive approach in moving forward with this initiative. Once we have heard their suggestions for smooth and effective implementation, we will be better placed to decide the future of the Junior Kindergarten Program.

Everyone benefits from investments in our children and families. My priority is to work with the Standing Committee on Social Development to continue to advance the actions in the Early Childhood Development Framework jointly developed with the Department of Health and Social Services, to ensure we have the right programs and supports in place to care for our children. We are listening carefully to the concerns of parents, elders, educators, daycare operators, Aboriginal Head Start coordinators, divisional education councils, district education authorities, and other stakeholders. We will move forward in a way that is respectful to all and will give our children, no matter where they live, the best programming we can offer right from the start. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi. Ministers’ statements. Item 3, Members’ statements. Member for Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we’re all aware that we are living in an uncertain economy right now. The lower prices of oil and gas and diamonds have directly affected industrial activity and the northern economy. Exploration is declining and very little development of new activities is going on. That’s why, at this point, it is very important for this government to actively support companies that are willing to invest in our territory. One such company is TerraX, which is currently developing the Yellowknife City Gold Project just north of the capital city. TerraX is making a significant investment in exploration. The company raised $6 million last summer and resumed drilling near Walsh Lake in January. According to Mr. Campbell, TerraX president, in a recent presentation to MLAs it was indicated that the company is fully funded for the exploration through next year. TerraX has also demonstrated positive corporate citizenship in the North. It has shown that its operations can be done in an environmentally sustainable way. It has developed a constructive relationship with respect for Northerners, including the Aboriginal governments. Mr. Speaker, TerraX is an example of a company that is making a genuine long-term commitment to the North. Its activities will respect the environment and will bring employment and social and economic benefits to our territory. Companies like TerraX are doing their part to make economic activity happen. We need these kinds of corporate citizens and this kind of development to create jobs and wealth in the territory, but their project is challenged by a lack of energy, infrastructure, and potential land-use issues. These are things the company can't fix. They need to rely on the government to help resolve these issues. To make this kind of growth happen, our government needs to do its part. We need to encourage this kind of development. We need to create the infrastructure that is needed and resolve issues around land-use and permitting. I will have questions for the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment at the appropriate time today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi. Members’ statements. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the Government of Canada's decision to right a historic wrong by pardoning Everett George Klippert. Mr. Klippert was the last man in Canada to be charged, convicted, and sentenced to life in prison for being gay. Mr. Speaker, 50 years ago, gay men were routinely harassed by police even though they engaged in sex that took place between consenting adults. They were charged with gross indecency. Mr. Klippert had been charged with gross indecency in his hometown of Calgary and jailed for three years. When he finished his sentence, Mr. Klippert decided to make a new start and moved here to the Northwest Territories. He lived in Pine Point and worked at the mine as a mechanic's assistant. In 1965, the RCMP arrested Mr. Klippert and again charged him with gross indecency. A court-ordered psychiatrist assessed Mr. Klippert as an “incurable homosexual.” Judge J.H. Sissons agreed he was a dangerous offender based on his two sets of convictions for gross indecency. Sissons sentenced him to life in prison. In effect, he was sentenced to a life in prison for being gay. The Supreme Court of Canada later upheld this decision, and then all hell broke loose. Tommy Douglas led the charge in the House of Commons, saying that homosexuality should not be considered a criminal issue. He found an ally in the Justice Minister of the day, Pierre Elliot Trudeau, who said, “There is no place for the state in the bedrooms of the nation. What is done in private between adults doesn't concern the criminal code.” The modern movement to acquire equality rights for gays and lesbians began in Canada. Trudeau decriminalized homosexuality when he became Prime Minister. The day after the bill received royal assent, gay men in New York rose up against harassment by police. The Stonewall Riots of June 1969 drew the line on public harassment of private behaviour between consenting adults. Mr. Klippert remained in jail all this time. He was finally released in 1971, returned to Calgary, and died there 20 years ago. There have been significant changes in the last 50 years, which I will talk about in a moment. I would like to seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement. Thank you.

---Unanimous consent granted

Thank you

, Mr. Speaker. Some things haven't changed. It is difficult to be openly gay in grade school. Last week we celebrated Pink Shirt Day, a means to combat bullying in school. This began as an important initiative to support gay youth, to promote their self-acceptance and acceptance by the rest of us, and has of course gone on to cover all forms of excuses for bullying. What has changed in 50 years? While the law changed, many gays and lesbians live their sexuality quietly and privately because society as a whole is not supportive of us. Fifteen years ago, I was part of a gay and lesbian organization called Out North. We lobbied to have the government grant the same rights to us as to the rest of society. After a court battle, we won the right to adopt children, and in the new Human Rights Act, the right not to be discriminated against on the basis of sexuality. Yellowknife is a welcoming community for gays and lesbians, and we are in important roles throughout the community. I am proud to be the first woman married to a woman elected to this Legislature. All this started with Everett Klippert. I am grateful to him for being the catalyst of these changes and join in congratulating the Government of Canada on righting this historic wrong. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Mahsi. Members’ statements. Member for Frame Lake.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to salute the tremendous public service performed by the Northern Journal over many years. It may seem odd that a Yellowknife MLA is making a statement on the publication based in Fort Smith, but I have no hesitation whatsoever in saluting this newspaper as a standard of excellence in the Northwest Territories, setting an example for all other media to follow. The Northern Journal was founded in 1977 by Don Jaque as the Slave River Journal. It has been a family affair with his wife Sandra and has spawned some of the best journalists we have had, including Meagan Wohlberg, Craig Gilbert, and more. The newspaper has undertaken investigative journalism from an objective public policy perspective for decades, and I cannot say enough good things about it. It was very sad news I heard last week that the publisher has announced that he intends to close down the Northern Journal unless a buyer is found. I hope our more enterprising journalists will have a good look at the opportunity to take over the Northern Journal and build on its solid foundation and reputation. If the Northern Journal does not find a new life, it will fall into an unfortunate trend around the world where the print media is being replaced by the Internet and social media. Call me old school, but I still like to hold a newspaper in my hands, and I love the Northern Journal. I wish to sincerely thank Don and Sandra Jaque for devoting a large part of their adult lives to better informing Northwest Territories' residents about the key issues of the day. I believe I can say that all MLAs wish them all the best with their retirement and whatever challenges may lie ahead. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi. Members' statements. Member for Hay River North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We all know that in the NWT, government contracts account for a large portion of private industry revenue. By changing the way the government does business, we can alleviate some of the fiscal pressure on small- and medium-sized businesses, and help grow our economy from the ground up. For example, to bid on government tenders worth over $100,000, a five per cent cash bond or 10 per cent security bond is required. For a small operator who may not have access to conventional bonding, this can pose a significant obstacle. When people are just trying to make ends meet, they can't afford to have tens of thousands of dollars tied up for months at a time. This puts smaller businesses at a disadvantage, which should never be the effect of government policy. I recommend increasing the threshold for requiring bonds, while increasing the holdback percentage to ensure the government still protects its interest. Our policy on sole-source contracts also needs to be re-examined. According to the Government Contract Regulations, all purchases over $5,000 must go to tender. This is an antiquated amount that hasn't risen along with the cost of goods, and needs to be increased. The time and resources of small businesses and of the government are already being stretched, and these regulations only serve to further burden all parties with needless paperwork. One of the biggest opportunities to help small businesses has to do with how the government awards contracts for large multimillion-dollar capital projects. The argument is that it is more cost-effective to award these contracts to a single company. However, what often happens is that money flows out of the territory and local small- and medium-size companies miss out entirely. We need to stop looking at costs in simplistic terms and realize the true cost of our actions and our inactions. It may be more work and it may be a little more expensive to break up these big contracts, but by doing so we can give small local companies the opportunity to get a real piece of the action. This would keep money in the territory and would help us build capacity. Most importantly, it would put Northerners to work, and that's what we need right now. The money we spend on capital projects belongs to the people of the NWT, and we have an obligation to ensure we are using it to their utmost benefit. We can't continue to think that simply getting the lowest price on a project means we fulfilled that obligation. I've highlighted just a few areas that we need to re-examine, but there are many more. Our economy isn't the same as it was last year, five years ago, or 10 years ago. We need to constantly critique and improve how we’re doing business in the face of ever-changing economic realities. Later, I will have questions for the finance minister. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi. Members' statements. Member for the Sahtu.

Good afternoon. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, my statement is related to the Housing Minister here, in regards to the housing situation we have in the Sahtu region. It faces many challenges here aside from the current needs, like many other small remote communities across our Northwest Territories, but I'll be having some questions to the Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation later on. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi. Members' statements. Member for Nahendeh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would take the opportunity to talk about a great event that happened this past weekend in Fort Simpson. On Friday, I was able to go home to be part of the Connie Louttit Memorial Soccer Tournament. The tournament was developed about 13 years ago to give youth from the Mackenzie region another opportunity to play soccer and to meet other athletes from the other communities, all important part to youth development. Unfortunately, one of the huge supporters of this tournament passed away and the Mackenzie Recreation Association decided to ask the family if they would be willing to name the tournament after her. The family was honoured, and ever since, the tournament has been named the Connie Louttit Memorial. This past weekend was the 11th annual tournament. This weekend, the tournament had teams from Detah, Ndilo, Fort Resolution, Hay River, Whati, Behchoko, Fort Liard, Whitehorse, Fort Simpson, and athletes from Nahanni Butte, Enterprise, Jean Marie River, Wrigley, and Fort Smith, who were placed in various teams throughout the weekend. There were over 160 athletes ranging from the ages of 11 to 52, and you guessed it, the 52-year-old who was trying to play with these young people was myself. Unlike the Paul Stipdonk Tournament, this tournament is competitive, soccer with winners and losers. The amazing part of the tournament, all the games were competitive and a lot of great sportsmanship was shown throughout the weekend. All finals were very close, including a shootout between Behchoko and Fort Liard in the 14-and-under division. The games started at 2:00 p.m. on Friday and ended Sunday at 2:00 p.m. There were over 33 hours of soccer over the weekend. This involved a lot of coordination of the teams, staff, facilities, and officials. Unfortunately, I can't name all the volunteers and that, or I’d be here for the next hour or so, but I would like to thank all of the volunteers, staff, and coaches for helping out. However, I do need to think three special individuals for all their hard work. They are Nathan McPherson, Ashley Gillis, and Jacqueline Thompson. They were there from 36 hours to 40 hours over the weekend. As well, Jessica VanOverbeek, the executive director for the Mackenzie Recreation Association who continues to show support for this tournament. I can say I'm very happy and comfortable passing the torch to these young people who have taken it to the next step. Mr. Speaker, I would seek unanimous consent to conclude my Member's statement. Thank you.

--Unanimous consent granted

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thanks, colleagues. As you can imagine, it involves a lot of coordination, especially for food for all these athletes. A big thank you to Bernie Leader and the Thomas Simpson Secondary School students who ran the concession all weekend, and the women's group for doing the meal packages for the athletes. There were a lot of smiling faces after each meal. I'd be remiss if I do not thank the sponsors of this tournament. They are the Mackenzie Recreation Association, the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs, the Village of Fort Simpson, Thomas Simpson Secondary School, P.R. Contracting, and The Soccer Shoppe from Whitehorse. In closing, I'd like to thank my children and my soccer children for allowing this old guy to be part of the team and play in the tournament for the past three years. And for the record, we did win the co-ed division. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Laughter

Mahsi. Members' statements. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, many times in the House I spoke about the lack of employment in small NWT communities. Currently most communities have Canadian Rangers. I think they should and could play a greater role in our communities. Speaker, I intend to discuss the needs with the communities I represent that have Rangers. My thought right now is to change five or six Canadian Rangers into part-time or seasonal jobs in these communities. The Rangers can fill many important roles at the community level. They can be responsible for environmental clean-ups, search and rescue, while continuing their current roles as Rangers. In addition, there are many other important community-based tasks, like helping with community functions such as setting up for community meetings or events, on-the-land healing, and spiritual and cultural gatherings, just to mention a few. I've often said in the House over the years we need jobs in our small communities. These are jobs that can be done by community members and will help communities and their members to see positive role models who can lead good traditional lifestyles and display their Ranger skills. There are also Junior Canadian Rangers, who are taught about addictions, good nutrition, staying in school, and promote structural life activities. Once people have employment, we’ll all see the benefits at schools with the children attending, fewer addiction and health issues, and having families with income support their families. We need to start discussions with the federal government to see what's possible in creating good positions in the small communities of the NWT. There are about 4500 Canadian Rangers across our country, many of them in the NWT. I intend to talk to the Rangers in the communities I represent. Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi. Members' statements. Member for Mackenzie Delta.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, during my last constituency tour I held in the communities, one of my constituents wanted me to bring forward the need for more on-the-land healing programs in our region. I know a couple years back there was some programs held in Beaufort Delta, but my constituents would like to see more happening within our riding. With the report that was done, I believe it was about a year and a half ago, under the Mental Health Act, our residents wanted more on-the-land healing programs. I know the department has been working with the Gwich’in Tribal Council. He gave an update to us a couple weeks back, but later today I'll have some questions for the Minister. Thank you.

Mahsi. Members' Statements. Member for Deh Cho.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, if there were an award for bureaucratic bungling, surely it would go to the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation for their epic fail on the Hay River Reserve. It is an absolute disgrace that six homes have been sitting vacant on the reserve for well over a decade while people are in desperate need of housing. These homes were brand new when they were built in 2002, yet they remain unoccupied to this day. Meanwhile, the

K'atl'odeeche

First Nation estimates that more than 60 band members are living 25 kilometres away in Hay River because they have other choices. The impacts of homelessness on the reserve are enormous. Families are forced apart; band members living in town lack the support they would have at home making them more susceptible to drugs and alcohol and they risk losing the tax benefits that come with living on the reserve. Meanwhile, on the reserve families try to stick together in overcrowded living conditions. The vacant homes suffer seasonal wear and tear and the band, which receives its funding on a per capita basis much like the GNWT's Territorial Formula Financing, faces decline in revenues. Imagine vacant homes with people who need them. Seems like a no brainer, yet the GNWT, which has had responsibility for housing on the reserve since 1981 appears incapable of doing so, so while we're handing awards, let's give a Commissioner's award for patience to Chief Roy Fabian and the KFN who have tried over and over again to get the issue resolved.

Here's the problem in a nutshell. To qualify for the Housing Corporation's PATH Program, which provides assistance for territorial home ownership, potential homeowners must have an income that falls below the core need income threshold on the reserve. Those with an income above the CNIT can qualify for partial funding, but they will be unable to get a mortgage from a bank to fund the rest because the house is on reserve land which cannot be sold. Without title to the land, potential homeowners cannot get a mortgage from the bank. In 2012, Chief Roy Fabian pointed out that no one in the community fell within the necessary income brackets to qualify them for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation's Homeownership Program in the previous seven years. So the houses remain vacant. Also in 2012, the band held a forum in an attempt to resolve this issue. The Northwest Territories Housing Corporation was invited but did not attend. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement. Mahsi.

---Unanimous consent granted.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Representatives from Indian Affairs and Northern Development Canada who did attend committed to work with the KFN to resolve the problem. They said the problem could be fixed within six months by undertaking the process to designate the lands for leasing which would require ratification by the band council. Mr. Speaker, that was four years ago.

Now that I have spoken about the problems with these vacant units on the Hay River Reserve in my next Member's statement I will turn my attention to possible solutions. In the meantime, because this issue involves not only Housing but also Lands, later today I will have questions for the Premier. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi. Members' Statements. Member for Kam Lake.