Debates of May 14th, 2010

This is page numbers 4863 - 4888 of the Hansard for the 16th 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 plate .

Topics

Oral Questions

Members Present

Prayer

Minister’s Statement 27-16(5): Electricity And Northwest Territories Power Corporation Review Response

Minister’s Statement 28-16(5): NWT Outstanding Volunteer Awards Program

Minister’s Statement 29-16(5): Congratulations To Graduates

Importance Of Education

Local Food Production And Food Security

New NWT Licence Plate

Passing Of Frederick Norwegian Of Jean Marie River

Mackenzie Gas Pipeline Project

Nurses’ Week – May 10-16, 2010

Development Of A Northern University

New NWT Licence Plate And Polar Bear Trademark

Medical Travel And Escort Program

Recognition Of Timothy Riviere

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Emma Pope National Cadet Marksmanship Award

Construction Of Peace River Dam In British Columbia

Education Standards In The NWT

Electricity And NTPC Review Response

New NWT Licence Plate

New NWT Licence Plate

Mackenzie Gas Pipeline Project

New NWT Licence Plate

Medical Travel And Escort Policy

Development Of A Pan-Territorial Northern University

New NWT Licence Plate

Facility Issues At Colville Lake School

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery (Reversion)

Tabled Document 41-16(5): Efficient, Affordable And Equitable: Creating A Brighter Future For The NWT Electricity System, May 2010

Tabled Document 42-16(5): Supplementary Estimates No. 1, 2010-2011 (Operations Expenditures) Tabled Document 43-16(5): Supplementary Estimates No. 3, 2010-2011 (Infrastructure Expenditures)

Bill 8: Social Work Profession Act

Bill 7:

An Act To Amend The Elections And Plebiscites Act

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

Report of Committee of the Whole

Orders of the Day

The House met at 10:07 a.m.

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---Prayer

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Prayer

Prayer

The Deputy Speaker

David Krutko

Orders of the day. Item 2, Ministers’ statements. The honourable Minister of ITI , Mr. Bob McLeod .

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Minister’s Statement 27-16(5): Electricity And Northwest Territories Power Corporation Review Response

Ministers’ Statements

Bob McLeod

Yellowknife South

Mr. Speaker, the people of the Northwest Territories have been telling their elected leaders for some time that changes needed to be made to our electricity system so that it was more efficient, more affordable and more equitable for all Northwest Territories residents.

Today that change has come to our Territory, with the tabling later today of the Government of the Northwest Territories response to both the electricity review and the Northwest Territories Power Corporation review, entitled: Efficient, Affordable and Equitable: Creating a Brighter Future for the Northwest Territories Electricity System.

This document is a significant achievement. Through the actions the Government of the Northwest Territories will undertake, we will dramatically lower the cost of electricity for most Northwest Territories communities at no additional cost to any other community.

---Applause

And lowering the cost of electricity is a big step towards fulfilling one of the 16th Legislative

Assembly’s five strategic initiatives in the Northerners Working Together plan: reducing the cost of living.

The Government of the Northwest Territories response to the two reviews will also go a long way toward meeting some of the goals of the 16th Legislative Assembly set out in that plan. Lowering electricity costs will help our communities be more

competitive and remove barriers to economic development. This, in turn, will lead to sustainable, vibrant communities and a diversified economy that provides all regions and communities with opportunities and choices as envisioned by this Assembly.

Mr. Speaker, other governments and legislative assemblies have tried to make changes to our electricity system. We have built on this work and have developed a response that the 16th Legislative

Assembly can be proud of. This response represents real action and real change that will improve the lives of all of our residents.

Most of our communities have very high electricity rates and nine communities in the Northwest Territories currently pay over $1 per kilowatt hour. Electricity rates of 49 cents per kilowatt hour and an enhanced subsidy program will reduce the electricity bills for families in these communities.

Businesses in communities such as Tuktoyaktuk, Fort McPherson, Fort Simpson, Tulita, and Deline will see their bills reduced by 30 to 40 percent.

Businesses in communities such as Sachs Harbour, Jean Marie River, Nahanni Butte, Wrigley and Gameti will see their bills reduced in the range of 70 to 80 percent.

I would like to note that the Government of the Northwest Territories intends to monitor the impact of this substantial change on the prices of goods and services in these communities. This response is a significant achievement for the Government of the Northwest Territories and the system-wide improvements we are making to our electricity system will help stabilize costs for all Northwest Territories residents and protect us against unexpected price increases in the future.

At this time I would like to acknowledge that the Government of the Northwest Territories did not arrive at its response in isolation. We have carefully considered the recommendations of both review teams and the input we received from communities, businesses and organizations throughout the Northwest Territories. We have worked closely with the Members of this House on the response through the Standing Committee on Priorities and Planning. I believe this process has been a fine

example of consensus government at work and I thank the Members for the input they have provided us.

The changes this government is making to our electricity system will have a significant impact on our Territory for years to come. The impact will be a positive one. I think we can all agree that electricity is an essential service and that this service must be efficient, affordable and equitable to all. Today we have taken a major step towards achieving this important goal. We have made a change and it is a change for the better.

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Minister’s Statement 27-16(5): Electricity And Northwest Territories Power Corporation Review Response

Ministers’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Minister responsible for Municipal and Community Affairs , Mr. Robert McLeod .

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Minister’s Statement 28-16(5): NWT Outstanding Volunteer Awards Program

Ministers’ Statements

Robert C. McLeod

Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The role of volunteers in our communities is critical. Every day countless volunteers contribute to local schools, health centres, recreation programs, fire departments and cultural projects. In addition to formal volunteer roles, many individuals also help a sick neighbour, counsel a troubled youth, or share and pass on important cultural knowledge to others. Most of these volunteers work away quietly, knowing that their only compensation, if they think of compensation at all, will be a heartfelt thank you and the personal knowledge that they have helped make things a little better for their community.

Each year the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs recognizes the important work carried out by volunteers through the Northwest Territories Outstanding Volunteer Awards Program. Now in its 20th year, the program has received

nominations for nearly 700 individuals and groups since it was first launched in 1991. While we all know that these individuals and groups nominated represent only a small portion of the many thousands who contribute, the awards program is still an important way of bringing attention to volunteers.

It gives me great pleasure to announce that the 2010 NWT Outstanding Volunteer Award winners are:

Ms. Cheryl Hval of Fort Smith in the Individual Category;

Ms. Ruby Trudel of Yellowknife in the Elder Category;

Mr. Brian Nitsiza of Whati in the Youth

Category; and

Victim Services Volunteers of Yellowknife in the Group Category.

These award winners are being recognized at a special luncheon during the Northwest Territories Association of Communities Annual General Meeting in Hay River on May 14th . Each one of the

volunteer award recipients contribute in a significant way to their communities and to the North as a whole.

On behalf of the Government of the Northwest Territories I want to thank them and all volunteers for their contributions, for the role they play in making our communities strong, healthy and sustainable.

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Minister’s Statement 28-16(5): NWT Outstanding Volunteer Awards Program

Ministers’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment , Mr. Lafferty .

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Minister’s Statement 29-16(5): Congratulations To Graduates

Ministers’ Statements

Jackson Lafferty

Monfwi

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Throughout our Territory, graduation and convocation ceremonies are taking place to acknowledge the great and many achievements of our talented and gifted students.

We have over 8,600 students enrolled in grades kindergarten to 12 in 49 schools across the North. As each student progresses to each new grade level, they bring with them many lessons and skills to further build on and develop. We congratulate these students for their hard work and recognize their efforts in successfully completing an important educational milestone.

At the post-secondary level, 2009-2010 saw 102 Aurora College graduates in two degree programs, seven diploma programs and four certificate programs. Of these, I’m proud to say that 68 percent are aboriginal graduates. Four of the aboriginal graduates are from Behchoko. They are distinguished gradates of the Behchoko community-based Teacher Education Program. We intend to welcome these individuals into our schools next fall as teachers and hope others will follow their example.

In addition to our graduates, each year there are hundreds of people participating in other education and training programs. I want to congratulate students from the Adult Literacy and Basic Education programs and Apprenticeship and Occupational Certification programs on their achievements.

Mr. Speaker, this June everyone is welcome to attend the Aboriginal Honour Ceremony at the Weledeh River, hosted by the Yellowknife Campus. As we continue our focus on aboriginal student achievement, I am confident we will see more and

more aboriginal students celebrating graduations and pursuing further education.

In closing, I would like to recognize and thank all the educators, the tutors and the classroom assistants committed to helping our students find success in achieving their goals. From kindergarten to post-secondary, the achievements of our students are yours to share. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

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Minister’s Statement 29-16(5): Congratulations To Graduates

Ministers’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Item 3, Members’ statements. The honourable Member for Sahtu , Mr. Yakeleya .

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Importance Of Education

Members’ Statements

Norman Yakeleya

Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to start today with a quote: “Education is the greatest weapon. With education you are the white man’s equal, without education you are his victim and so shall remain all of your lives. Study, learn, help one another always. Remember there is only poverty and misery in idleness and dreams - but in work there is self-respect and independence.” So said Chief Plenty Coups.

I have in front of me, as I speak, a picture of a proud friend and ally of the white people. He understood the future and he spoke passionately about it. He had the best interests of his people at heart.

In the past, aboriginal people either had to learn the ways of the land and hunted and trapped or you went hungry. Today, for the past couple of decades, we go to school. Education is vital for our aboriginal today; indeed, all people. Education is the way we take ownership of our destiny.

We learn how to use the old weapons, to keep them clean, respect them and use them, all for the survival of our families, and we didn’t fool with them. So we must take the same serious action and conviction in our educational institutions today. They are our modern weapons. We need to use them well for the survival of our families in the modern world. It has often been said the pen is mightier than the sword. That is so true. We need to keep our pens sharp and learn how to use them well.

Remember that education has always been a big part of the aboriginal way of life. In the olden days the education was one-on-one with our parents and elders, and our university was a live-in university on the land. That is why our elders are so wise and knowledgeable. Then we got sent to residential schools. So many of our people suffered there and continue to suffer today. However, we know that healing is possible and that it is no surprise that

aboriginal people are the fastest nation of people to adapt to circumstances around them.

We need to cherish and support our educational institutions and the process of getting an education in both classrooms and on our land. When we say education is the future, I wonder if we not only talk the talk but actually walk the walk and agree that this is so. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Importance Of Education

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

The honourable Member for Weledeh , Mr. Bromley .

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Local Food Production And Food Security

Members’ Statements

Bob Bromley

Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to begin today by marking the passing of a great Northerner: Archie Buckley. Many of us enjoyed the rich bounty of our fishery as a staple of our diets thanks to Archie. He was the personification of hard work and respectful, sustainable resource use. Archie Buckley lived what we talk about when we say local food for local people.

The spirit demonstrated by Archie Buckley is being carried on in the cooperative work of this community. I recently attended an event sponsored by Ecology North, the Northern Nutrition Association and the Yellowknife Community Gardens Collective celebrating the diversity and sustainability of local production. While these people grow their own food, they also grow the future self-sufficiency and health of this community.

Another example is the Food Security Advisory Group comprised of members from the Yellowknives Dene First Nation, Community Services, City of Yellowknife, Yellowknife Health and Social Services Authority, Health and Social Services, GNWT, and Nunavut Public Health Association. The groups came together to undertake a food system assessment and community action plan for Yellowknife, Ndilo and Dettah. This initiative responds to findings and Championing Well-being in the City of Yellowknife’s social plan and aims to strengthen program and policy action in the area of food security and chronic disease.

The Yellowknife, Ndilo and Dettah Food System Assessment and Community Food Action Plan has been produced and is attracting attention. There are at least two more NWT communities interested in undertaking their own community food action plans. I recommend its contents and approach to all Members. As the contents of the action plan show, we have great territorial strength to draw on in such areas as local food production, community commitment and support services, but there are great challenges in such areas as the capacity of NGOs to meet demand for food and sustain their

operations, our high food costs and gaps in policy and economic development support.

Promoting healthy choices and lifestyles is a priority of the 16th Legislative Assembly. Food security

exists when all people at all times have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe, regionally produced and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life. That requires a complete and collaborative government approach to meet our citizens’ core needs.

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

---Unanimous consent granted

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Local Food Production And Food Security

Members’ Statements

Bob Bromley

Weledeh

It is everything from progressive taxation to agricultural land use plans, wise wildlife stewardship and land availability, from support to local food production enterprises and our school and early childhood development programs. Our local food producers’, our community gardeners’ and advocacy groups’ work demonstrate that much can be done to strengthen food security for all through partnership, building capacity, economic development and policy renewal. I congratulate this excellent work and look forward to full support from this government. Mahsi.

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Local Food Production And Food Security

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

The honourable Member for Frame Lake , Ms. Bisaro .

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New NWT Licence Plate

Members’ Statements

Wendy Bisaro

Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am going to wade into the debate on our redesigned licence plates today. I cannot express strongly enough how glad I am that we kept the polar bear shape. Judging by what I heard from my constituents, I suspect that there might have been a revolt amongst our residents if the shape had been changed.

I can accept that there was a need to modernize and update the slogan, so that change is spectacular. But I am having difficulty with the new design, the added colour and the silhouette. I have to wonder if in the dead of winter in the dark and the snow, the plate won’t look anything more than a dirty white blob.

Mr. Speaker, I am most offended by the minimal -- to quote the Minister -- fee that the residents must pay for this new improved plate. Generally when there is an initiative from the government, it is paid for by the government, but not so in this case. The government is telling us that they have a new, improved, wonderful item for us and, oh, by the way, you have to buy one. We already pay a healthy fee to register our vehicles annually, $82.60 for a car. Why are we paying these fees? I believe,

as do a number of residents, that the cost of these new plates should be covered by our annual vehicle registration fee and/or the government’s O and M budget. It is not much money, Mr. Speaker, but with this new cost, the government is nickel and diming our residents.

Another aspect of this change which is increasingly annoying for me is that we are being forced to spend the extra $10. There is no option to refuse, no option to keep the old plate until it needs to be replaced. I hate waste, Mr. Speaker, and I have great difficulty throwing out something which is still in perfectly good working order. So I wonder why we can’t keep the old plate until it actually isn’t in good working order. My colleague Mr. Menicoche asked the question yesterday of the Minister and I didn’t hear an answer.

Last, but certainly not least, I’ve heard from constituents that the consultation was lacking. Where was the public’s chance to provide input into the new design? If the Department of Transportation had at least posted three or four new designs on their website and then asked residents to vote for their favourite, that would have sufficed. The department certainly consulted with industry partners and some user groups, but any input from the general public was sadly lacking.

Mr. Speaker, change is always difficult and I know the government is trying to be efficient with our dollars, but I have to disagree with their approach in this case. We should be allowed to keep the old plate until it’s necessary for a new one and the government should cover the cost of the new plates from vehicle registration fees. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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New NWT Licence Plate

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you. The honourable Member for Nahendeh , Mr. Menicoche .

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Passing Of Frederick Norwegian Of Jean Marie River

Members’ Statements

Kevin A. Menicoche

Nahendeh

Frederick Frank Norwegian of Jean Marie quietly passed away on Friday, May 7th , 2010. The passing

of a loving husband, father, grandfather, uncle, cousin and friend is so profound that every one of our hearts has felt the heartache. Fred is survived by his mother Bella, his wife, Mavis, his daughters Maxine, Connie, Angela and Pamela, his grandsons Kirby, Zachary, Ethan, and his siblings Douglas, Billy, Minnie, Margaret, Andy, Gladys, Jerry and their families.

Freddie, as siblings and close relatives strongly called him, was born to Bella and late father Louie Norwegian in Jean Marie River on August 9

th, 1941.

He spent most of his early childhood in Jean Marie

River. He grew up in a household with hardworking parents and a community rich in their language, culture and understanding of their relationships with the land and all other living things.

At the age of 12 he spent a year at the Sacred Heart School in Fort Providence and then continued his education in Jean Marie River, Yellowknife, and later he went down to Fairview College where he took up agricultural studies. After completing Grade 12 he went to work on an experimental farm in Fort Simpson. When the experimental farm shut down, Freddie made a career change and went to work for the federal government and continued with his education at the University of Alberta in Edmonton.

Freddie married his wife, Mavis, in Fort Simpson on June 26th , 1970. Together with two daughters,

Maxine and Connie, they moved to Yellowknife in the mid-1970s. Freddie continued to work with the federal government as Manpower manager. While in Yellowknife, he had two more daughters, Angela and Pamela.

In 1997, upon the request of his aunt, Sarah Hardisty, Freddie applied for and accepted the position of the band manager in Jean Marie River. Freddie has worked for the Jean Marie River First Nation in many capacities: band manager, sub-chief, acting chief, and a full term as chief throughout the past 13 years.

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

---Unanimous consent granted

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Passing Of Frederick Norwegian Of Jean Marie River

Members’ Statements

Kevin A. Menicoche

Nahendeh

The greatest love in his life was his family. Freddie and Mavis had been married 39 years, just one month short of 40 years. Together they raised four beautiful daughters: Maxine, Connie, Angela and Pamela. He wanted his daughters to grow up wise, courageous, respectful and successful, and it is very evident that he achieved this. His daughters and wife, Mavis, were all there by his bedside to say their goodbyes as he took his last breath. As painful as it was to let him go, they were brave and courageous. I extend my personal blessings of courage, strength and wisdom in their time of grieving.

Freddie lived his life the best way he could. He had integrity and tremendous strength. This strength stayed with him right until the end. We are very thankful for all the special moments and fond memories we shared with Freddie. He will continue to live within our hearts and minds. Mahsi cho.

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Passing Of Frederick Norwegian Of Jean Marie River

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

The honourable Member for Nunakput , Mr. Jacobson .

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Mackenzie Gas Pipeline Project

Members’ Statements

Jackie Jacobson

Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today my Member’s statement is on the Mackenzie Gas Pipeline Project. Mr. Speaker, last month the National Energy Board wrapped up final discussions in Inuvik, and hopefully if all goes well the NEB will make their final ruling regarding the megaproject within the next several months. These discussions have been ongoing in one way or another for decades.

Every time this project gets delayed it goes through another series of discussions, and the chance the program won’t happen increases. This may be okay for the southern NWT, but the north needs this project. We do not have diamond mines to generate huge employment. We need these jobs. We need the businesses in the Beaufort-Delta and right down the valley. We need hope.

I’m concerned about the sunset clause extension regarding the Mackenzie Gas Project, but I’m more concerned about the lack of coordination of the government to identify this project as a major priority. Previously the Government of the Northwest Territories Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment filed comments to the National Energy Board on recommendations by the Joint Review Panel, because the National Energy Board ultimately has the final decision on further developments in the Mackenzie Gas Pipeline. These comments are very important and must be given the highest priority.

As I mentioned previously, businesses in the North have been hoping for this project and have shovels already in the ground by now. We’re struggling. If this project, for whatever reason, is delayed again, many businesses in our region may not be able to hold on. That is a shame.

I urge this government to monitor these developments closely, to ensure economic interest of the Territory is maintained and that the project continues to move forward. Considering the importance of this project in the Northwest Territories, this government must be front and centre while clearly promoting the timelines and deliverables with parties including applicants, stakeholders and companies. Now it is time this government works with the federal government and the ministerial offices, such as Tony Clement, Minister of Industry, and Chuck Strahl as the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development.

I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

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Mackenzie Gas Pipeline Project

Members’ Statements

Jackie Jacobson

Nunakput

Now it is time this government works with the federal government and the ministerial offices of Tony Clement, Minister of Industry ; and Chuck Strahl, the Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs; and the Minister of Canadian Northern and Economic Development Agencies, to ensure getting the prioritization it deserves. This government must devote resources and attention to this megaproject that it deserves. Without this commitment we don’t look very serious. I’ll have more questions for the Minister at the appropriate time regarding the pipeline.

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Mackenzie Gas Pipeline Project

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

The honourable Member for Kam Lake , Mr. Ramsay .

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Nurses’ Week – May 10-16, 2010

Members’ Statements

David Ramsay

Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to use my statement today to highlight Nurses’ Week, which is the week of May 10th to 16th . Nurses have

been, and remain, the cornerstone of our health care system. I want to share with you part of an e-mail that I received from a friend of mine who has been in and out of hospital the past few years.

“Hi, Dave. Just got out of Stanton. Second time this month after another bout of pneumonia. My treatment and care were, as always, first class. We are blessed with nurses and doctors who really care about people.”

It is treatment like this that our residents receive from our dedicated and professional nurses across the Territories, from the small community nurse to the ER nurses at our busiest hospital, Stanton, that we are to be very thankful for. They are on duty for us 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, and we are to be very thankful for that.

My wife, Amanda, happens to be a nurse and I must say that I get to see firsthand how passionate she is about her job. That passion is something that is common and I see it in all nurses that I meet.

I believe it is very important today to recognize the contribution of all nurses, especially during Nurses' Week. To all the nurses across the Territory, thank you very much for all you do for us.

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Nurses’ Week – May 10-16, 2010

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay . The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre , Mr. Hawkins .

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Development Of A Northern University

Members’ Statements

Robert Hawkins

Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Right now we have a great opportunity for the future of education in the NWT. The last 10 years have shown some encouraging trends in terms of graduation rates. Enrolment in post-secondary programs and academic interest in the North

continues to grow. There has never been a better time to take steps to create a northern university.

Aurora College, now over 40 years old, offers degree programs in nursing and education through partnership with southern universities. Enrolment at Aurora College is increasing. There is an opportunity to strengthen linkages with colleges in the Yukon, Nunavut, and institutions in the South and consolidate our efforts towards an aurora university.

The Aurora Research Institute and the new GNWT Science Agenda come with built-in links to universities and scholars from all around the world who are interested in studying the North. University-level studies in science could evolve from the activities of both the Aurora Research Institute and the aspects of a science agenda.

This Assembly could take the leadership of developing that partnership into a pan-territorial university with our sister territories. The timing couldn’t be better.

We do not need a conventional university with lawns and buildings and vines, although that would certainly be nice, but we could use the existing structure to create a uniquely northern academic program with an aboriginal focus following the unfortunate closure of the First Nations University earlier this year.

There is a void in aboriginal-focused programming that the Northwest Territories certainly could fill. University programs in the NWT would attract motivated individuals ready to make valuable contributions to our North. Somebody who came to the NWT to pursue a degree program might choose to stay here, live, work, raise a family, because we have many opportunities and possibilities for advancement for those new graduates that they would not find in the South.

I urge this government to consider the future of an aurora university seriously. We have the opportunity right now to build upon existing infrastructure and northern success to create a unique northern Canadian degree-granting post-secondary institution that could work.

In closing, I’ll say that education... There is no better gift that we can give any future generation. A pan-territorial university would be a legacy and a hallmark for many generations beyond us.

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Development Of A Northern University

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins . The honourable Member for Hay River South , Mrs. Groenewegen .

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New NWT Licence Plate And Polar Bear Trademark

Members’ Statements

Jane Groenewegen

Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With hearing all this discussion about the new polar bear licence plate, it has me thinking about the polar bear brand and how it has been for so long associated with the Northwest Territories. It took many years to create that brand and that association.

I have an idea I’m going to throw out to the Minister. Ms. Bisaro said she doesn’t like to see waste and what are we going to do with those old licence plates. Since they cost $10 to buy the new ones, I think people should be allowed to trade their old one in for a new one. Then the Government of the Northwest Territories, through their tourism, ITI, should take all of those licence plates and offer them to tourists that are coming to the Northwest Territories, for $20; hey, not $10, $20. Our polar bear licence plates are so popular that people steal them off our cars when we go down south. Here’s a great opportunity.

You can’t just come here and buy a licence plate if you don’t need one, for some reason, except for those little dinky ones they sell to tourists with three zeros on them. I think that we should allow residents of the Northwest Territories to turn in their now obsolete licence plates in exchange for a new one and the government should then sell them at $20 to the tourists. The tourists will go away happy and there’s a whole industry that could generate some revenue for the Department of Transportation or some enterprising person through ITI.

I am a bit of a connoisseur of options and I’ve often been at auction sales where old licence plates come up and they very often go for a very high price. Back in the days when they had the year of them on, particularly some people are collectors and they like to get the sequence of all those years.

On another idea regarding the polar bear, I understand that we’re going to be replacing the polar bear sign at the 60th parallel coming into the

Northwest Territories. I would again like to suggest that this not be taken and dropped off at the local landfill. I think you should sell it to the highest bidder. That is a trademark in the Northwest Territories. Those of us who have lived here for many years have a picture every time our kids go by there. The first time we took our children out of the Northwest Territories they had to have the ceremonial picture beside that particular sign. Now, if you’re going to tear it down, take it down and put up a new sign, I suggest that there will be people interested in buying that.

Put it on line, auction it off, sell it to the highest bidder. There’s another revenue opportunity for the department.

I think that we have lots of fond memories of our association with the polar bear. The many debates over the trademark, who owned the trademark, whether the bear should be three-legged, four-legged. I’m happy to have a polar bear diamond on my hand here. It’s a great trademark.

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New NWT Licence Plate And Polar Bear Trademark

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen . The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe , Mr. Beaulieu .

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Medical Travel And Escort Program

Members’ Statements

Tom Beaulieu

Tu Nedhe

At the time of a loss, family members find their stress levels very high and their tolerance levels very low. Recently several families in Tu Nedhe had to deal with loss of loved ones and looked to the government for support. These families looked for support during the time of the illness of a family member and leading up to death, and support after the loss of a loved one, whether that be a father, mother, daughter or son.

When family members lose other family members, the support for the government should be swift and people should not be made to wait days, weeks and sometimes even months before support for travel, accommodations and, ultimately, caskets come from the government.

I had a situation where an elder over 90 years old, that communicated in her aboriginal language almost exclusively, had a very difficult time dealing with Health and Social Services to provide accommodations for family members that had to be in that community feeding her country foods, cooking for her, providing bed care and translation. Overall, these family members needed to leave their community to provide support to their mother. The Department of Health and Social Services did provide service and accommodation, however I had to deal with the Minister frequently in order for that support to be maintained.

When a family member loses a loved one, there is often an issue with the casket. Family and the community often want to put their money together to upgrade the casket to something a little better than the basic casket provided by the department. Even when families are indigent they often want to put their loved ones in a nice casket. It is the last thing they can do for that person, that loved one.

The Department of Health and Social Services does not seem to have a clear policy to deal with these issues; policies that make the lives of individuals who are already going through the hardest thing they have to deal with in their lives a little bit easier, a policy that respects the people that have to utilize this social service. Later on today I

will have questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services .

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Medical Travel And Escort Program

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu . The honourable Member for Range Lake , Ms. Lee .

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Recognition Of Timothy Riviere

Members’ Statements

Sandy Lee

Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to take this opportunity to recognize a very impressive young constituent from Range Lake. His name is Timothy Riviere. I know he’s known to all of us because his mother works here, but he’s famous in his own right because for the third year in a row he’s going to be shaving his head -- well, shaving his hair -- to raise money for cancer. He is also captain of his own relay team this year called Relay Rink Rats for Relay for Life, which raised the money as well.

His personal goal is to raise $3,500 this year. I’m sure he will meet that. There are pledge sheets all around this building, so I would encourage anyone who works in this building to make a contribution. I think this is a very impressive action for a 12-year-old young man.

I’d like to also take this opportunity to thank his other friends and people all around the city and the Territories who will be stepping up to the plate to raise money for cancer.

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Recognition Of Timothy Riviere

Members’ Statements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Ms. Lee . Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Ms. Lee .

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Sandy Lee

Range Lake

Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to recognize Mr. Timothy Riviere and his mother, Heather Riviere.

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Norman Yakeleya

Sahtu

I’d like to recognize two Pages from Colville Lake: Dakota Orlias and Corey Kochon. They are Pages in the House this week.

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Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya . At this time I’d also like to recognize two Pages I have here from my riding: Katrina Stewart and Kaylynn Koe.

I’d also like to take this time to recognize all the other Pages in the House who have served us this week. Thank you for your work and the opportunity to partake in this process. Thank you, again.

Item 6, acknowledgements. The honourable Member for Sahtu , Mr. Yakeleya .

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Acknowledgement 5-16(5): Emma Pope National Cadet Marksmanship Award

Acknowledgements

Norman Yakeleya

Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I want to acknowledge Emma Pope from the Northwest Territories. Ms. Pope received her recognition through cadets in the national marksmanship competition in Whitehorse and she’s going to represent the Northwest Territories at a national marksmanship competition in Edmonton. I want to congratulate Emma and to ask her to make us proud and to keep her eyes on her dreams. Thank you.

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Acknowledgement 5-16(5): Emma Pope National Cadet Marksmanship Award

Acknowledgements

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Item 7, oral questions. The honourable Member for Weledeh , Mr. Bromley .

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Question 128-16(5): Construction Of Peace River Dam In British Columbia

Oral Questions

Bob Bromley

Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I had become quite concerned when I learned about a 900 megawatt dam being proposed on the Peace River in British Columbia. It’s obvious that we’ve now learned there are massive impacts of previous dams to the Peace-Athabasca and the Slave River Delta and, of course, on down to the Mackenzie Basin. Apparently, according to the paper, we’re only getting notified of these sorts of things. Based on the record of the impacts of these sorts of things I’d like to know if the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources thinks that’s a sufficient position to be taking at this point in time. Thank you.

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Question 128-16(5): Construction Of Peace River Dam In British Columbia

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

The honourable Minister of Environment and Natural Resources , Mr. Miltenberger .

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Question 128-16(5): Construction Of Peace River Dam In British Columbia

Oral Questions

Michael Miltenberger

Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We’re aware of the proposed Site C project. The work has been underway for, actually, a number of years and they’re moving through their environmental process. We have been registered on their list of concerned parties. I agree with the Member that there are things we have to pay close attention to. We have a call scheduled with the Minister from B.C., the Environment Minister , to discuss some of the concerns. For example, there are a lot of downstream issues.

For us, as a jurisdiction, we have yet to conclude our bilateral agreement with B.C. under the Mackenzie River Basin Transboundary Agreement, which is a critical agreement that we want to place a lot of weight on. Next week we are going to be tabling in the House our Water Strategy that is a

result of direction and strong support out of the 15th Assembly and this Assembly as a priority, that which will give us our policy base to move forward on dealing more effectively with our transboundary issues. So it is an issue of concern. Thank you.

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Question 128-16(5): Construction Of Peace River Dam In British Columbia

Oral Questions

Bob Bromley

Weledeh

I’m happy to hear we’re doing more than what the newspaper reported and officials of the department reported as a wait-and-see approach. Obviously we already know from B.C. officials that the flow of the river is being shaped through this new project, or will be shaped, to service peak need periods such as winter. So this takes us away from the natural flow, which we now understand has major impacts on river systems and basins which have evolved to require those seasonal peaks and lows to maintain diversity and so on.

So I’m wondering, will the Minister commit to a more active intervention, given that this information has already been put on the table, to try and let the British Columbia government know while we’re doing these other negotiations. I don’t want to see us waiting for everything while these sorts of things are going ahead. Thank you.

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Question 128-16(5): Construction Of Peace River Dam In British Columbia

Oral Questions

Michael Miltenberger

Thebacha

If I can use a military term: we are going to be all hands on deck for when the Water Strategy is tabled in this House. We’ve got things underway to make sure that we are at the tables. The bilateral negotiations, I think, are very critical and will give us the vehicle and the opportunity to make the concern about the impact. I would suggest, in fact, that the natural flow of the Peace ceased to really exist when the Bennett Dam went in and the Peace-Athabasca Delta, for the most part, was dramatically impacted and it’s never really recovered. We want to deal with integrated watershed management and cumulative impact in the Mackenzie River Basin.

Site C is one of the issues, along with the proposed dam on the Slave, a lot of the activity around Fort McMurray. We also have concerns in the Peel Watershed that we have to address. So we have many issues before us and we are going to be, like I said, all hands on deck, and we’re going to be moving on these initiatives across the board. Thank you.

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Question 128-16(5): Construction Of Peace River Dam In British Columbia

Oral Questions

Bob Bromley

Weledeh

Thanks for the comments from the Minister. That provides some assurance that we are focusing here. I’d like to know how the NWT Water Strategy will, in fact, guide us in responding to these sorts of things. We put a lot of money, time, resources and so on into that and I’ve been happy to participate in that. I think it’s a good project. I look forward to seeing the final document, but how will that guide us in responding to projects such as this? Thank you.

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Question 128-16(5): Construction Of Peace River Dam In British Columbia

Oral Questions

Michael Miltenberger

Thebacha

Mr. Speaker, the Water Strategy looks at the whole hydrological

cycle, our water concerns in the Northwest Territories, our water concerns within the Mackenzie River Basin Watershed. It’s been achieved through extensive consultation and involvement with the aboriginal governments. It lays out all the elements that we want to make sure we have addressed when we talk about water issues, be it development in the Northwest Territories or dealing with transboundary issues.

It’s going to be an absolutely critical piece of work, which is why we have invested so much time and money, to give us that policy base so that our thinking is clear when our negotiators go to the table, we know what they’re working from, and we know what they’re working to protect. Thank you.

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Question 128-16(5): Construction Of Peace River Dam In British Columbia

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Your final question, Mr. Bromley .

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Question 128-16(5): Construction Of Peace River Dam In British Columbia

Oral Questions

Bob Bromley

Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, I appreciate those comments. I’d like to know: will we be providing support for efforts to ensure that treaty rights to water are supported and are assured in this process and what is the

schedule looking like for our negotiations with the B.C. government on the transboundary agreement there? Thank you.

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Question 128-16(5): Construction Of Peace River Dam In British Columbia

Oral Questions

Michael Miltenberger

Thebacha

Mr. Speaker, we, within the Northwest Territories, recognize fully and have had full involvement of the aboriginal governments and respect the land claims, treaties and self-government agreements that are there. Part of the challenge is going to be to make sure that those issues come to the table when we look at transboundary issues. Many of the aboriginal governments in other jurisdictions, in fact, are very concerned about that.

As we speak, there has been planning underway, as we reach the end point of the actual development of the Water Strategy, that we have people at work, I’ve been briefed, we are looking at getting organized to have a table for transboundary issues not only with Site C but with the proposed dam on the Slave is another big issue.

I have a call in with Minister Penner from the British Columbia government and we’re going to lay out the concerns that we see and our need to have this process, and that our support is going to be predicated on some assurances that we’re going to get these bilaterals negotiated so that we are not going to be negotiating bilaterals after all the projects on the river system are complete but before. Thank you.

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Question 128-16(5): Construction Of Peace River Dam In British Columbia

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

The honourable Member for Sahtu , Mr. Yakeleya .

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Question 129-16(5): Education Standards In The NWT

Oral Questions

Norman Yakeleya

Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the Minister’s ministerial statement today he talked about the impressive number of graduates. I want to ask the Minister, in terms of the

graduates in the communities that I represent or even the Northwest Territories, I want to talk about the quality of the diplomas that these students are going to be receiving.

In a report, I understand that there are 30 percent of students operating below the expected grade level. What is the Minister doing to bring that number down and to give our students good, quality education in the Northwest Territories?

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Question 129-16(5): Education Standards In The NWT

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Question 129-16(5): Education Standards In The NWT

Oral Questions

Jackson Lafferty

Monfwi

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, when we talk about graduates, over the years there has been a substantial improvement in our graduates, whether it be aboriginal or non-aboriginal students, for the Northwest Territories. It’s been increasing every year. The Member is asking if those graduates are true graduates and the status of the diploma. These graduates do write the departmental exams through the Alberta education system. We use their curriculum as well. There are certain standards that have to be met, criteria that has to be met and based on that, if they pass the final examination, then they can walk the stage as true graduates.

Mr. Speaker, we have heard concerns from the communities. We are working on a strategic plan on aboriginal student success area, student achievement success initiative that will deal with enrolment, deal with the status of the education curriculum that we deliver and the standards. Mr. Speaker, we continue to improve in those areas. Those are the strategic initiatives that we will continue to make improvements in those areas. Mahsi.

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Question 129-16(5): Education Standards In The NWT

Oral Questions

Norman Yakeleya

Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, the Minister has indicated that these certain points within the education system are measured against a certain function level. The assessments of the Alberta achievement tests that we take indicate that 30 percent of students are operating below expected levels of education. certainly that raises alarms, it raises a lot of concerns for people in my region.

I want to ask the Minister in terms of his initiative, the Sahtu did indicate that they would like a symposium to really talk about education and the seriousness, as I mentioned in my Member’s statement, in terms of the livelihood of our nation of people and anybody to make a contribution to that, but also to know that they are getting a good quality education that would get them into a career of their choosing. I want to ask the Minister in terms of what he talked about, some educational forms in terms of what he is expecting in terms of accomplishing by having these forms that he is proposing to the House.

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Question 129-16(5): Education Standards In The NWT

Oral Questions

Jackson Lafferty

Monfwi

Mr. Speaker, our goal and mandate is to provide the true quality

education here in the Northwest Territories along with the partnership with the various southern institutions so they do accredit our programs as well. We deliver high school programs, not only that but post-secondary as well. We have been successful in that degree.

I did a Member’s statement, 102 graduates out of the post-secondary. We are pushing the students through the venue through post-secondary level and through the Aboriginal Student Achievement Initiative. That is an area that will be the prime focus on the education quality, the enrolment, how the students are progressing through our education system and working with the parents, working with the school boards and across the Northwest Territories. We have representatives on there that deals and also provides input.

We made some recommendations already and we will be receiving our report I believe at the end of June. We are going to the communities in the regions starting in September, fall time. We are going to be visiting all regions and highlighting what we have found and inputs from the region. I would like to get their inputs, as well, at the same time.

Mr. Speaker, we are moving forward on this. This fall will be a busy

schedule for us, along with the MLAs. Mahsi.

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Question 129-16(5): Education Standards In The NWT

Oral Questions

Norman Yakeleya

Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, I look forward to the Minister’s initiative in terms of improving the true quality of education in the Northwest Territories, because the last several years of my experience, we have not been receiving that in my region. I do have people leaving this institution in Grade 12 that cannot get into a post-secondary education or a university even, let alone a job, Mr. Speaker.

I would ask the Minister in terms of this mandate here, if he is willing to work truly with the leadership in the Sahtu communities to look at major changes into the Education Act, the system that can deliver true quality education in our communities, which may require additional dollars that we can get to have a proper standard of education, teachers, classrooms in the Sahtu.

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Question 129-16(5): Education Standards In The NWT

Oral Questions

Jackson Lafferty

Monfwi

Mr. Speaker, that is what we are doing this fall. We are consulting with various aboriginal groups, leaders, the school board members, the MLAs of the particular ridings, highlighting what we have found, what we have heard from the communities, what we have heard from the committee members, what we have heard from their representatives.

Mr. Speaker, those will be laid out in the communities and I think to honour that, it will certainly be a greater improvement into our programming. Basically what I am looking at is building on our strength. We do have an education system that is very successful to date. Yes, there is always room for improvement; I am willing to accept

that. I think this package will give us direction as well. It is coming from the people of the North so, Mr. Speaker, I am looking forward to that. Mahsi.

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Question 129-16(5): Education Standards In The NWT

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Final supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya .

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Question 129-16(5): Education Standards In The NWT

Oral Questions

Norman Yakeleya

Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The question I have for the Minister, in terms of one small initiative that the Minister and I have talked about, is including the elders into our educational system. It has been three years since I have been bringing this up here, and yet we have not seen the light of day in terms of having the educational system open up our doors to the elders. We have been offering them solutions on this side. When is the Minister going to say as a step in the right direction for providing quality education in the classroom, on the land, that the elders would be included into our education system? There will be room for them. There will be elders in our educational system.

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Question 129-16(5): Education Standards In The NWT

Oral Questions

Jackson Lafferty

Monfwi

Mr. Speaker, I do agree that elders are valuable and the importance of their presence in the schools I fully support. Along with this strategic initiative, that will be part of the discussion as we move forward. We need to get around a system of how we pay them. That has been a very controversial issue lately because of their pension claw-back from the federal government. We certainly don’t want to have any impact on their pension, so we are trying to work around a system how it is feasible to do. We are currently discussing that.

I did have feedback from the Sahtu MLA on how we can manoeuvre around the system, around the challenges. Mr. Speaker, those are the areas that we continue to focus on. This fall we will deliver key messaging. We want to expedite the process to having the elders in the school. That is one of the commitments that I am making. Mahsi.

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Question 129-16(5): Education Standards In The NWT

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

The honourable Member for Nahendeh , Mr. Menicoche .

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Question 130-16(5): Electricity And NTPC Review Response

Oral Questions

Kevin A. Menicoche

Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just want to ask the honourable Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment questions on his announcement on the electricity Power Corporation review. It certainly is good news. Members on this side of the House applaud his statement here this morning. I just want to get some more details as we move along. It looks like some great reductions across our Territory. When would such an implementation take place? Thank you.

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Question 130-16(5): Electricity And NTPC Review Response

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

The honourable Minister of ITI , Mr. Bob McLeod .

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Question 130-16(5): Electricity And NTPC Review Response

Oral Questions

Bob McLeod

Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We will be working with the Public Utilities Board. Right now, our timelines are that we will be introducing these changes for implementation in October of 2010. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 130-16(5): Electricity And NTPC Review Response

Oral Questions

Kevin A. Menicoche

Nahendeh

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to have that as a date to move forward. I know that recently in the newspaper the president of the NWT Power Corporation had indicated that the minimum rates would remain the same, but the Minister made an even better announcement that there will be some reductions across the board in many communities. Can he explain if there is a communication strategy as a result of this announcement today that will go out to the communities and throughout the NWT? Thank you.

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Question 130-16(5): Electricity And NTPC Review Response

Oral Questions

Bob McLeod

Yellowknife South

Mr. Speaker, this morning we had a technical briefing with the media. We will have a press conference this afternoon at two o’clock. We also will be attending the NWTAC meeting in Hay River where we will be doing further briefing of the communities. We will also be sending out information to all of the interveners and it includes all of the communities that participated in this process. Certainly, as we go forward, we will provide detailed information to our clientele. I think it’s also important to note that we will be working a lot closer with the utilities and they will also be providing information.

As we go to implement the rates we will be using our PUB process, that’s the Public Utilities Board process. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 130-16(5): Electricity And NTPC Review Response

Oral Questions

Kevin A. Menicoche

Nahendeh

Thank you very much. It is incredibly good news. I’m glad to see that work finally rolling out. Just in terms of my riding alone, Mr. Speaker, how would that communication strategy roll out to many of the small communities? Especially like Nahanni Butte, which the Minister had mentioned had one of the highest rates around. Will they be sending a package, as well, to all the smaller communities or just to all the communities? Thank you.

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Question 130-16(5): Electricity And NTPC Review Response

Oral Questions

Bob McLeod

Yellowknife South

Thank you. We see that as part of our public education process. As well, utilizing the PUB process we’ll make sure that every community or municipality will have the basic information that will explain how these rate changes will be undertaken and, certainly, they’ll have an opportunity for input at that level as well. Thank you.

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Question 130-16(5): Electricity And NTPC Review Response

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Final supplementary, Mr. Menicoche .

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Question 130-16(5): Electricity And NTPC Review Response

Oral Questions

Kevin A. Menicoche

Nahendeh

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. These changes are huge. Maybe the Minister can tell me how many rate zones we’ll be reducing. I don’t know if he mentioned it in here at all. Then, of course, Mr. Speaker, one of my

election... When I first got elected I always aimed to move towards a one-rate zone, but I see that at least we’re consolidating some zones. Maybe the Minister can explain that. Thank you.

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Question 130-16(5): Electricity And NTPC Review Response

Oral Questions

Bob McLeod

Yellowknife South

Thank you. As the Member knows, up until this point we’ve been operating with 33 different rates for the Northwest Territories. What we are doing is we are moving to seven rate zones and on that basis we have simplified the system significantly. We’re also moving to territorial-wide rate riders so that in the interest of fairness, we have a more balanced approach with regard to costs. So on that basis we have simplified the system. We have also committed to working with those communities that have power provided by NUL so that we can work out similar arrangements there as well. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 130-16(5): Electricity And NTPC Review Response

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

The honourable Member for Frame Lake , Ms. Bisaro .

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Question 131-16(5): New NWT Licence Plate

Oral Questions

Wendy Bisaro

Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I spoke about the new redesigned licence plate in my statement and I have a few questions for the Minister of Transportation this morning. In answer to Mr. Menicoche the other day, he spoke about the intent of this program, this implementation program for the new plates, and I understand the intent that they want to get people using the new plate, but I’m having difficulty with the fact that we are being forced to buy the new plate. So I’d like to ask the Minister why the Department of Transportation is forcing residents to buy this new plate. Why can’t we keep the old one until it falls apart and then get a new one? Thank you.

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Question 131-16(5): New NWT Licence Plate

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

The honourable Minister of Transportation , Mr. Michael McLeod .

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Question 131-16(5): New NWT Licence Plate

Oral Questions

Deh Cho

Michael McLeod

Minister of Transportation

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don’t believe we’re forcing anybody to buy a new plate. If you need a plate, you’re going to have to pay for it. That’s the cost recovery that’s required for this program, and we can’t keep the old plate because the old plate does not meet industry standards or national standards. The size is not what it’s required to be and there’s also visibility issues with the old plate. There was also the issue of safety. So we are now moving forward as one of the last jurisdictions to do so and we’re meeting the national standards that all other jurisdictions in North America are required to. Thank you.

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Question 131-16(5): New NWT Licence Plate

Oral Questions

Wendy Bisaro

Frame Lake

Thanks to the Minister and I must have missed something in that translation. I didn’t realize that we weren’t meeting industry standards. I thought it was a matter of reflection and so on. I have a hard time when the Minister says that the

people aren’t being forced to, if you need a new plate. I don’t need a new one, I need a sticker, I don’t need the plate, but we’ll leave it at that.

I’d like to ask the Minister what is the cost to the government. What was the cost? What is the cost going to be for us to find a new manufacturer and to produce these new plates? Thank you.

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Question 131-16(5): New NWT Licence Plate

Oral Questions

Deh Cho

Michael McLeod

Minister of Transportation

Thank you. The cost for the new plate and the manufacture and associated paperwork is $10, Mr. Speaker.

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Question 131-16(5): New NWT Licence Plate

Oral Questions

Wendy Bisaro

Frame Lake

Gee, $10 for 30,000 plates. That is pretty cheap. What I was looking for was the cost to the government. I know the Minister, yesterday I think, said that this is going to be cost neutral, but I was looking for a total cost. I mentioned as well in my statement that we pay a vehicle registration fee, some $82.60 if you’re registering a vehicle. So I estimate that amount for 30,000 plates or vehicles to be about $2.5 million or more annually. I’d like to ask the Minister what that money is used for. Thank you.

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Question 131-16(5): New NWT Licence Plate

Oral Questions

Deh Cho

Michael McLeod

Minister of Transportation

Thank you. I’m assuming the Member is asking about the plate costs, $10, which is required to recover the cost of what it costs to produce it, associated paperwork. There is going to be 30,000 plates that will be replaced and a further 10,000 a year annually. It’s a fee that we are not marking up to recover any, or to make any money on it. Other jurisdictions charge more. For example, B.C. charges $18, Ontario charges $20, and New Brunswick charges $25. So we feel we’re below the national rates or at least on par with other jurisdictions. Thank you.

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Question 131-16(5): New NWT Licence Plate

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Final supplementary, Ms. Bisaro .

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Question 131-16(5): New NWT Licence Plate

Oral Questions

Wendy Bisaro

Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I didn’t hear an answer to my question. I heard an answer to the second question, not the third one. But I’d like to ask the Minister now, Mrs. Groenewegen had a wonderful suggestion of which would actually generate revenue for us, so I would like to ask the Minister if that would be a consideration that when people come to register their vehicle in this next 18-month period, will they be allowed to, (a), keep their plate and pay $10, or will they be allowed to hand their plate in for zero dollars? Thank you.

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Question 131-16(5): New NWT Licence Plate

Oral Questions

Deh Cho

Michael McLeod

Minister of Transportation

We are right now advising the public that they can turn their plate in and we’ll dispose of it for them, or they can keep it. We have no other options available to the public. We are not planning to try to put them on the market. There is a concern from the environment as these older plates were dipped in some toxic chemicals that were required to prevent corrosion that we are concerned about. Thank you.

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Question 131-16(5): New NWT Licence Plate

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

The honourable Member for Kam Lake , Mr. Ramsay .

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Question 132-16(5): New NWT Licence Plate

Oral Questions

David Ramsay

Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to follow up with my colleague Ms. Bisaro ’s questions to the Minister of Transportation on the new licence plate. First off I must say the licence plate itself is very nice, but it’s the process that I think people are taking issue with. As the chair of the Standing Committee on Economic Development and Infrastructure, the Minister came to Members and told us that the department was in the process of developing a new licence plate. At no time were we given any opportunity to provide input on what that design would look like.

Not only does the public not get an opportunity to provide any input, Members of the House didn’t have an opportunity to provide input into the design of the new plate that was given to us. I’d like to ask the Minister about the process that allowed us just to come up with this one design. Thank you.

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Question 132-16(5): New NWT Licence Plate

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

The honourable Minister of Transportation , Mr. Michael McLeod .

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Question 132-16(5): New NWT Licence Plate

Oral Questions

Deh Cho

Michael McLeod

Minister of Transportation

Mr. Speaker, we’ve been writing to committee since 2009. The Member, as the chair, could have requested a briefing at any point.

Mr. Chairman, we should also clarify that we didn’t change the design of the plate. We upgraded the plate to meet national standards that require some safety, there were safety concerns. There was also a size that needed to be incorporated into this new plate, and while we were at it we wanted to be able to be consistent with the government’s slogan, which is “Spectacular,” and incorporated that as a way to promote the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

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Question 132-16(5): New NWT Licence Plate

Oral Questions

David Ramsay

Kam Lake

I agree with the Minister on all those points but the fact is the design of the plate itself. I know the department came back to the committee and told us this “Spectacular” slogan would end up on that. We agreed with that. However, there is some design on the bottom of that plate that was never discussed with committee.

I’d like to ask the Minister why the committee, why the public wasn’t given some opportunity to comment on proposed options for the new design of the plate.

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Question 132-16(5): New NWT Licence Plate

Oral Questions

Michael McLeod

Deh Cho

I guess the committee didn’t provide feedback because we didn’t have an opportunity to brief them. There was no opportunity to go in front of committee to present on the licence plate. We did talk to North America’s leader in licence plate design, 3M Corporation, who provided us some advice. We talked to the NWT Tourism Association, who provided us some advice. We also talked to the veterans, the Legion, the

municipal officers, the RCMP, and we also consulted with other jurisdictions.

We didn’t go out and do a full-blown consultation process because we were not planning to change the design. It was one design and we wanted to incorporate safety factors into this plate. We wanted to deal with the environmental concern. We also wanted to meet industry or national standards and work with NWT Tourism and our government to promote the NWT. I think we did all these things.

The reality, and I respect that change is always hard to accept, especially with a new fee incorporated, but the reality is that we would have had to replace the licence plate in any event and if we had tried to maintain the old plate, the old design, I guess we could have, but that’s not the advice we got. The cost would have been a lot more than what we are incurring right now.

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Question 132-16(5): New NWT Licence Plate

Oral Questions

David Ramsay

Kam Lake

I thank the Minister for that. The bottom line is that there is a new design on the plate. We can agree to disagree on whether there’s a new design on the plate, but anybody looking at the new plate will certainly see that there’s a new design on the bottom portion of that plate. I’ll leave it at that.

I’d like to ask the Minister of Transportation , for example, if somebody had personalized plates with the old plates, they pay a specialized fee for getting personalized plates. If they’ve just done that in the past six or eight months, now they’re going to be expected to not only pay the $10 for the new plate but also $25 to keep that plate after having already paid a fee for a personalized plate. I’m wondering if the Department of Transportation has any ideas in mind when it comes to folks like this, if they’re going to be paying twice within a short period of time for what in essence is the same plate on their car.

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Question 132-16(5): New NWT Licence Plate

Oral Questions

Michael McLeod

Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Member is correct; there are instances where individuals have recently purchased personalized plates and they will now incur a new cost to replace them. It’s not the full cost. It’s $25 for the personalized plate plus $10 for the new plate. That doesn’t seem to be stopping people coming forward. We’ve already had up to 200 people come in and request new plates or replacement personalized plates. We think it’s a cost that’s fair and we’ll be sticking to the price that we are trying to take.

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Question 132-16(5): New NWT Licence Plate

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

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

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Question 132-16(5): New NWT Licence Plate

Oral Questions

David Ramsay

Kam Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Getting back to the question Ms. Bisaro had and that Mrs. Groenewegen raised in her Member’s statement, the utilization of existing plates. If folks could go into the Department of Transportation and give them their old plate -- and I know the Minister talked

about there being some kind of toxic paint or something on them. People aren’t going to eat them. They’re going to put them in their rec room or have them as a memento of their visit to the Northwest Territories. What’s stopping the Department of Transportation from collecting the plates from residents, giving them to ITI or some other agency to sell to tourists when they come North?

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Question 132-16(5): New NWT Licence Plate

Oral Questions

An Hon. Member

Great idea.

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Question 132-16(5): New NWT Licence Plate

Oral Questions

Michael McLeod

Deh Cho

We are collecting the plates right now. As this moves forward, we will be collecting plates. People will be coming forward with the plates for disposal. ITI has already requested to see if we can recycle them. We’ve turned them down. We don’t want the plates going back on the market and being utilized in any other form, especially as souvenir plates on the front of a vehicle.

We are creating souvenir plates for the public to use, for the public to do whatever they want to do with it. They’re free to do that. That will go out to consultation, and Members, people across the floor can have input on that if they want to change the design or format of how it looks, colours, that’s open for discussion. As for recycling the plates, the public can retain their licence plate and do what they feel they want to do with it. But for the plates that are turned in, we are not putting them back on the market. We will be finding a way to dispose of them.

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Question 132-16(5): New NWT Licence Plate

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Member for Nunakput , Mr. Jacobson .

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Question 133-16(5): Mackenzie Gas Pipeline Project

Oral Questions

Jackie Jacobson

Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today my Member’s statement was regarding the Mackenzie Gas Pipeline and the government’s stance on going forward. I just want to ask the Minister if the government is devoting the resource and attention to this megaproject and if the government will involve the MLAs up and down the delta, up and down the valley, community leaders, to push forward from an all-inclusive campaign group to work with this project.

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Question 133-16(5): Mackenzie Gas Pipeline Project

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Jacobson . The honourable Minister responsible for Industry, Tourism and Investment , Mr. Bob McLeod .

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Question 133-16(5): Mackenzie Gas Pipeline Project

Oral Questions

Bob McLeod

Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. With the release of the Joint Review Panel report, governments have had to spend their time and effort on dealing with the recommendations, and legal advice we have been provided is that we should let the responsible Minister deal with the pipeline. As such, we have been limiting our remarks to just talking in general terms about the

pipeline. That’s the approach that we’ve been taking.

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Question 133-16(5): Mackenzie Gas Pipeline Project

Oral Questions

Jackie Jacobson

Nunakput

The Minister said keeping on the timelines. Last year they took almost five years for this. I really hope that the federal government and our government don’t take that long regarding hearing back from the NEB. Will we be working with the federal Minister and our Minister regarding keeping the timelines and keeping them on track on the date that is set already, and when is that date?

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Question 133-16(5): Mackenzie Gas Pipeline Project

Oral Questions

Bob McLeod

Yellowknife South

The responsible Minister for our government is working hand in hand with the responsible federal Ministers. The timeline that everybody is working towards is to finalize the final reports by September 2010.

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Question 133-16(5): Mackenzie Gas Pipeline Project

Oral Questions

Jackie Jacobson

Nunakput

This report took five years from the JRP to get handed in. We have businesses in the delta that you know of in Inuvik and Tuk and Aklavik that are relying on this project. Not only this project, the people are having... There’s no work up there, no economic benefits and nothing going on right now other than building, if you’re a carpenter. No roadwork or anything. At the end of the day, this government has to take a step.

I thought we were too lax on not pushing this thing forward as hard as we should have. The Minister is doing a good job on working with the federal Minister, but I think the timeline, we have to get more concentrated in pushing them now to make this project happen. We need this project to go. We need the work. There’s nothing going on up in the delta. We’re going to have to wait another two years or three years before something happens.

Will the Minister commit to me today to work with the...to get this project off the ground and get the shovel ready?

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Question 133-16(5): Mackenzie Gas Pipeline Project

Oral Questions

Bob McLeod

Yellowknife South

We will continue to do what we can in this area. It’s very important for us, or critical for us, to wait until the final reports so that we can work from there. I think one of the very important factors is the sunset clause that was discussed at length. We would have to wait for the final report on that. Also the federal government has, through the consult to modify process, we will have to wait until that process runs its course and everything is geared to when we get the final report in September of this year.

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Question 133-16(5): Mackenzie Gas Pipeline Project

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Final supplementary, Mr. Jacobson .

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Question 133-16(5): Mackenzie Gas Pipeline Project

Oral Questions

Jackie Jacobson

Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In regard to the Mackenzie Gas Pipeline, I just want to make sure that our government is taking the proper steps in pushing forward this project so the people of the Territories... This is probably going to be the biggest project ever for us in Canada. Everybody wants to do it right. We have to find some stimulus

to get people working up in the delta. Just want to make sure there are timelines and we have to stick to them.

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Question 133-16(5): Mackenzie Gas Pipeline Project

Oral Questions

Bob McLeod

Yellowknife South

We are working very diligently to make sure that all of the timelines are met and that when the report comes out in September 2010 we’ll be able to deal with the recommendations.

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Question 133-16(5): Mackenzie Gas Pipeline Project

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Member for Hay River South , Mrs. Groenewegen .

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Question 134-16(5): New NWT Licence Plate

Oral Questions

Jane Groenewegen

Hay River South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don’t want to belabour this licence plate issue, but I am not understanding why the Department of Transportation wants to dispose of the old licence plates. There are non-profit organizations, youth groups, sports associations, all kinds of people that if you won’t trade a new plate for an old plate, understood, but people can turn their old plate in to the Department of Transportation. You could in turn, instead of disposing of them, give that to some organization. They’re light as a feather, you can mail them out to people, and somebody could make money off these things. I need to understand why you wouldn’t give them to your brother’s department there.

I don’t know what he was going to do with them, but I think they have value and I don’t want to see them going into a landfill. Tell me again, if the Minister could, please, why we could not recycle these plates and earn money from them for some good cause. People would probably even bring them and trade them in and drop them off and pay for their new one if they thought the money was going to a good cause.

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Question 134-16(5): New NWT Licence Plate

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen . The honourable Minister responsible for Transportation , Mr. Michael McLeod .

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Question 134-16(5): New NWT Licence Plate

Oral Questions

Michael McLeod

Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There are two reasons, I guess, that we are reluctant to try to recycle these plates. Our preference would be to collect all the plates. We know that’s not realistic. People want to keep their plates as souvenirs. Some have personalized plates or numbers that they want to hang on to. Some want to keep it because the plate is not going to be in production any further. So we’ve made allowance for that. People can keep their licence plates. Organizations can do a drive to pick up licence plates. However, we have a concern about disposal of plates that are out on the market.

These plates have a toxic dip that was required to prevent corrosion. We also would like to have all the licence plates off the market by December 2011 so that we

can try to alleviate some of the concern of having unregistered vehicles out there with plates so that all vehicles will have new plates by then. We’ll also eliminate the temptation to put the old plates on the front of a vehicle, which is also illegal. There are a number of things that require us to move forward in keeping the plate off the market. Those are the reasons.

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Question 134-16(5): New NWT Licence Plate

Oral Questions

Jane Groenewegen

Hay River South

People put all kinds of things on the front of their vehicles. I didn’t know it was illegal to put a valid driver’s licence on the front of the vehicle. That’s news to me. I’ll have to make sure I don’t ever do that.

So the Department of Transportation is not willing to be the receiver of these plates to be recycled for any organization. So I guess it’s just, I think the whole idea of them being dipped in something is a bit of a red herring. I don’t think that’s going to stop people from collecting or reselling or doing anything. I guess all we can do is throw it out there that if somebody wants to mobilize or organize, that there could be some other way of collecting these and reusing these. I thought a good way would be to trade an old one in for a new one, but I guess the Minister doesn’t really have any appetite for that.

Just to be clear now, this chemical that these plates are dipped into to prevent or retard erosion, how worried should we be about that, handling these plates? Have they always been like that? I mean, let’s quantify that problem. Thank you.

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Question 134-16(5): New NWT Licence Plate

Oral Questions

Michael McLeod

Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, the Member shouldn’t be driving with decorative plates on the front of the vehicle with any kind of numbering or any indication that it’s a legal plate. The plate is required to be on the back of the vehicle.

The disposal of the plates is not a red herring. It’s something that we have to do due diligence on. As the plates are turned over to us, we have to ensure proper disposal. We can’t afford to let 30,000 plates go into the landfill. That would collectively be of concern. So that’s what we have to do. The opportunity is still there for people to keep their plates. The opportunity is still there for organizations to collect them, if they so wish. It’s just that if they come into our hands, we want to make sure the disposal is done properly. Thank you.

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Question 134-16(5): New NWT Licence Plate

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe , Mr. Beaulieu .

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Question 135-16(5): Medical Travel And Escort Policy

Oral Questions

Tom Beaulieu

Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, during my Member’s statement I talked about the difficulties that people face when they have members of their family that are sick or

members of their family who have passed away. I want to ask the Minister of Health and Social Services questions on some of the policies that these people have to deal with. Would the Minister direct her staff to develop a policy on accommodation support for family members that are supporting the sick when they are outside of their home community? Thank you.

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Question 135-16(5): Medical Travel And Escort Policy

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services , Ms. Lee .

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Question 135-16(5): Medical Travel And Escort Policy

Oral Questions

Range Lake

Sandy Lee

Minister of Health and Social Services

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Member is correct in his concern that we do not have a policy or program funding to accommodate a family of our people when they are dying or when they are sick for any length of time. The only thing we have is a medical escort to medical travel. It’s limited to one person and usually for a very specific period of time. If the Member is interested in working as a committee chair to pursue this further, we could analyze that and see what the cost implications are and what the scope and breadth of that program might be. Thank you.

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Question 135-16(5): Medical Travel And Escort Policy

Oral Questions

Tom Beaulieu

Tu Nedhe

Mr. Speaker, would the Minister then re-examine the Medical Travel Policy so that common sense decisions can be made quickly by the government to support individuals when the elderly or when the sick are involved and medical travel is required for family members? Thank you.

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Question 135-16(5): Medical Travel And Escort Policy

Oral Questions

Range Lake

Sandy Lee

Minister of Health and Social Services

I believe the challenges and the problems that families have to go through has to do with the fact that we do not have a separate pot of money or program to accommodate families who want to be near those who are in care. All of the health authorities try to do their own way to accommodate them. Sometimes they get help from local bands or they look at every bit of money they have to do this, because we do not have a program and funding for that.

So if the Member and the committee are interested in pursuing this, I’d be willing to… The Member knows that any changes to policy or establishing of a new program goes through working with the committees. So I will commit to working with the committee on those. Thank you.

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Question 135-16(5): Medical Travel And Escort Policy

Oral Questions

Tom Beaulieu

Tu Nedhe

Mr. Speaker, also, in situations leading up to when an individual passes away in the community, there’s always the issue of providing a casket. As I indicated in my Member’s statement, the individuals and communities like to pull together to support families who have lost loved ones. Would the Minister review that policy of providing a casket -- I think it’s mostly for indigent people that they are providing -- so that there is some certainty when family members have a loss, some certainty to family in these trying times when they don’t have to deal with complex issues? Thank you.

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Question 135-16(5): Medical Travel And Escort Policy

Oral Questions

Range Lake

Sandy Lee

Minister of Health and Social Services

The program we have now for providing for a casket is for the indigent only, which means people on income support. There is a very specific amount of money that is allocated for that. The problem is when the families want to go with something more costly, because they want to, as the Member said, do the best for their families. We currently do not have a program that would do that. Lots of back and forth that goes on is that staff are clear about what they are able to purchase. It’s the people who want to do more and we do not have programs for that. If the Member wants to pursue that and work with committee, I will be prepared to look at that. Thank you.

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Question 135-16(5): Medical Travel And Escort Policy

Oral Questions

The Speaker

Paul Delorey

Your final question, Mr. Beaulieu .

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Question 135-16(5): Medical Travel And Escort Policy

Oral Questions

Tom Beaulieu

Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Perhaps there’s a requirement for an expansion of the policy outside of just purely indigent people, as well, considering the cost of living in the communities, even with individuals that have jobs. The cost of travel, espe