Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to speak about the stagnant economic condition in the NWT and, more specifically, the regions outside Yellowknife.

In these uncertain economic times, we must understand that the majority of current business opportunities for the regions are tied directly to government projects. Keeping this in mind, it is important that we, as government, ensure that our northern businesses and residents have first opportunity to participate in any and all government-funded projects. It is important that these projects are not delayed, in order that we can put northern companies and northern people to work.

I understand that we have processes in place to make sure that this happens. However, it is within these very processes that we fall short when it comes to carrying out projects in a timely manner or doing everything that we can to support businesses and create northern employment.

Our Business Incentive Policy, although an excellent tool that provides support to northern businesses, does fall short for large projects and the monitoring of northern content while work is ongoing. Our hit-and-miss schedule of 20- and 30-day payments for contractors, when not followed, can cause a business to experience undue financial hardship and sometimes push them to the brink of failure.

Then, there is the dreaded red tape that we continue to pile onto our northern businesses, which drives up costs of doing business while reducing productivity, which ultimately takes away from timely delivery of projects. This often results in contractors being penalized through non-payment, holdbacks, or being told they cannot bid on future projects.

A further reality is that, with the Alberta economy suffering, we are experiencing an influx of southern contractors with which our northern businesses must compete. When our northern businesses lose a contract to a southern firm, it results in the bleeding of dollars outside of our communities, out of the regions, and out of the NWT. These may be the very 75-cent dollars that we fight to receive from the federal government for projects or services in the NWT, and we are throwing them away.

This government has a responsibility to support our northern businesses and provide our residents with job opportunities. It is time that we stand up for our businesses and our residents. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize and welcome my constituent assistant, Leanne, I want to say "Jameson," but Campbell. Hopefully, she is enjoying her time here in Yellowknife. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to congratulate and recognize Max and Julia Trennert, who are celebrating their 59^th wedding anniversary.

Max was in Inuvik 60 years ago, working as a surveyor while mapping the community of Inuvik. Julia was a student at the time. According to their daughter, Brendalynn, her dad the site surveyor was also managing the Mackenzie Hotel when he first met Julia. It was love at first sight. Mr. Speaker, Max and Julia were married on February 5, 1960, in Inuvik, where the first of their three children were born, Brett Fraser, Spence, and Maxime. From Inuvik, they moved to Fort Simpson where their fourth child, Brendalynn, who we all know, was born.

Mr. Speaker, Max and Julia then relocated close to Kakisa, where they owned and operated a gas station in K'agee. Max and Julia eventually moved to Hay River, where they retired and have lived for the past 15 years.

Mr. Speaker, it is also important to note that Max is one of the original men who became a wildlife officer in the NWT, where he covered off the area of the Nahendeh, the Deh Cho, and the South Slave. Julia was a full-time stay-at-home mom and raised a family she was proud of. She was well known for her artistry when it comes to tuftings. Max and Julia now have four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Brendalynn says they are still very much in love with each other and very much cherish the family they were blessed with. I wish them all the best in this special day and look forward to visiting them when I'm back in Hay River. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Well, I guess it's an emergency warming shelter because what's going to happen here is we've got people on the street and, with these temperatures, we're going to end up having somebody freeze, here. I guess what we are looking for, or the group is looking for, is some assistance. I don't think they are looking for anything too much, and we just need some, or they will need some, assistance from the Department, if possible. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In Hay River, we are in dire need of an emergency warming shelter for the homeless, so the questions I have are for the Minister of Housing and the Minister of Homelessness, which is the same person. I would like to ask the Minister if her department is prepared to provide assistance to a group in Hay River, a non-profit group, to assist setting up a temporary emergency warming shelter? Thank you.

No further questions at this time. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I guess, if we are looking at a fair assessment, I am hoping that this government takes a look at the assessment and decides, outside of MACA, it would have to be outside MACA, whether it is a fair assessment or not. I am [microphone turned off] doesn't sound like that is done. We just accept, basically, what is put in front of us, and assume that it is fair unless there is something, a report or something, criteria that is met, to make sure it is fair. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. If they are following, I guess, the same methods as those for privately owned properties, would it not follow, then, that in Hay River I see property values down? I am not sure what it is like in Yellowknife, but would it not follow that the government would take a look at that assessment and look at whether it should be challenged? If we are following it like privately owned properties, the government should have the same right to challenge the assessment, as well. What has that done?

Thank you, Madam Chair. The tax bill there for Stanton is quite substantial, and I see that the property, it says here, is that you, in your statement, is it is assessed by the same methods as those used for privately owned property. Am I correct in saying that MACA is the one who does the property assessments?