NORTHWEST TERRITORIES LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY 6th Session Day 1 15th Assembly HANSARD Tuesday, March 13, 2007 Pages 1 - 34 The Honourable Paul Delorey, Speaker Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories Members of the Legislative Assembly Speaker Hon. Paul Delorey (Hay River North) Hon. Brendan Bell Mr. Robert Hawkins Hon. Kevin Menicoche (Yellowknife South) (Yellowknife Centre) (Nahendeh) Minister of Justice Minister of Transportation Minister of Industry, Tourism Minister responsible for the and Investment Hon. David Krutko Public Utilities Board (Mackenzie-Delta) Minister of Public Works and Services Mr. Bill Braden Minister responsible for the Mr. J. Michael Miltenberger (Great Slave) Workers' Compensation Board (Thebacha) Minister responsible for the Hon. Charles Dent NWT Power Corporation Mr. Calvin Pokiak (Frame Lake) (Nunakput) Government House Leader Mr. Jackson Lafferty Minister of Education, Culture and (Monfwi) Mr. David Ramsay Employment Minister of Human Resources (Kam Lake) Minister responsible for the Ms. Sandy Lee Status of Women (Range Lake) Hon. Floyd Roland Minister responsible for Persons (Inuvik Boot Lake) with Disabilities Hon. Michael McLeod Deputy Premier Minister responsible for Seniors (Deh Cho) Minister of Finance Minister of Environment and Natural Minister responsible for the Financial Mrs. Jane Groenewegen Resources Management Board Secretariat (Hay River South) Minister of Municipal and Community Minister of Health and Social Services Affairs Minister responsible for Youth Mr. Robert Villeneuve Hon. Joe Handley (Weledeh) (Tu Nedhe) Premier Mr. Robert McLeod Minister of the Executive (Inuvik Twin Lakes) Mr. Norman Yakeleya Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and (Sahtu) Intergovernmental Relations Minister responsible for the NWT Housing Corporation Officers Clerk of the Legislative Assembly Mr. Tim Mercer Deputy Clerk Clerk of Committees Assistant Clerk Law Clerks Mr. Doug Schauerte Ms. Gail Bennett Vacant Mr. Glen Boyd Ms. Kelly Payne Box 1320 Yellowknife, Northwest Territories Tel: (867) 669-2200 Fax: (867) 920-4735 Toll-Free: 1-800-661-0784 http://www.assembly.gov.nt.ca Published under the authority of the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories TABLE OF CONTENTS PRAYER ................................................................................................................................................................................... 1 OPENING ADDRESS ................................................................................................................................................................ 1 MINISTERS' STATEMENTS ..................................................................................................................................................... 2 1-15(6) - NEW DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION WEBSITE .................................................................................................. 2 2-15(6) - WORKING TOWARDS POST-SECONDARY EXCELLENCE ............................................................................................. 3 3-15(6) - 2007 CANADA WINTER GAMES ............................................................................................................................... 3 MEMBERS' STATEMENTS....................................................................................................................................................... 4 MRS. GROENEWEGEN ON FEDERAL SUBSIDIES FOR THE MACKENZIE GAS PROJECT ................................................................. 4 MS. LEE ON ACCESS TO BREAST HEALTH SCREENING PROGRAMS .......................................................................................... 5 MR. RAMSAY ON IMPACT OF NEW DEAL FUNDING FORMULAS ON TAX-BASED COMMUNITIES ..................................................... 5 MR. BRADEN ON OPPORTUNITIES ARISING FROM DELAY IN CONSTRUCTION OF THE MACKENZIE GAS PROJECT .......................... 5 MR. POKIAK ON CONSTRUCTION OF THE TUKTOYAKTUK-INUVIK ALL-WEATHER HIGHWAY ......................................................... 6 MR. ROBERT MCLEOD ON FEDERAL SUBSIDIES FOR THE MACKENZIE GAS PROJECT ................................................................ 6 MR. VILLENEUVE ON WORLD WATER DAY ............................................................................................................................. 7 MR. HAWKINS ON MAXIMIZING EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FROM THE MACKENZIE GAS PROJECT ......................................... 7 MR. LAFFERTY ON RENOVATIONS REQUIRED AT THE JIMMY ERASMUS SENIORS' HOME ............................................................ 8 MR. YAKELEYA ON DENENDEH INDIAN RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL SURVIVORS CONFERENCE ........................................................... 8 MR. MILTENBERGER ON ECONOMICS OF THE MACKENZIE GAS PROJECT ................................................................................. 9 HON. MICHAEL MCLEOD ON TRIBUTE TO RICHARD LAFFERTY, SR. .......................................................................................... 9 RECOGNITION OF VISITORS IN THE GALLERY .................................................................................................................. 10 ORAL QUESTIONS ........................................................................................................................................................... 10, 22 WRITTEN QUESTIONS ..................................................................................................................................................... 32, 32 TABLING OF DOCUMENTS ................................................................................................................................................... 32 NOTICES OF MOTION ............................................................................................................................................................ 32 MOTION 1-15(6) - TERRITORIAL POWER SUBSIDY PROGRAM ................................................................................................ 32 Motion 2-15(6) - Extended Adjournment of the House to May 9, 2007 ............................................................................. 33 NOTICES OF MOTION FOR FIRST READING OF BILLS ...................................................................................................... 33 BILL 1 - AN ACT TO AMEND THE PARTNERSHIP ACT .............................................................................................................. 33 BILL 2 - AN ACT TO AMEND THE CONDOMINIUM ACT ............................................................................................................. 33 BILL 3 - AN ACT TO AMEND THE LEGAL SERVICES ACT ......................................................................................................... 33 BILL 7 - SAFER COMMUNITIES AND NEIGHBOURHOODS ACT .................................................................................................. 33 BILL 4 - NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HYDRO CORPORATION ACT ............................................................................................ 33 BILL 5 - AN ACT TO AMEND THE CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES ACT........................................................................................ 33 ii BILL 6 - WORKERS' COMPENSATION ACT .............................................................................................................................. 33 ORDERS OF THE DAY ............................................................................................................................................................ 33 March 13, 2007 NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HANSARD Page 1 YELLOWKNIFE, NORTHWEST TERRITORIES Tuesday, March 13, 2007 Members Present Honourable Brendan Bell, Mr. Braden, Honourable Paul Delorey, Honourable Charles Dent, Mrs. Groenewegen, Honourable Joe Handley, Mr. Hawkins, Honourable David Krutko, Mr. Lafferty, Ms. Lee, Hon. Michael McLeod, Mr. McLeod, Hon. Kevin Menicoche, Mr. Miltenberger, Mr. Pokiak, Mr. Ramsay, Honourable Floyd Roland, Mr. Villeneuve, Mr. Yakeleya ITEM 1: PRAYER Through displays and performances, the work of our northern artists was showcased to Canada during the ---Prayer opening and closing ceremonies and throughout the games. SPEAKER (Hon. Paul Delorey): Mr. Clerk, would you ascertain if the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, While in Whitehorse, I had the opportunity to tour an art the Honourable Anthony W. J. Whitford, is prepared to collection called Burning Cold. This collection contains th enter the Chamber to open the Sixth Session of the 15 pieces created by several artists from all across Canada Legislative Assembly. and will go on tour to many different cities now the games are over. ITEM 2: OPENING ADDRESS One of the art pieces, and the best in my mind although I COMMISSIONER OF THE NORTHWEST TERRITORIES admit to some bias, was an exquisite, detailed carving (Hon. Tony Whitford): Monsieur, le president, monsieur created by Fort Simpson artist John Sabourin. le premier ministre, messieurs et Mesdames les deputes, mesdames et messieurs, et amis. It hardly seems a ---Applause moment has passed since I last was with you. John’s Dene cultural identity merged northern customs ---Laughter and modern visions resulting in an abstract work highlighting texture and form and bringing the stone to life But it is good to be back. On Sunday, I returned from a through stories and legends. visit to Whitehorse where I was supporting athletes, coaches, artists and parents from