Debates of Feb. 12th, 2007

This is page numbers 777 - 810 of the Hansard for the 15th Assembly, 5th Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library.

The word of the day was housing .

Topics

Members Present

Item 1: Prayer

Launch Of New Consolidated Housing Programs

Northwest Territories Power Corporation Safety Record

Ministers Absent From The House

Passing Of Mother Laura Lennie

Extension Of Highway No. 4 Into The Slave Geological Province

Artificial Ice Surfaces In Small Isolated Communities

Passing Of Respected Northerners

Accuracy Of Caribou Population Estimates

Decisions Regarding The Barren-ground Caribou Herd

Beaufort-delta Education Council Long-term Service Award Recipients

Taking Steps To Address Family Violence

Health Coverage For Select Medical Conditions

Reflections On Former MLA Mr. Vince Steen

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Sahtu Region Bridge Construction

Extension Of Highway No. 4 Into The Slave Geological Province

Lack Of Rcmp Detachment In Gameti

Health Coverage For Select Medical Conditions

Accuracy Of Caribou Population Estimates

Management Of The Barren-ground Caribou Herd

Issuance Of New Driver's Licence

Caribou Tag Reductions

Resource Revenue Sharing Negotiations

Contracting Mou For The Sahtu Region

Written Question 42-15(5): Caribou Management Actions

Tabled Document 89-15(5): 2006 Annual Report Of The Public Utilities Board Of The Nwt

Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

Item 21: Report Of Committee Of The Whole

Item 22: Orders Of The Day

Members Present

Honourable Brendan Bell , Mr. Braden , Honourable Paul Delorey , Mrs. Groenewegen , Honourable Joe Handley , Mr. Hawkins , Honourable David Krutko , Mr. Lafferty , Ms. Lee , Hon. Michael McLeod , Mr. McLeod, Hon. Kevin Menicoche , Mr. Ramsay , Mr. Villeneuve , Mr. Yakeleya

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---Prayer

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Item 1: Prayer

Item 1: Prayer

Page 777

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Good afternoon, colleagues. Orders of the day. Ministers' statements. The honourable Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation , Mr. Handley .

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Minister's Statement 63-15(5): Launch Of New Consolidated Housing Programs

Item 2: Ministers' Statements

Page 777

Joe Handley

Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce today the launch of Housing Choices, the new program structure for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation.

Mr. Speaker, Housing Choices is designed as a progressive and flexible program structure that will allow the corporation to be more responsive to the needs of our people and to contribute to this Assembly's goal of promoting self-reliance.

The consolidation of programs, from 14 to four, meets many of the priorities identified by stakeholders during the consultations undertaken on the Housing Corporation's mandate. It also reflects the input and suggestions we received from Members of the Standing Committee on Social Programs and individual Members of this Legislative Assembly. I would like to thank all Members for their valuable contribution and support to this effort.

Mr. Speaker, under the new program structure, more people will be able to access programs than previously possible and residents who have previously accessed programs but remain in need can more easily access additional assistance.

Housing Choices offers many benefits to those in need. These benefits include new education and counselling modules designed to promote and enhance responsibility and increase capacity for success. It is important to note the new programs provide a clear path for both prospective and existing homeowners to follow to seek assistance.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to outline the four new programs:

• The Solutions to Educate People Program, STEP, provides participants with education and counselling consisting of four courses to prepare them for the requirements of homeownership;

• The Homeownership Entry Level Program, HELP, provides assistance to prospective first-time homebuyers by providing the opportunity to

experience homeownership commitments before purchasing a home;

• The Contributing Assistance for Repairs and Enhancement Program, CARE, enables existing homeowners to make necessary repairs to their home to ensure a safe and healthy residence and to increase the useful economic life of their home; and

• The Providing Assistance for Territorial Homeownership, PATH, allows clients the opportunity to become homebuyers by assisting with the construction or purchase of a modest home.

Mr. Speaker, while the number of programs offered by the Housing Corporation have been reduced, we have broadened access and expanded the eligibility criteria to increase the number of residents we can support. The delivery of these new programs also recognizes the needs of our seniors and persons with disabilities by having broadened access to programs that meet their needs.

Mr. Speaker, along with the affordable housing initiative, the launch of Housing Choices represents a renewed commitment by government to reduce core housing need and to ensure all residents of the Northwest Territories have access to adequate and affordable housing. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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Minister's Statement 63-15(5): Launch Of New Consolidated Housing Programs

Item 2: Ministers' Statements

Page 777

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Handley . Ministers' statements. The honourable Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Power Corporation, Mr. Krutko .

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Minister's Statement 64-15(5): Northwest Territories Power Corporation Safety Record

Item 2: Ministers' Statements

Page 777

David Krutko

Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the excellent safety record that the employees of the Northwest Territories Power Corporation have achieved these past years. As of February 1, 2007, Power Corporation employees have worked over one million hours without a lost time accident.

---Applause

For those of us who may think in years as opposed to hours, this number represents over three years of work.

Mr. Speaker, this safety record would be exceptional in any company. However, when you consider the environment that the Power Corporation employees work in, it is even more noteworthy. The NWT Power Corporation is a fully integrated utility; that is they provide generation, transmission and distribution services to customers over our vast territory. Few utility companies these days still provide this broad scope of service, choosing instead to specialize in generation or

transmission or distribution and they operate in a much easier environment.

Access to the system also represents a safety challenge. Climbing electrical poles to work on connections or remove frost build-up is still very much part of the job of a Power Corporation lineperson. In comparison, many utilities across Canada service power poles and lines on their system with large bucket trucks that raise and lower the line personnel.

Mr. Speaker, this high standard of safe work practice has only been achieved by Power Corporation employees working together, making safety everyone's responsibility, and I am pleased to report that the safe work practices of Power Corporation employees has been recognized by their peers. The Canadian Electricity Association awarded NTPC a Bronze Medal President's Award of Excellence for employee safety to recognize that NTPC's lost time severity rate and all injury/illness frequency rate as being among the lowest of their reporting group.

I would like to personally congratulate the employees of the Power Corporation in achieving over one million hours without a lost time accident and I wish them continued success in the safe delivery of utility service to the residents and businesses in the NWT. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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Minister's Statement 64-15(5): Northwest Territories Power Corporation Safety Record

Item 2: Ministers' Statements

Page 778

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Krutko . Ministers' statements. The honourable Premier , Mr. Handley .

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Minister's Statement 65-15(5): Ministers Absent From The House

Item 2: Ministers' Statements

Page 778

Joe Handley

Weledeh

Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise Members that the Honourable Charles Dent will be absent from the House today and tomorrow to attend the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada meeting in Toronto, Ontario.

As well, Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise Members that the Honourable Floyd Roland will be absent from the House today to attend the memorial service for Mr. Vince Steen in Tuktoyaktuk. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Minister's Statement 65-15(5): Ministers Absent From The House

Item 2: Ministers' Statements

Page 778

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Handley . Ministers' statements. Members' statements. The honourable Member for Sahtu , Mr. Yakeleya .

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Passing Of Mother Laura Lennie

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 778

Norman Yakeleya

Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, last week, my brothers, sisters and family members in the Sahtu and my family members in Tulita, especially for ourselves as a family, were devastated, Mr. Speaker. Our world was turned upside down. Mr. Speaker, from time to time, as Members of the Legislative Assembly, colleagues in this House here, we give statements. We say things about people in our region. We say good things about treatment of the youth, celebration of anniversaries; we say encouraging words to people who are in school. Those are delightful things that we have the opportunity to say on behalf of our people in our region.

Mr. Speaker, some of the hardest things we have to do as politicians, also, is to carry on with our workforce, carry on as our people have chosen us to do by electing us here at the House to represent our region.

Mr. Speaker, last week, my mother, Laura Lennie, decided to leave us early. Death has no appointment, I was told. I had a hard time with many people in my community, myself and my brothers and sisters. When love is gone, it is replaced with grief. I had a lot of wonderful calls and support from my colleagues here. I thank them. People talked to me. My mother was a leader, a strong woman that raised nine of us. I had no electricity or running water. She fought hard for us.

I want to say to the people in the Sahtu and people here, thank you very much for supporting us and our families and our support to Vince Steen. People in Fort Simpson lost some families and other family members who are going to go through this experience. Your prayers really do help, and your words...

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Passing Of Mother Laura Lennie

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 778

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Mr. Yakeleya , your time for Member's statement has expired. Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya . Members' statements. The honourable Member for Kam Lake , Mr. Ramsay .

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Extension Of Highway No. 4 Into The Slave Geological Province

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 778

David Ramsay

Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, I want to talk about a very important transportation issue. That issue, Mr. Speaker, is Highway No. 4, also known as the Ingraham Trail. The Ingraham Trail is home to hundreds of year-round residents. It is the access to the community of Detah, summer cottages, lakes, recreational areas, trails, campgrounds and parks. It is also the first 67 kilometres on which, each year, thousands of loads of fuel and other supplies travel to get to the mines located in the North Slave region.

As a government, we have spent approximately $25 million in the past 10 years in upgrades and rehabilitation to Highway No. 4. It is proposed that upwards of $21.5 million more will be spent in the next few years on improvements. We have also increased our operations and maintenance budget by $852,000 to address safety issues on our highways. It is interesting to note, Mr. Speaker, that, prior to January, there were three serious accidents on the Ingraham Trail.

Mr. Speaker, after the ice road opened, the amount of gravel was put down to the point where there was quite a noticeable difference between maintenance pre and post ice road season. As a government, I think we need to make sure that public safety is, and remains, a top priority on all of our highways all year long.

What I would like to see from this government is the pursuit, in partnership with aboriginal governments and industry, of the extension of Highway No. 4 north into the Slave Geological Province to open up access to our resources and eventually the Dogrib communities located to the west. This is the logical next step, seeing as we have almost 70 kilometres and millions of dollars invested in a road extending northeast from Yellowknife.

In his budget address the other day, the Finance Minister made mention of the fact that the federal government is responsible for new highway construction in our territory and that, since 1987, not a single kilometre of road construction has been completed in our territory. That is 20 years ago, Mr. Speaker. We need roads. We need

access to our communities and to our resources. We need to push for our transportation infrastructure. We need to get it on the agenda with the federal government. We cannot continue to flounder along as a territory with no lasting benefit from our resource riches. Roads should be a top priority in a lasting legacy as we develop these resources. Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Minister of Transportation at the appropriate time. Mahsi.

---Applause

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Extension Of Highway No. 4 Into The Slave Geological Province

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 779

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay . Members' statements. The honourable Member for Monfwi, Mr. Lafferty .

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Artificial Ice Surfaces In Small Isolated Communities

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 779

Jackson Lafferty

North Slave

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to talk about what took place two days ago. Right now, the youth YK minor hockey and living in Yellowknife, we don't have one available in Rae. Since we don't have an arena, even though the kids want to play, we don't have that in Rae. They went to Yellowknife and I just want to thank them since they don't have one available for Behchoko. Maybe there might be one in the future, but I might ask the Minister regarding that question. (Translation ends)

Just this past weekend, I have witnessed a mini hockey tournament that occurred over the weekend. It is a minor hockey league, along with invited guests coming out from Behchoko. Behchoko team came out. They were a team selected from many members from Behchoko. At that time, they didn't have a goalie, so they had to borrow a goalie from one of the house leagues here. I must say, it takes courage to come out to play against the Yellowknife team. The Yellowknife team compared to the Behchoko team or other small communities, they are good compared to the isolated communities.

I would like to say thank you to the members that came out. I would like to see more of that coming out to Yellowknife or Hay River or Inuvik. We don't have those facilities in our communities. Artificial ice arena, we have been after for a number of years, but eventually we will probably see that. We talk about the bridge across the Mackenzie River. It is too costly. At the same time, Mr. Speaker, bridging the gap between Yellowknife and Behchoko will cost next to nothing compared to the Mackenzie River bridge. What I mean by that is relationship building. Mr.

Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

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Artificial Ice Surfaces In Small Isolated Communities

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 779

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

The Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. You may conclude your statement, Mr. Lafferty .

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Artificial Ice Surfaces In Small Isolated Communities

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 779

Jackson Lafferty

North Slave

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would just like to conclude my statement by saying we, as a government sitting here, would like to see more of that, members coming out and playing against our house team here. At the same time, we, as a government, need to put the money where it is much needed, in the isolated communities with respect to artificial ice in the communities. Mahsi.

---Applause

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Artificial Ice Surfaces In Small Isolated Communities

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 779

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty . Members' statements. The honourable Member for Hay River South , Mrs. Groenewegen .

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Passing Of Respected Northerners

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 779

Jane Groenewegen

Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to just today mention a few people with respect to the passing of some loved and respected northerners. I empathize with Mr. Yakeleya today as he stands in this House to speak of the memory of his mother. It was 10 years ago this week that my Dad passed away while I was a sitting Member of this Legislature. I returned and stood in the House to speak to his memory. It is a difficult thing to do, but Laura Lennie, Norm's mother, was a definitely much beloved woman.

I got to know her a little bit when I began to search for my grandmother's council, the matriarchs and the highly respected women in the various regions in the Northwest Territories. Her name was definitely at the top of the list. I got to know her a little more with her work that she did with the NWT seniors and helping seniors and encouraging them. She was a beautiful woman. She was a woman who had extraordinary talents when it came to making things and handicrafts and beadwork. As Norman said, she raised nine children. She, about herself, had a lovingness about her.

You would not see her anywhere, at Wal-Mart, downtown, wherever you would run into her when she was in town, which was often because she was very politically involved in the North. I would always get a big hug and a kiss from her when I would see her. That lovingness that she showed is exemplified in her children as well. She did a wonderful job. Today, I just want to offer my condolences to our colleague here at the loss of his dear, dear mother at too early and too young of an age.

Also today, in a few minutes, they will be starting the memorial service for our friend Vince Steen up in Tuktoyaktuk. I had the honour and privilege of serving in this Legislature with Vince Steen. He was a character. He was his own man. He was unusual and he was unique. He was not all that easy to get to know, but I remember after knowing Vince for quite some time, I noticed that he didn't easily share his personal feelings and emotions that well. I found out, after a long time, that Vince had gone off to residential school when he was five years old and did not return until he was 12 years old.

Seven years away from his family. That told a big story to me about Vince, but he was a man of great integrity. I always said if I was going to be lost out on the land someplace, I would want Vince there because he knew the land and he knew the ways of it so well. So we offer our condolences to his family and think of them today in Tuktoyaktuk as they remember his life. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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Passing Of Respected Northerners

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 779

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen . Members' statements. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe , Mr. Villeneuve .

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Accuracy Of Caribou Population Estimates

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 779

Robert Villeneuve

Tu Nedhe

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to use my Member's statement to raise a very important issue that was brought forward at the

Caribou Summit that was held in Inuvik last month. One of these main issues raised at this historical gathering was the reliability of the data on caribou numbers along with the confidence and the methods used to determine herd numbers by our government officials and biologists. Mr. Speaker, I understand that we have a very difficult task ahead to get more definitive numbers on caribou and the numbers of caribou out there and that the resources required to undertake such an initiative are quite large given the limited budget in wildlife management programs in our government.

But I feel that, given the importance of this renewable resource to all of the northerners and all levels of our northern society, we have to put more resources and money into this research initiative in the short term to get more reliable data. This has to be done before any restrictions are placed on northern businesses or residents alike. By not doing this, Mr. Speaker, the northern economy has a lot more to lose in the long term by infringing quotas on businesses and residents without the full confidence on how the numbers were derived at and the methods used to gather these numbers.

So I would like this government to reassess its priority and also provide more than the $1 million towards this initiative, which I feel is just simply appalling in comparison to what the caribou have done for northerners and the value of caribou to our northern identity and livelihood. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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Accuracy Of Caribou Population Estimates

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 780

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve . Members' statements. The honourable Member for Great Slave , Mr. Braden .

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Decisions Regarding The Barren-ground Caribou Herd

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 780

Bill Braden

Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I, too, would like to talk about caribou and, at the end of January, I undertook, as the MLA representing the Yellowknife constituency of Great Slave, to travel to Inuvik and to learn more about this incredibly valuable resource. The success of this was unprecedented, Mr. Speaker. I know that the event attracted about 150 leaders and stakeholders and experts; far more than was originally envisioned. Mr.

Speaker, in the two and a half days of this event, which was very capably and warmly hosted by the people of Inuvik, I got a sense of resolve and a sense of urgency, a sense of commitment collectively to act and a sense of collective responsibility, Mr. Speaker, for the requirement on us to join together. It was said many times in that venue, Mr. Speaker, that we don't have a caribou management problem. We have a people management problem.

Therefore, the decisions that we make and the actions we take as individual harvesters and here at this level as a decision and a policy-making body are going to be very significant.

Mr. Speaker, the responsibility of our government to, indeed, act responsibly and effectively on behalf of all stakeholders is very much part of the expectation that came out of this event.

Mr. Speaker, as the significance of this came to me in the media in December and in subsequent weeks, I have made some comments on it. At one point, Mr. Speaker, I said that I thought that our numbers were flimsy and that our information was flimsy and could not be relied on.

Mr. Speaker, in the course of our business here, we learn and I learn that my assessment of flimsy numbers was wrong. I want to apologize to the scientists, experts, and the staff and the people who are engaged in examining our caribou. However, Mr. Speaker, there is something about how we apply this information that is missing. I want to seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement, Mr. Speaker.

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Decisions Regarding The Barren-ground Caribou Herd

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 780

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Braden . The Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. You may conclude your statement, Mr. Braden .

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Decisions Regarding The Barren-ground Caribou Herd

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 780

Bill Braden

Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. Where our information has integrity and is on the leading edge of science on a best technique, we can rely on it, but, Mr. Speaker, our complete understanding of the environment and the actions of the species of caribou is not complete. Where we have some thorough knowledge in some areas, Mr. Speaker, we do not have collective, thorough and well-connected knowledge. But yet we have to make decisions and it is how we apply this knowledge to our decision-making process is where, Mr.

Speaker, we are going to be judged and where we are being judged and, in fact, where some stakeholders are not being well treated and well respected by this government in the consequences that it has caused. I will be asking the Minister responsible, at the appropriate time, more questions about this, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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Decisions Regarding The Barren-ground Caribou Herd

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 780

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Braden . Members' statements. The honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes , Mr. McLeod.

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Beaufort-delta Education Council Long-term Service Award Recipients

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 780

Robert C. McLeod

Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we always stress the importance of educating our children. On January 29th, I was honoured to take

part in the Beaufort-Delta Education Council's long-term service awards that were held in Inuvik. I was also proud of the fact that we had Ministers Roland, Dent and Krutko join us. It was a good opportunity to honour those that made long-term commitments to the professions and to the North. Mr. Speaker, honoured for 10 years of service -- and these are some constituents of Inuvik -- were: Rosa Kayotuk, Mary Connelly, Donna Maring; 15 years of service, Wayne Allen, Sandra Ipana, Sarah Jerome; 25 years of service was Catherine Ross; and 30 years of service, Mr. Speaker, was Sylvia Musselwhite.

A common theme that I hear from a lot of people who decided to make the North their home was that they decided they would come up for one or maybe two years, and they end up staying here for 30, 40 years, the rest of their life. They fall in love with the country or they fall in love with somebody that keeps them here.

Mr. Speaker, I was also proud of the fact that we are seeing more and more aboriginal teachers being honoured for long-term service award.

---Applause

That is a by product of the Teacher Education Program they started a few years ago and now they have expanded that into the Bachelor of Education. I have

three sisters-in-law that have their Bachelor of Education. I have a fourth one that is working on it right now. So I think it is very important that we continue to honour people who have made long-term commitments to the North and start honouring our aboriginal teachers because they will be in the field for a while.

Mr. Speaker, we are going to need to keep educating our children because they are going to have to be the ones that are taught how to divide up the resource revenue sharing money that we are going to get from Ottawa. Thank you.

---Applause

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Beaufort-delta Education Council Long-term Service Award Recipients

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 781

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Members' statements. The honourable Member for Range Lake , Ms. Lee .

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Taking Steps To Address Family Violence

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 781

Sandy Lee

Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm pleased to report to you that the Women's Leadership Conference over the weekend was a resounding success, but the topic I would like to speak today about is one overwhelming theme that emerged from the conference which, in one way or another, really underlined and overshadowed the entire event. That has to do with how much the people of the North -- women, children and men -- are suffering from and affected by family violence in all of our communities, big and small.

Mr. Speaker, we know in the North that we have taken a number of measures to address these and prevent them from happening, but whatever we are doing appears simply not enough, Mr. Speaker. We had women endlessly talking, and often crying, about what they are dealing with. Even the entertainment during the Saturday night banquet resulted in an impromptu but powerful singing by Ann Kushuk from Inuvik that speaks about the pain of family abuse. Everyone needed her to sing this song because it is so healing.

Mr. Speaker, we were especially struck by two young women from one of our smallest communities who tearfully told us how they're doing all they can to help a mother of four get away from a very physically and mentally abusive situation she is in as we speak. They have so little resources to help her with. There is no police, there is no shelter, there is no nursing station, and they're helplessly watching. They're discouraged and they're heartbroken watching this woman giving up, so distraught that she has given up asking or taking any help from authorities and social agencies.

Her mental and physical health has deteriorated to such a degree that she has no strength or resolve to do anything that would help her in the long run.

Mr. Speaker, I was asked by these women to tell the House that there is still deafening silence in many of our communities and deafening silence from those who are in a much better position to help these women and much more so than any government agencies or law enforcement authorities.

Mr. Speaker, we know there's a lot of people, women and men, who are working on this issue tirelessly in our communities, but we have to ask all our people -- women, men, elders, youth and the community leadership...Mr. Speaker, may I seek unanimous consent to finish my statement?

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Taking Steps To Address Family Violence

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 781

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

The Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude her statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. You may conclude your statement, Ms. Lee .

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Taking Steps To Address Family Violence

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 781

Sandy Lee

Range Lake

Mr. Speaker, we know that we need to have, we have to ask all our people -- women, men, elders, youth, and the community leadership -- to look around and listen to each other. We have to ask everyone. If you know that somebody's being abused by another person, even if that person comes from a good family, we have to speak to him and his family or his leaders. We have to tell them that it is not right to abuse someone or watch someone being abused and stay silent. We have to tell them that we have to do this, otherwise we will suffer, especially our children will suffer in the long run.

We need to tell the one that is abusing that there is help if he wants it, that there is a much better way of living this life than this way. We have to ask everybody to do everything they can to help the women who are suffering from violence. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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Taking Steps To Address Family Violence

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 781

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Ms. Lee . Members' statement. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre , Mr. Hawkins .

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Health Coverage For Select Medical Conditions

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 781

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I wanted to talk about health coverage for certain medical conditions and the problems facing northerners without health insurance who cannot afford their course of required treatment.

Mr. Speaker, when we look at the differences between what is covered for treatment for children born with cleft palate and one who's born with club foot, you'll get a sense of frustration being experienced by one of my constituents in them trying to get treatment for their child. Either situation is very unfortunate, Mr. Speaker, but if you were born with a cleft palate, you would expect the government to pay the cost of surgeries, any required speech therapy, and any subsequent dental costs or devices related to this diagnosis. If you were born with a club foot, however, Mr.

Speaker, the government will pay the cost of surgery and hospital stay and they will start to cover the cost of your cast. However, that's where it ends, Mr. Speaker. They will not pay for the cost for the braces or shoes that are required down the road for that treatment surgery to work.

I have to ask, at what point of being involved is it really worth it, Mr. Speaker, because we should cover this treatment from start to finish. This situation points to the need for the Supplementary Health Benefit Program which, I understand, a review is currently under way, Mr. Speaker, to be addressed and to start to look at the seriousness of conditions being left out, Mr. Speaker. We need to be supportive of all medical treatments that are being left out.

I am probably not painting the picture of the department in the best light on this issue because there are gaps in our system, but I have to admit that the health officials are

trying to work with this family to recover, to fill in those gaps to cover the cost of the situation. For this I'm very grateful and I hope to hear soon of a satisfactory resolution on the family's process.

This Assembly has a vision of self-reliant individuals, families sharing the rewards and responsibilities of a healthy community and a prosperous and unified Northwest Territories. To accomplish this we need a government who needs to help their residents when required support is definitely needed.

Mr. Speaker, we tell our children out there that the world is theirs for the taking, but government policy is holding them back. Mr. Speaker, in closing, we need to put people first before paperwork, Mr. Speaker, especially when it comes to our children. Thank you.

---Applause

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Health Coverage For Select Medical Conditions

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 782

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins . Members' statements. The honourable Member for Weledeh , Mr. Handley .

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Reflections On Former MLA Mr. Vince Steen

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 782

Joe Handley

Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As Mrs. Groenewegen pointed out, as we gather here, people are gathering in Tuk to celebrate Vince Steen's life. I want to take a moment just to reflect on some of the more memorable things that we used to laugh about as ways of getting through some of the pressures here.

When I first knew Vince I thought of him as kind of a gruff, grouchy kind of man. But I soon found out that there was a very compassionate, very kind, very much a man of the people, a very warm, caring individual.

Vince used to come to my office early in the morning and we would sit and sort of assess what happened the day before and what was going to happen the rest of the day. I got to know him very well. He's very much a man of the people. I used to tease him, because I remember in going to his constituency meetings and he would go and sit with his constituents and grill us. Sometimes even grill his own department.

---Laughter

That was his way of saying, okay, I'll represent my people. Even if I am a Minister, I'm not going to let it go by. I remember him once sitting over here and even grilling a Minister in Committee of the Whole.

---Laughter

---Applause

He always had a very practical solution to any complex issue, and he had an incredible ability to be able to get right to the core of an issue. We would discuss things around and around in a circle in Cabinet and Vince, in one statement, would get right to the core; and usually, 99 percent of the time, he's right.

I remember one time the Member from North Slave , or now Monfwi, giving Vince a hard time as Minister of Transportation about the condition of the highway between here and Behchoko and telling him you can't even drive up to the speed limit. "What are you going to do about it, Minister?" Well, two days later Vince lowered the speed limit.

---Laughter

So, yes, he always got a bit of a trick to him, as well. More than anything else, except Betty and his family, Vince loved Transportation. I remember him being very devastated the day Transportation was taken from his portfolio. He really wanted to make sure that I was going to look after it in a way that he felt about it. I visited him in Tuk several times after he was no longer in politics and you'd see his eyes light up when he talked about opening up the airport after a blizzard or doing things with equipment. He loved being an equipment operator and was a great one.

He loved to play bridge. Whenever he could find a partner, he would come to my house and play bridge with my wife and I and sometimes he'd have a glass of wine. He's very honest and very candid man. He never minced words. I gave him a glass of my homemade wine one day. He looked at me after he took a sip and said, "What animal peed in this?"

---Laughter

That was Vince. He's a formidable bridge opponent and...

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Reflections On Former MLA Mr. Vince Steen

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 782

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Mr. Handley , your time for Member's statement has expired.

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Reflections On Former MLA Mr. Vince Steen

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 782

Joe Handley

Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

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Reflections On Former MLA Mr. Vince Steen

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 782

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Handley . The Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. You may conclude your statement, Mr. Handley .

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Reflections On Former MLA Mr. Vince Steen

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 782

Joe Handley

Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As in this House, Vince knew all the strategies, all the rules in bridge; even had a few tricks of his own. Let me say, Vince, my friend, I know that where you are now, transportation is well looked after and you're in charge and I'm sure that you've even lined up a few bridge games. We miss you here but, more than anything else, we're thankful that we've known you as a friend and a colleague. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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Reflections On Former MLA Mr. Vince Steen

Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 782

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Handley . Very well expressed, I'm sure, to a number of Members from this House.

Speaker's RulingMembers, before I proceed to the next item on the Order Paper, I would like to provide a ruling concerning the tabling of unsigned documents in this House.

The House will recall that on Friday, February 9, 2007, the honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre tabled an unsigned, unidentified copy of an e-mail correspondence.

The question of unsigned tabled documents is not addressed in the rules of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories. However, I refer Members to the 12th Assembly of this Legislature and to a ruling made by Speaker Samuel Gargan on March 27, 1995.

Mr. Gargan undertook a meticulous examination of unsigned tabled documents reviewing rules, precedents and authorities. I quote from his ruling found on page 612 of Hansard, March 27, 1995, which states:

After reviewing parliamentary precedent and rulings from other jurisdictions, I have become clearly aware of the requirements and limitations as to the content for petitions and tabled documents, including the concern as the verification and authenticity of letters and any facts contained therein. It is my ruling that it is not an acceptable practice to table unsigned letters in this House. Therefore, all letters tabled, whether it be by the government or by Ordinary Members, will have to be forthwith directed from a specific individual or organization, dated and signed.

Speaker Gargan also quoted from Beauchesne's, 6th Edition, citation 493, subsection (4), cautioning Members to "exercise great care in making statements about persons who are outside of the House and unable to reply."

Speaker Gargan once again ruled on the tabling of unsigned documents on January 28, 1998, during the sitting of the 13th Assembly, and found his former ruling to be "clear and concise with respect to the issue."

I agree with Speaker Gargan on both of these counts and it is, therefore, my ruling that the document tabled in this House on Friday, February 9th, 2007, does not meet the requirements as set out for a tabled document. The document is considered not to be in the acceptable format and should not have been tabled in this House. I direct the Clerk to remove the item from the tabled document list and to amend Hansard to reflect this change. Thank you, Members.

Orders of the day. Returns to oral questions. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Yellowknife South , Mr. Bell .

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Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 783

Brendan Bell

Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a number of people that I'd like to recognize today. First of all, I'd like to recognize Jim, Margaret and Amanda Peterson, as well as Gary Jaeb who are in the gallery today. Both the Peterson's and Jaeb's own family-run northern businesses, outfitting businesses, that are so vital to our northern economy.

---Applause

I'd also like to recognize Bob Reid and Carl Chala who were here to make a presentation on behalf of Aboriginal Pipeline Group to our committee at lunch today. Thank you.

---Applause

As well as Yellowknife South Pages Michael Canam and also Lyndon Stanzell from William McDonald School. Lyndon is, if you remember, if the Members recognize the last name it's because his father, Alan, works in Floyd's office. Thank you to those Pages. Thank you.

---Applause

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Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 783

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Bell . Recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Monfwi, Mr. Lafferty .

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Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 783

Jackson Lafferty

North Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I, too, would like to recognize Gary Jaeb, formally out of Behchoko, a well-established northern outfitter within the Monhi Gogha D'e Niitl'ee area. Welcome.

---Applause

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Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 783

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty . Recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Weledeh , Mr. Handley .

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Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 783

Joe Handley

Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to have special recognition for Amanda Peterson, resident of Weledeh and Madeline Lake. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 783

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Handley . Recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Hay River South , Ms. Groenewegen .

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Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 783

Jane Groenewegen

Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is my pleasure today to recognize in the visitors' gallery counsellor Kevin Wallington, a very popular counsellor who topped the polls in Hay River. Very popular guy in Hay River, and seemingly very popular in Yellowknife lately; he's over here a lot. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 783

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Groenewegen . Recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Kam Lake , Mr. Ramsay .

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Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 783

David Ramsay

Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, would like to recognize a constituent, Mr. Gary Jaeb from True North Safaris, a Kam Lake resident. As well, the president of the Barren-Ground Caribou Outfitters Association, Mr. Jim Peterson; his wife, Margaret, and Amanda Peterson, as well. Mahsi.

---Applause

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Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 783

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty . Recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe , Mr. Villeneuve .

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Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 783

Robert Villeneuve

Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize one of my constituents, a mentor, a band counsellor, a good critique of government, my father, Mr. Jim Villeneuve.

---Applause

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Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 783

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve . Recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Sahtu , Mr. Yakeleya .

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Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 783

Norman Yakeleya

Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to recognize the APG representatives, Bob Reid and Carl. Welcome.

---Applause

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Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 783

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya . Recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Great Slave , Mr. Braden .

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Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 784

Bill Braden

Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, would like to recognize the Peterson family; a former constituent, Amanda, and her mother and father, Jim and Margaret Peterson, who are in the constituency. Jim, of course, is the president of the NWT Barren-Ground Outfitters Association, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

---Applause

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Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 784

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Braden . Recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta , Mr. Krutko .

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Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 784

David Krutko

Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to recognize our own CBC reporter Mr. Lee Selleck, who's overseeing the proceedings for the House and keeping an eye on what's going on in the House. Thank you.

---Applause

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Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 784

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Krutko . Recognition of visitors in the gallery. If we've missed anyone in the gallery today, welcome to the House. It's always nice to have an audience observing our proceedings.

Oral questions. The honourable Member for Sahtu , Mr. Yakeleya .

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Question 288-15(5): Sahtu Region Bridge Construction

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 784

Norman Yakeleya

Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question today is for the Minister of Transportation , the Honourable Kevin Menicoche . I want to ask the Minister, in terms of transportation issues in the Sahtu region, about the bridges. I want to talk specifically about the bridgework that's up in my region, the Great Bear River Bridge and some of the other bridges that are planned for this year. Can the Minister inform the people of the Sahtu in terms the status of the Great Bear and the other bridges planned to be used in the next couple of months or years? Thank you.

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Question 288-15(5): Sahtu Region Bridge Construction

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 784

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya . The honourable Member responsible for Transportation, Mr. Menicoche .

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Return To Question 288-15(5): Sahtu Region Bridge Construction

Question 288-15(5): Sahtu Region Bridge Construction

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 784

Kevin A. Menicoche

Nahendeh

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. In response to the Member's question, Mr. Speaker, in 2004, the GNWT received $25.3 million from the Canada strategic infrastructure funding. At that time, the Great Bear Bridge was designed as a 460-metre-long, two-lane bridge along with a 100-metre-wide navigational box to go with it. It was estimated at that time to be around $15 million, Mr. Speaker. I'm sorry; no, it was estimated at $25 million. The $25 million was planned for the bridge. Consequently, as we went along and got some cost estimates in last year, the estimates came in at $40 million.

As a result, the project was beyond the scope of our ability to deliver the Great Bear Bridge, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

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Question 288-15(5): Sahtu Region Bridge Construction

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 784

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche . Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya .

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Supplementary To Question 288-15(5): Sahtu Region Bridge Construction

Question 288-15(5): Sahtu Region Bridge Construction

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 784

Norman Yakeleya

Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker. The Great Bear River Bridge is a vital point in terms of the oil and gas activity in the Sahtu and also the mining that shows a lot of interest in our region. I want to ask the Minister in terms of... Because of the estimate and the actual cost of putting this bridge in is about $15 million over, is the Minister then considering going back to the federal government, or looking at some of the other bridges that can be put in, in the meantime, in terms of strengthening our highway system, in terms of bringing business into the region? Thank you.

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Supplementary To Question 288-15(5): Sahtu Region Bridge Construction

Question 288-15(5): Sahtu Region Bridge Construction

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 784

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya . Mr. Menicoche .

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Further Return To Question 288-15(5): Sahtu Region Bridge Construction

Question 288-15(5): Sahtu Region Bridge Construction

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 784

Kevin A. Menicoche

Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With respect to the Great Bear River Bridge project, yes, because it was taken off our books and de-scoped, we actually had to go back to the federal government because it was a pre-approved program by the federal government at that time. However, we were able to get agreement to reallocate that money to five other bridges/projects: the Big Smith Creek, Little Smith Creek, Bob's Canyon, Blackwater River and Strawberry Creek bridges, Mr. Speaker. Those will be done. It actually expedites the number of bridges that we need for a future all-weather road up the Mackenzie Valley, Mr. Speaker.

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Further Return To Question 288-15(5): Sahtu Region Bridge Construction

Question 288-15(5): Sahtu Region Bridge Construction

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 784

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche . Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya

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Supplementary To Question 288-15(5): Sahtu Region Bridge Construction

Question 288-15(5): Sahtu Region Bridge Construction

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 784

Norman Yakeleya

Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Transportation had music to my ears: a future all-weather road up the Mackenzie Valley. I want to ask the Minister, in terms of this all-weather road up the Mackenzie Valley, what is the Minister doing, besides the bridgework, in terms of helping the communities in the Sahtu with safety, a better road system? I understand he's talked to other regions about the roads, so we are also in competition for the road. So what is the Minister doing to ensure the people in the Sahtu, with the number of oil and gas activities, the mining, to ensure that they will have a good road system also and not forget our orphan roads in the Sahtu? Thank you.

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Supplementary To Question 288-15(5): Sahtu Region Bridge Construction

Question 288-15(5): Sahtu Region Bridge Construction

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 784

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya . Mr. Menicoche .

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Further Return To Question 288-15(5): Sahtu Region Bridge Construction

Question 288-15(5): Sahtu Region Bridge Construction

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 784

Kevin A. Menicoche

Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With respect to the winter road up in the Sahtu region, just because of the increased exploration over the past few years, we have got agreements with industry over there to help provide for the maintenance and upkeep of the roads. In particular, last year was a good year because we were able to secure extra water trucks with the money that we got. Consequently, the road was very well maintained because the road was actually an ice road last year. This year, because the activity is down, there is not

that much contribution, as a result we were not able to ice the whole road. I'm sure that the Member and his constituents have noticed the difference. Mahsi.

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Further Return To Question 288-15(5): Sahtu Region Bridge Construction

Question 288-15(5): Sahtu Region Bridge Construction

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 785

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche . Final supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya .

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Supplementary To Question 288-15(5): Sahtu Region Bridge Construction

Question 288-15(5): Sahtu Region Bridge Construction

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 785

Norman Yakeleya

Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, we did notice a difference. I did; and I thought, last year, I drove on that winter road and I had a cup of coffee and didn't spill one bit. This year, I had to duct tape my coffee pot to the vehicle and coffee was all over the place. I told the Minister I didn't spill a cup of coffee because it was frozen.

I want to ask the Minister, in terms of helping us out in the Sahtu region, will the Minister work with the region in terms of helping put safety measures on this winter road by cutting down some of the steep hills that some of the bridgework won't be able to go? Also, some of the corners, that they could be cut. I ask the Minister, would he commit himself to meet with the regional leadership businesspeople who are working on the winter roads to straighten out these winter roads, and cut down some of the hills? That would help us quite greatly. Thank you.

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Supplementary To Question 288-15(5): Sahtu Region Bridge Construction

Question 288-15(5): Sahtu Region Bridge Construction

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 785

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya . Mr. Menicoche .

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Further Return To Question 288-15(5): Sahtu Region Bridge Construction

Question 288-15(5): Sahtu Region Bridge Construction

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 785

Kevin A. Menicoche

Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I am unaware of that level of detail as to which creeks and which bends are going to be realigned, but I can commit to getting back to the Member on that. Of course, keeping our highways straight and safe is the primary concern of our department, and we will continue to monitor that. Mahsi cho.

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Further Return To Question 288-15(5): Sahtu Region Bridge Construction

Question 288-15(5): Sahtu Region Bridge Construction

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 785

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche . Oral questions. The honourable Member for Kam Lake , Mr. Ramsay .

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Question 289-15(5): Extension Of Highway No. 4 Into The Slave Geological Province

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 785

David Ramsay

Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions today are for the Minister of Transportation , and gets back to my Member's statement from earlier and the level of investment that the Government of the Northwest Territories has put into Highway No. 4 over the past 10 years and into the foreseeable future. In my estimation, or calculation, that would come to about $45 million that the government has and is going to put into the Ingraham Trail. I'd like to ask the Minister of Transportation , what is the government's position on the extension of the Ingraham Trail north into the Slave Geological Province? Mahsi.

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Question 289-15(5): Extension Of Highway No. 4 Into The Slave Geological Province

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 785

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay . The honourable Minister responsible for Transportation , Mr. Menicoche .

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Return To Question 289-15(5): Extension Of Highway No. 4 Into The Slave Geological Province

Question 289-15(5): Extension Of Highway No. 4 Into The Slave Geological Province

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 785

Kevin A. Menicoche

Nahendeh

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. The government's position on Highway No. 4 is just to upkeep and maintain it, as we do have some residents that live out there. I'm not too sure what the Member is getting at, maybe the strategy out towards the Slave Geological Province. It is a long-term strategy of ours to get to the Slave Geological Province. It is one of the highways that we're looking at as basin opening and it is in a couple of our documents that we presented to the federal government for any new roads that they will eventually have to build for us, Mr. Speaker. Mahsi.

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Return To Question 289-15(5): Extension Of Highway No. 4 Into The Slave Geological Province

Question 289-15(5): Extension Of Highway No. 4 Into The Slave Geological Province

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 785

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche . Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay .

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Supplementary To Question 289-15(5): Extension Of Highway No. 4 Into The Slave Geological Province

Question 289-15(5): Extension Of Highway No. 4 Into The Slave Geological Province

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 785

David Ramsay

Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, you have to ask yourself or oneself, with all the resource development that's taking place in this territory, why is it that since 1987 not one single solitary kilometre of new roadway has been constructed in our territory. I'd like to ask the Minister of Transportation how come, over 20 years, there hasn't been one single kilometre of roadway constructed in this territory, even given the fact that the federal government has taken, just in the five years alone, $924 million in resource revenue out of this territory? Mahsi.

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Supplementary To Question 289-15(5): Extension Of Highway No. 4 Into The Slave Geological Province

Question 289-15(5): Extension Of Highway No. 4 Into The Slave Geological Province

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 785

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay . Mr. Menicoche .

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Further Return To Question 289-15(5): Extension Of Highway No. 4 Into The Slave Geological Province

Question 289-15(5): Extension Of Highway No. 4 Into The Slave Geological Province

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 785

Kevin A. Menicoche

Nahendeh

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. The Member raises a good question and that's why we pointed it out in our budget speech. That's a very good question we should be asking the federal government and the federal Transportation Minister . In fact, I think the last new road, we had to complete it; that was the highway up north towards Wrigley. We were responsible for finishing it off. We continue to press the matter with the federal government every chance that we get. I know the Premier has, I have, and all Members of our government have been doing it on a consistent basis, Mr. Speaker.

The infrastructure that the federal government develops in the North will benefit not only us now, but in the future as well. Mahsi.

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Further Return To Question 289-15(5): Extension Of Highway No. 4 Into The Slave Geological Province

Question 289-15(5): Extension Of Highway No. 4 Into The Slave Geological Province

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 785

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche . Supplementary, Mr. Ramsay .

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Supplementary To Question 289-15(5): Extension Of Highway No. 4 Into The Slave Geological Province

Question 289-15(5): Extension Of Highway No. 4 Into The Slave Geological Province

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 785

David Ramsay

Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I've heard colleagues of mine in this House just recently talk about connecting an all-weather road into the Dogrib communities, the all-weather road down the Mackenzie Highway, or down the Mackenzie Valley, also the Tuk-Inuvik highway. Highways are a big issue here in the North, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Minister, they've come up with the Corridors for Canada I, the Corridors for Canada II, yet we haven't got any substantial new roadwork done or constructed in the Northwest Territories.

I'd like to ask the Minister, are there plans of a comprehensive Highway Strategy in the Northwest Territories that can work with aboriginal governments, industry and the federal government to accomplish the goals? Mahsi.

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Supplementary To Question 289-15(5): Extension Of Highway No. 4 Into The Slave Geological Province

Question 289-15(5): Extension Of Highway No. 4 Into The Slave Geological Province

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 786

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay . Mr. Menicoche .

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Further Return To Question 289-15(5): Extension Of Highway No. 4 Into The Slave Geological Province

Question 289-15(5): Extension Of Highway No. 4 Into The Slave Geological Province

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 786

Kevin A. Menicoche

Nahendeh

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. If I hear the Member correctly he was asking if our government had a comprehensive Highway Strategy. Consistently over the years, we do have a strategy for new roads but that's, again, we continue to press the matter with the federal Transportation ministry as well as our federal government. They are highlighted in many of our documents, Connecting Canada Coast to Coast to Coast, Corridors for Canada I, as the Member mentioned, as well as Corridors for Canada II. Those are long-term strategies.

It certainly is all the future roads that we want: the Mackenzie Highway, the Slave Geological Province, the realignment of the Tlicho roads. They are all very important, Mr. Speaker. Especially with the impact of climate change, we do have to realign all our roads, as many of our winter roads are crossing streams and lakes, et cetera. Mahsi cho.

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Further Return To Question 289-15(5): Extension Of Highway No. 4 Into The Slave Geological Province

Question 289-15(5): Extension Of Highway No. 4 Into The Slave Geological Province

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 786

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche . Final supplementary, Mr. Ramsay .

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Supplementary To Question 289-15(5): Extension Of Highway No. 4 Into The Slave Geological Province

Question 289-15(5): Extension Of Highway No. 4 Into The Slave Geological Province

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 786

David Ramsay

Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Given the level of investment that the Government of the Northwest Territories made in Highway No. 4, the Ingraham Trail, I would suggest that that highway be given a top priority in terms of any road going north into the Slave Geological Province. I would like to ask the Minister to answer the question whether, in fact, the Ingraham Trail will be given top priority in any future road development north into the Slave Geological Province. Mahsi.

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Supplementary To Question 289-15(5): Extension Of Highway No. 4 Into The Slave Geological Province

Question 289-15(5): Extension Of Highway No. 4 Into The Slave Geological Province

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 786

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay . Mr. Menicoche .

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Further Return To Question 289-15(5): Extension Of Highway No. 4 Into The Slave Geological Province

Question 289-15(5): Extension Of Highway No. 4 Into The Slave Geological Province

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 786

Kevin A. Menicoche

Nahendeh

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. The Member raises a good question. That road is a priority of this government along with many of our roads and infrastructure...

---Applause

...that we must maintain and upkeep, Mr. Speaker. We will continue to upkeep and maintain that road. Mahsi cho.

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Further Return To Question 289-15(5): Extension Of Highway No. 4 Into The Slave Geological Province

Question 289-15(5): Extension Of Highway No. 4 Into The Slave Geological Province

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 786

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche . Oral questions. The honourable Member for Monfwi, Mr. Lafferty .

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Question 290-15(5): Lack Of Rcmp Detachment In Gameti

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 786

Jackson Lafferty

North Slave

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker...(Translation) I'm going to talk about, I want to talk about one important issue. There's no RCMP living in Gameti. Sometimes we have tragedy among us. I brought it up numerous times in this House. I'm going to ask questions to the Minister later on. (Translation ends)

I'd like to highlight the RCMP presence in the community of Gameti. I've raised this issue on numerous occasions in this House and also in front of the Social Programs committee and I'm beginning to wonder if we will ever address this concern. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to ask the Minister of Justice , Mr. Bell , what is the department doing currently to see a possible RCMP detachment in the community of Gameti in the near future? Mahsi.

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Question 290-15(5): Lack Of Rcmp Detachment In Gameti

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 786

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty . The honourable Minister responsible for Justice , Mr. Bell .

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Return To Question 290-15(5): Lack Of Rcmp Detachment In Gameti

Question 290-15(5): Lack Of Rcmp Detachment In Gameti

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 786

Brendan Bell

Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the question from the Member and I've been in the community with the Member and talked to the residents of Gameti. The RCMP were in there to talk to them as well. Of course, we're running the pilot project for the second year now during the winter road season to have an RCMP presence on the ground, and I think that's very much been appreciated by the community. But the community, especially the elders, have told us that is not enough, and that in fact they need a full-time RCMP presence in that community.

I can tell you that the RCMP agree with them; this government agrees with them and we're working as hard as we can to see a permanent detachment in that community. There are, as Members know, a number of communities without detachments, but we're working systematically to try to reduce the number of communities without detachments and Gameti absolutely, Mr. Speaker, is a priority. Thank you.

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Return To Question 290-15(5): Lack Of Rcmp Detachment In Gameti

Question 290-15(5): Lack Of Rcmp Detachment In Gameti

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 786

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Bell . Supplementary, Mr. Lafferty .

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Supplementary To Question 290-15(5): Lack Of Rcmp Detachment In Gameti

Question 290-15(5): Lack Of Rcmp Detachment In Gameti

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 786

Jackson Lafferty

North Slave

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yes, the pilot project on the winter road last year was very successful and we much appreciate it from the RCMP detachment and the department. We're looking forward to another one during the upcoming weeks of the winter road opening in Gameti. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to ask the Minister, is there any way to speed up the process within the GNWT system and, most importantly, with the federal government to expedite this process?

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Supplementary To Question 290-15(5): Lack Of Rcmp Detachment In Gameti

Question 290-15(5): Lack Of Rcmp Detachment In Gameti

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 786

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty . Mr. Bell .

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Further Return To Question 290-15(5): Lack Of Rcmp Detachment In Gameti

Question 290-15(5): Lack Of Rcmp Detachment In Gameti

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 786

Brendan Bell

Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As Members know, it is the federal government that is responsible for the capital money, the capital allocation to build detachments. I have spoken to the federal Justice Minister about this. He's very much supportive, as are the RCMP. So it really is about us finding the operational dollars, getting the commitment from the RCMP to do this. I believe and know from talking to the chief superintendent, he recognizes the urgency. I can assure the Member we're working as quickly as we possibly can to see a detachment built there. I'd like to see it happen. I'd like to see the commitment to a full-time presence before we leave office next October. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Further Return To Question 290-15(5): Lack Of Rcmp Detachment In Gameti

Question 290-15(5): Lack Of Rcmp Detachment In Gameti

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 787

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Bell . Supplementary, Mr. Lafferty .

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Supplementary To Question 290-15(5): Lack Of Rcmp Detachment In Gameti

Question 290-15(5): Lack Of Rcmp Detachment In Gameti

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 787

Jackson Lafferty

North Slave

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to highlight that the Tlicho Government is ready and willing to work with the Minister of Justice to find a fast solution to this issue. So I'd like to ask the Minister, what is the department's action plan? I'd like to see a plan in place for '07-08 to help make this vision a reality. Mahsi.

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Supplementary To Question 290-15(5): Lack Of Rcmp Detachment In Gameti

Question 290-15(5): Lack Of Rcmp Detachment In Gameti

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 787

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty . Mr. Bell .

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Further Return To Question 290-15(5): Lack Of Rcmp Detachment In Gameti

Question 290-15(5): Lack Of Rcmp Detachment In Gameti

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 787

Brendan Bell

Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I should acknowledge that the Tlicho leadership, the chiefs have been very cooperative and very helpful in working with my department and the RCMP, especially to try to restrict the flow of alcohol and drugs into those communities. This does take an approach by the leadership and by all of the communities to be successful. We want to reciprocate. We recognize that effort. We want to make a likewise effort.

So I can tell the Member that I will be sitting down with the RCMP, and with my colleagues on this side of the House, and with government, and with committee, to make the case for a detachment in Gameti, and I sincerely hope that we can have some positive news soon on that front, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

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Further Return To Question 290-15(5): Lack Of Rcmp Detachment In Gameti

Question 290-15(5): Lack Of Rcmp Detachment In Gameti

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 787

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Bell . Oral questions. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre , Mr. Hawkins .

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Question 291-15(5): Health Coverage For Select Medical Conditions

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 787

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my Member's statement today, I spoke of a problem from a constituent point of view where they require coverage for a certain medical condition that their child has, but there seems to be gaps out there because they do not have insurance. It's coupled by the government policy that does not recognize being born with a club foot as a defined medical condition. So I look to the Premier today to see if he will look into and get back to me to find out what the criteria is required to have a medical condition put on the specified medical conditions list. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 291-15(5): Health Coverage For Select Medical Conditions

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 787

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins . The honourable Premier , Mr. Handley .

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Return To Question 291-15(5): Health Coverage For Select Medical Conditions

Question 291-15(5): Health Coverage For Select Medical Conditions

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 787

Joe Handley

Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, as requested, I'll have our people in health look into this and let the Member know how you add this to the list. Thank you.

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Question 291-15(5): Health Coverage For Select Medical Conditions

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 787

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Handley . Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins .

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Supplementary To Question 291-15(5): Health Coverage For Select Medical Conditions

Question 291-15(5): Health Coverage For Select Medical Conditions

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 787

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. At this time, can I ask the Premier to look into the status of the review of our Supplementary Health Benefits Program and have the Department of Health get back to me on that matter, as well? Thank you.

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Supplementary To Question 291-15(5): Health Coverage For Select Medical Conditions

Question 291-15(5): Health Coverage For Select Medical Conditions

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 787

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins . Mr. Handley .

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Further Return To Question 291-15(5): Health Coverage For Select Medical Conditions

Question 291-15(5): Health Coverage For Select Medical Conditions

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 787

Joe Handley

Weledeh

Mr. Speaker, yes, I will raise that with the Minister of Health as soon as I have an opportunity. Thank you.

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Further Return To Question 291-15(5): Health Coverage For Select Medical Conditions

Question 291-15(5): Health Coverage For Select Medical Conditions

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 787

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Handley . Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins .

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Supplementary To Question 291-15(5): Health Coverage For Select Medical Conditions

Question 291-15(5): Health Coverage For Select Medical Conditions

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 787

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this is great to have yes answers. It's quite unusual.

---Laughter

Mr. Speaker, can the Premier commit today to having those who are doing this review of our Supplementary Health Benefits Program evaluate and see if they can include, during this review and this update, club foot as a medical condition that we cover fully? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Supplementary To Question 291-15(5): Health Coverage For Select Medical Conditions

Question 291-15(5): Health Coverage For Select Medical Conditions

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 787

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins . Mr. Handley .

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Further Return To Question 291-15(5): Health Coverage For Select Medical Conditions

Question 291-15(5): Health Coverage For Select Medical Conditions

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 787

Joe Handley

Weledeh

Yes, Mr. Speaker.

---Laughter

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Further Return To Question 291-15(5): Health Coverage For Select Medical Conditions

Question 291-15(5): Health Coverage For Select Medical Conditions

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 787

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Handley . Final Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins .

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Supplementary To Question 291-15(5): Health Coverage For Select Medical Conditions

Question 291-15(5): Health Coverage For Select Medical Conditions

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 787

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My last question to the Premier is, quality of life is very important. During this debate in the House we talk about people afflicted with quality of life issues that stop them from having a regular standard of life, which I think is very important. Mr. Speaker, will the Premier do what he can, will he tell me today what he can do to look into making sure that we put people first before paperwork, because we have a constituent who has medical treatment outstanding. What can we do to ensure people are put first? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Supplementary To Question 291-15(5): Health Coverage For Select Medical Conditions

Question 291-15(5): Health Coverage For Select Medical Conditions

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 787

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins . Mr. Handley .

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Further Return To Question 291-15(5): Health Coverage For Select Medical Conditions

Question 291-15(5): Health Coverage For Select Medical Conditions

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 787

Joe Handley

Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I will talk to the Minister of Health tomorrow morning. He will read our dialogue here in Hansard and I'm sure undertake to get back to the Member as quickly as he can. Thank you.

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Further Return To Question 291-15(5): Health Coverage For Select Medical Conditions

Question 291-15(5): Health Coverage For Select Medical Conditions

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 787

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Handley . Oral questions. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe , Mr. Villeneuve .

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Question 292-15(5): Accuracy Of Caribou Population Estimates

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 788

Robert Villeneuve

Tu Nedhe

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Just getting back to what I was talking about in my Member's statement about the importance of the caribou here in the NWT to our outfitters' economy, to our food resource that the many small communities rely on, I just want to ask the Minister, the million dollars that we are supplying in additional funding to some biophysical studies and some Barren-Ground Caribou Management Strategy to me is just not enough.

I think given the importance and the multi-million dollars the caribou generate here in the NWT for people, the money that it saves a lot of people in the communities, the cost of living now that we're going to have to deal with, all are offsets from or spin-offs from these declining caribou numbers and the impacts that the government has imposed on outfitters and hunters alike on harvesting caribou. I just want to know, given the anticipated surplus of $44 million that this government is going to anticipate in the 2006-2007 year, why can't we put more money into some mitigating factors, into some more research?

I don't even know if we need more research into these caribou numbers, Mr. Speaker, but I think we should get more money into the boards and agencies at the local level to make sure that they have the resources to go out there and give the outfitters some real hard numbers that they can really live by and agree to some harvesting numbers as opposed to just letting the government impose restrictions without giving, you know, without due diligence, I guess, that they can give the outfitters and how many millions that they're going to lose.

We stand to lose too much just giving the one million bucks that we have allocated for this initiative. I just want to ask the Minister, is there any commitment from his department to look for more funding? I'd say more in the $5 million range per year over the next two to three years to look at how we can mitigate the declining caribou numbers, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

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Question 292-15(5): Accuracy Of Caribou Population Estimates

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 788

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve . The honourable Minister responsible for Environment and Natural Resources , Mr. McLeod.

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Question 292-15(5): Accuracy Of Caribou Population Estimates

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 788

Michael McLeod

Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I couldn't have made the point better if I wrote it myself. Mr. Speaker, there is no doubt, and I don't think any Member of this House will challenge the fact that we need more information, we need better information, and that the information is never going to be satisfactory to everybody. We've taken it upon ourselves through the Caribou Management Strategy to do a number of things and that involves consultation with many people, many organizations, and many governments.

We've attempted to do that in the last 15 months, to go out there and meet with the different co-management groups, to meet with the different parties that use the land or the caribou. It's been very costly. Surveys are very expensive. Helicopter time is very expensive. We've been spending an average of about $600,000 a year on caribou and counting caribou. We need to do more. We also need to be able to get a better handle on the harvest numbers. What are the aboriginal populations taking? What are the resident hunters taking? What are the outfitters taking? What is being left behind on the land?

There are a number of things we still have to count and analyze, but how comprehensive is a comprehensive study? Do we start counting other herds that are not even in our jurisdiction? We have to start working with Nunavut; we have to work with Saskatchewan, other governments to do a comprehensive survey. Right now we're using the precautionary principle of we know the herds are crashing and we have to make some decisions and those are tough ones, but we'll continue to move forward. We'll gather information. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 292-15(5): Accuracy Of Caribou Population Estimates

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 788

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve .

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Supplementary To Question 292-15(5): Accuracy Of Caribou Population Estimates

Question 292-15(5): Accuracy Of Caribou Population Estimates

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 788

Robert Villeneuve

Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I do realize the complexity and the vast amount of resources required to carry out, you know, to get some more definitive numbers on the caribou populations. But I'm just not sure if the Minister is really pushing the fact that the caribou are so important here in the NWT. I don't think there is any excuse as to say well, we should have done this, we have to do that, we're going to do this...

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Supplementary To Question 292-15(5): Accuracy Of Caribou Population Estimates

Question 292-15(5): Accuracy Of Caribou Population Estimates

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 788

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Do you have a question, Mr. Villeneuve ?

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Supplementary To Question 292-15(5): Accuracy Of Caribou Population Estimates

Question 292-15(5): Accuracy Of Caribou Population Estimates

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 788

Robert Villeneuve

Tu Nedhe

...just something that we really have to take more seriously and push forward on more diligently, I guess. I just would like to see the Minister say this is what we have planned.

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Supplementary To Question 292-15(5): Accuracy Of Caribou Population Estimates

Question 292-15(5): Accuracy Of Caribou Population Estimates

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 788

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Do you have a question, Mr. Villeneuve ? Do you have a question?

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Supplementary To Question 292-15(5): Accuracy Of Caribou Population Estimates

Question 292-15(5): Accuracy Of Caribou Population Estimates

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 788

Robert Villeneuve

Tu Nedhe

Okay. So what does the Minister have laid out insofar as timelines and setting up meetings with other jurisdictions, getting them all together to sit down at the same table and figure out a strategy that's going to work for northerners and southerners alike? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Supplementary To Question 292-15(5): Accuracy Of Caribou Population Estimates

Question 292-15(5): Accuracy Of Caribou Population Estimates

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 788

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve . Mr. McLeod.

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Further Return To Question 292-15(5): Accuracy Of Caribou Population Estimates

Question 292-15(5): Accuracy Of Caribou Population Estimates

Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 788

Michael McLeod

Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Member is correct; there's a lot of work that's got to be done yet and we've started the ball rolling. We've met with many governments. We've already met with the Yukon. We've met with Nunavut. We've met with Saskatchewan. We've met with the Tlicho leadership. We've met with the Yellowknives Dene. We've met with the Dene Nation. We've met with the NWT Metis Nation. We've met with the NWT Barren-Ground Outfitters. We continue to move forward and try to set up further meetings. We've contacted Nunavut. We are working on setting up some schedules there.

We've contacted the federal Minister of Natural Resources . We've asked and indicated to him we'd like to have a meeting regarding some of these issues. We've also contacted Minister Baird and also, you know, we need to be able to have the resources put in place. We have some requirements that we've included in our budgeting, our forecasted budgets. We don't have the answers yet, but that's something that we'll be working with now that this gov