Speaker: I will now call this House to order, and we will proceed at this time with prayers.

Speaker: Before proceeding with the Order Paper, the Chair wishes to formally inform the House of the retirement of our Sergeant-at-Arms, Emery Shilleto. Emery is with us today in the Speaker’s gallery.

Emery came to the Yukon in 1944. He was the territorial agent in Mayo from 1965 to 1991. It was there that he and his wife, Eileen, raised their children, Blair and Blaise. Following his retirement, Emery and Eileen moved to Whitehorse. He was appointed as our Sergeant-at-Arms in November of 1991 and has served in the position for over 11 years. His appointment took place during the 27^th Legislative Assembly and lasted through the 28^th, 29^th and 30^th legislatures.

He has been a dedicated and dignified officer of this House, and I know that all members will join me in expressing appreciation to him for his service and in wishing him and his family the very best in his retirement years.

Speaker: In a directly related announcement, the Chair wishes to inform the House that Rudy Couture, the Deputy Sergeant-at-Arms, will now be our new Sergeant-at-Arms.

Mr. Couture arrived in the Yukon with his wife, Janet, in March 1954 when he came to Watson Lake to work with his uncle and aunt at the Watson Lake Trading Post. He later opened his own store, Yukon Self-Serve, and served as coroner and justice of the peace in Watson Lake. Rudy and Janet moved to Whitehorse in 1967 where Rudy worked a brief time in the employ of Whitehorse Copper. He then worked for the Government of Yukon from 1968 to 1972 as a labour relations officer and liquor inspector. In 1972 they moved to Faro where Rudy served as the town manager from 1972 to 1985. They moved back to Whitehorse in 1986 and Rudy became the executive director of the Association of Yukon Communities — a position he served in until his retirement in 1994.

At present Rudy sits on the board of the Yukon Housing Corporation and is a Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus. Rudy and Janet have now been married 52 years and they have three lovely daughters and five even better looking grandchildren.

The Chair would like to ask that all members join in providing Mr. Couture with a cordial welcome to the service of this House.

Speaker: It would probably be appropriate to have a round of applause for our departing Sergeant-at-Arms as well.

Speaker: We will continue at this time with the Order Paper.

Speaker: Are there any tributes?

Introduction of visitors?

Tabling of documents?

Hon. Mr. Fentie: I have for tabling the public accounts of the Government of Yukon for the year ended March 31, 2002.

Speaker: Under tabling returns and documents, I have for tabling the report of the Auditor General of Canada on the public accounts of the Government of Yukon for the year ended March 31, 2002.

I also have for tabling a report of the Chief Electoral Officer on the 2002 general election financial returns.

I also have for tabling a report of the Clerk of the Assembly, made pursuant to subsection 39(6) of the Legislative Assembly Act.

Mr. Hardy: Mr. Speaker, I have for tabling a document entitled Together We Will Do Better, the Yukon Party platform and commitments for the 2002 election.

Speaker: Are there any reports of committees?

Are there any petitions?

Mr. Hassard: I have for tabling a petition from constituents in my riding. This petition contains 49 signatures asking for increased funding to support the operations of Yukon College throughout Yukon.

Speaker: Are there any bills to be introduced?

Hon. Mr. Fentie: I move that Bill No. 22, entitled Placer Mining Act, be now introduced and read a first time.

Speaker: It has been moved by the hon. Premier that Bill No. 22, entitled Placer Mining Act, be now introduced and read a first time.

Motion for introduction and first reading of Bill No. 22 agreed to

Speaker: Are there any further bills for introduction?

Hon. Mr. Fentie: I move that Bill No. 23, entitled Quartz Mining Act, be now introduced and read a first time.

Speaker: It has been moved by the hon. Premier that Bill No. 23, entitled Quartz Mining Act, be now introduced and read a first time.

Speaker: Are there any further bills for introduction?

Hon. Mr. Fentie: I move that Bill No. 24, entitled Territorial Lands (Yukon) Act, be now introduced and read a first time.

Speaker: It has been moved by the hon. Premier that Bill No. 24, entitled Territorial Lands (Yukon) Act, be now introduced and read a first time.

Speaker: Are there any further bills for introduction?

Hon. Mr. Fentie: I move that Bill No. 25, entitled Waters Act, be now introduced and read a first time.

Speaker: It has been moved by the hon. Premier that Bill No. 25, entitled Waters Act, be now introduced and read a first time.

Speaker: Are there any further bills for introduction?

Hon. Mr. Fentie: I move that Bill No. 26, entitled Environmental Assessment Act, be now introduced and read a first time.

Speaker: It has been moved by the hon. Premier that Bill No. 26, entitled Environmental Assessment Act, be now introduced and read a first time.

Speaker: Are there any further bills for introduction?

Ms. Duncan: I move that Bill No. 101, entitled An Act to Amend the Taxpayer Protection Act, be now introduced and read a first time.

Speaker: It has been moved by the leader of the third party that Bill No. 101, entitled An Act to Amend the Taxpayer Protection Act, be introduced and read a first time.

Speaker: Are there any further bills for introduction?

Are there any notices of motion?

Mr. McRobb: I give notice of the following motion:

1. Yukon seniors and elders should have the right to remain in their own homes and in their own communities, as long as they are able to do so;
2. when they are no longer able to maintain their own residences, the Yukon government has an obligation to provide facilities that provide seniors and elders the support they need to live in dignity and comfort, close to their friends and loved ones;
3. seniors and elders who remain in their home communities are able to continue making valuable contributions in terms of their expertise, knowledge and volunteer service;
4. during the recent election campaign, residents of Kluane riding expressed the need for second- and third-stage housing for seniors and elders as their number one priority, a fact that was communicated directly to the Premier immediately after the election;
5. residents in other rural Yukon communities have also expressed the need for such facilities;
6. providing second- and third-stage housing in rural Yukon would provide excellent opportunities for partnerships involving the Government of Yukon, First Nation governments and the federal government; and

THAT this House calls upon the Government of Yukon to direct the Minister of Health and Social Services and the minister responsible for the Yukon Housing Corporation to give top priority to providing low-cost options for second- and third-stage housing for seniors and elders in all Yukon rural communities where the need exists.

Hon. Mr. Kenyon: I give notice of the following motion:

THAT it is the opinion of this House that

(1) the placer mining industry in the Yukon is of special significance to the territory, having helped create the territory as a separate jurisdiction in Canada in 1898, and remains an economic mainstay to this day, over 100 years later;

(2) the Yukon Placer Authorization signed in 1993 has served to enable the placer mining industry to continue operations while protecting and preserving fish habitat for decades;

(3) the recent decision by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans to phase out the Yukon Placer Authorization and to replace it with a 25 milligram-per-litre sediment standard will effectively destroy the placer mining industry; and

(4) this standard was proposed by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans without consultation with the industry and in contravention of the consultation requirements with First Nation governments as required by their land claims agreements; and

THAT this House urges the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, the Hon. Robert Thibault, to consult with the placer industry, the Yukon Placer Committee, Government of Yukon, First Nation governments and other stakeholders to reinstate the Yukon Placer Authorization or replace it with a similar authorization.

Speaker: Any there any further notices of motion?

Mr. Hardy: Mr. Speaker, I give notice of the following motion:

THAT it is the opinion of this House that

(1) neither the United States administration nor the United Nations Security Council has provided any compelling evidence to justify a declaration of war on the people of Iraq;

(2) the integrity of Canada as a sovereign nation would be in jeopardy if this country allowed itself to be drawn into an unjustified military venture at the behest of the United States or any other military power; and

THAT this House urges the Government of Canada to adopt an independent foreign policy that includes restricting the use of Canadian military personnel and resources to the roles of peacekeeping, research, assistance in civil emergencies and defence against direct threats to the Canadian nation or its people.

Hon. Mr. Hart: I give notice of the following motion:

THAT this House recognizes that the Government of Canada agreed to provide $20 million to assist the City of Whitehorse host the 2007 Canada Winter Games and that, to date, the Government of Canada has not honoured its commitment; and

THAT this House urges the Government of Canada to sign a contribution funding agreement with the City of Whitehorse to honour the $20-million federal funding commitment toward the 2007 Canada Winter Games.

Ms. Duncan: I give notice of the following motion:

THAT this House recognizes that the Village of Mayo will be celebrating its 100^th Anniversary this summer; and

THAT this House urges the Government of the Yukon to help celebrate this important anniversary by holding a special sitting of the Yukon Legislative Assembly in Mayo during the 2003 centennial year.

Mr. Fairclough: I give notice of the following motion:

THAT it is the opinion of this House that

(1) Yukon people were given assurances during the recent election campaign that a Yukon Party government would maintain government spending on education, justice and health and

social services;

(2) any freeze in funding to non-governmental organizations that provide services on behalf of the Yukon government has the effect of reducing that organization’s ability to maintain services to Yukon people; and

THAT this House calls upon the Yukon Party government to immediately negotiate stable, long-term funding agreements with all non-governmental organizations that provide social services on its behalf, and that these community organizations will continue to have the resources they need to maintain the services they now provide.

Mr. Speaker, I give notice of the following motion:

THAT it is the opinion of this House that

(1) the previous Liberal government was unable to conclude the mandatory review of the Yukon’s Education Act, due to an unwise decision by the minister of the day to politicize the review process;

(2) in its election platform, the Yukon Party promised to seek a consensus from all stakeholders about the Education Act review; and

(3) in the three months since being sworn into office, the current minister has failed to follow through on this commitment; and

THAT this House calls upon the Yukon Party government to honour its campaign commitment by engaging all partners in education in meaningful consultation prior to introducing any proposed amendments to the Yukon Education Act for consideration of this House.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Arntzen: I give notice of the following motion:

THAT it is the opinion of this House that rising fuel and home heating costs are creating economic hardship for Canadians, especially those living north of the 60^th parallel; and

THAT this House urges the Government of Canada to eliminate the goods and services tax on diesel, gasoline, propane, furnace oil, electricity and wood used for heating.

Mr. Rouble: I give notice of the following motion:

THAT this House recognizes that the government has

(1) committed to a "Team Yukon" approach in making First Nations full partners in the economic development of the territory,

(2) made a priority of establishing government-to-government relationships with First Nations based on mutual respect, consultation and a collaboration with the objectives of reducing barriers and providing more cost-effective services for all Yukon citizens; and

THAT this House urges the government to ensure this approach extends to all areas of governance, including the economy, education, health, justice, social and community services.

Ms. Duncan: I give notice of the following motion:

THAT this House recognizes that

(1) the Yukon Party government has received millions of dollars in new health care funding, and

(2) alcohol and drug abuse are endemic Yukon social problems that the novice government has identified as priorities, and

(3) the youth outreach van service provided by the Yukon Family Services Association is a valuable resource in combatting these alcohol and drug programs, and

THAT this House urges the Government of Yukon to use a portion of the new health care funding to ensure that this service is continued.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Cathers: I give notice of the following motion:

THAT this House recognizes that

(1) the Auditor General of Canada has reported that over $1 billion has been wasted on the gun registry by the Department of Justice and that she is unable to trace the funds allocated on the gun registry by other departments; and

(2) the head of the Canadian Police Association has stated that the police are not able to function effectively unless 95 percent of the public trust the police and are forthcoming in dealing with law enforcement officials, and in his opinion Bill C-68 and the gun registry have destroyed that trust; and

(1) the federal government’s gun registry does nothing to increase the safety of Canadians; and

(2) the enforcement of laws against violent crime are hampered by a lack of police officers; and

(3) money wasted on gun registry would be better allocated to increasing the number of police on the streets; and

THAT this House urges the federal government to immediately introduce legislation which would repeal and dismantle the gun registry.

Mrs. Peter: I give notice of the following motion:

THAT it is the opinion of this House that

(1) the threat of the war in the Middle East is creating a great deal of uncertainty about the world’s supply of oil and gas;

(2) this uncertainty, combined with positions taken by Republican administrations in both the United States Congress and the State of Alaska, is adding to pressure on many fronts to open up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas exploration;

(3) development of this region would seriously jeopardize the calving grounds of the Porcupine caribou herd, which is essential to the survival of the Gwitchin people and their way of life; and

THAT this House reaffirms its opposition to any move to open up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas exploration.

Speaker: Are there any further notices of motion?

Are there any statements by ministers?

This then brings us to Question Period.

Mr. Hardy: A few minutes ago, I tabled the Yukon Party’s 2002 election platform document. I have a very simple question for the Premier. Does the Premier stand by the commitments made in that document?

Hon. Mr. Fentie: The short answer, Mr. Speaker — of course we stand by the commitments made in that document. That’s what governing is all about. We intend to proceed throughout this mandate in delivering on those commitments, but we’ve also stated very clearly that there are going to be longer term initiatives that have to be addressed.

However, the Yukon public elected this government based on those commitments, and we intend to deliver on those commitments.

Mr. Hardy: On November 25, before the new government was even sworn into office, the Premier told his friends at the Whitehorse Chamber of Commerce that his government would not be keeping all of its campaign promises during this mandate.

Last week’s Speech from the Throne was incredibly vague on actions, so I’d like to ask the Premier another simple question: will the Premier tell this House right now which campaign promises his government intends to keep and which ones he intends to break?

Hon. Mr. Fentie: We intend to break no commitments, period, and we will continue to work on the commitments that we’ve laid out for the Yukon public throughout our mandate, and we will be delivering on those commitments.

Mr. Fairclough: My question is for the Minister of Health and Social Services. Mr. Speaker, the Yukon Party made many promises on the doorsteps during the election campaign, and we in the opposition are going to hold the government to their promises.

The first page of the Yukon Party’s platform makes a clear commitment to a new inclusive style of government based on — and I quote — "consensus building, consultation, collaboration and compromise, not on confrontation and unilateral action".

So will the minister tell us exactly who he consulted before taking the unilateral action of disbanding the alcohol and drug secretariat and firing the executive director?

Hon. Mr. Jenkins: It was on the public record during the election as to the course of action that our government would be taking. We are not committed to building additional stovepipes of administration; we are committed to serving the needs of Yukoners. There is an affliction with drugs and alcohol here in the Yukon, and that is what has to be served, and that is what has to be addressed.

Mr. Fairclough: Well, Mr. Speaker, the ministers are already breaking their promises to the general public to consult with them. Actions are already being taken.

Mr. Speaker, this was just the first of many unilateral actions of this minister since being sworn in. Perhaps he should pick up the Yukon Party platform and read it again.

On February 3, the minister issued a news release saying that he was kicking the residents of Macaulay Lodge out of their home because of major structural problems with the building. Will the minister tell us whom he consulted and what studies he read about the building before he took that unilateral action?

Hon. Mr. Jenkins: There was no action taken. There was a consultation program instituted.

And with respect to the issue that the member opposite raised previously, our government is committed to putting more resources into programming and to addressing the needs of seniors at the same time. So programming is where we’re heading, not building or administration. And serving the needs of seniors is where we’re heading, as exemplified by the increase in the pioneer utility grant and like-minded initiatives.

Mr. Fairclough: Mr. Speaker, where this minister is going is breaking his word to the public. No unilateral action, yet this is what we’ve seen in the public. I think the minister needs to address this with his colleagues.

Today we learned that the minister had frozen funding to the Yukon Family Services. This means that the youth van, which serves many young people, may have to be parked for good. Now I’d like to ask the minister this: what other non-governmental organizations are going to have their funding frozen because of this unilateral action of this minister?

Hon. Mr. Jenkins: The issue before us today, Mr. Speaker, is that the Department of Health and Social Services has had a $10-million budget increase historically for the past seven cycles — $7 million to $10 million. We have been faced with a spending trajectory that is unsustainable — unsustainable, in light of the amount of money that has previously been earmarked as coming to the Yukon via the federal government. In fact, we’ll probably see a downturn in the total amount of dollars coming to the Yukon with the per capita grants, and what we have before us is an obligation.

With respect to the issue the member raised about the bus around town, Family Services has a budget of $819,000 that’s going to be funded in this coming fiscal year. What was requested was a further increase of another $107,000, which we did not have the ability to fund. We are faced with the fiscal constraints of the federal government only transferring a certain amount of money. We have to live within that budget envelope.

Ms. Duncan: Mr. Speaker, I have a question for the Premier and the minister responsible for land claims.

The sole-source contract provided to Obsidian Consulting, Mr. Allen Edzerza, is for $200,000 for almost a one-year period. Part of the contract revolves around the Kaska legal case challenging devolution.

Now, Mr. Speaker, anybody at any time can file a lawsuit, and often a lawyer will review the facts of the case and decide whether or not a particular case will proceed, what the chances are of success.

Prior to expending $200,000 of taxpayers’ money, I am certain, given his responsibility as Minister of Finance, that the minister would ensure that the money was required.

Can the Premier confirm that he has received and reviewed a legal opinion that would justify spending $200,000, that there is a basis for this contract?

Hon. Mr. Fentie: I would like to respectfully inform the member opposite that she has this issue wrong. The contract is not unprecedented. The gentleman in question is a chief negotiator. His contract includes duties of formalizing government-to-government relationships with all First Nations. It includes framing and developing the framework of a full economic partnership with all First Nations. It includes bilateral negotiations with the Kaska First Nation because of the unfinished land claim business in southeast Yukon. Because the court case is a direct challenge against devolution, which the Yukon government takes over April 1^st, his duties also include the possibility of our getting an abeyance on litigation. Without an abeyance on litigation, obviously we cannot conclude the land claims business in the southeast, and we may be faced with some difficult times implementing devolution while the challenge is in court.

Ms. Duncan: I listened very carefully to the Premier, and what he said was that he did not have a legal opinion with respect to the legal case being argued before the courts. He did not have it or he didn’t review it.

What basis, and what is the necessity then, of spending the $200,000? What he is saying is that, regardless of the merits of the case — which he hasn’t looked at, or not, depending on what that answer really said — he is going to pay $200,000 to have a contractor see this court case stopped or seek an abeyance. What are the terms of the stoppage, the abeyance? Is it for six months? Is it for a year? Or is it until there is another contract issued?

What are the terms of the abeyance?

Hon. Mr. Fentie: Again, I would inform the member opposite that she has it wrong. The abeyance issue is one small portion of a much larger contract that includes, as I mentioned previously, government-to-government relations with all First Nations, full economic partnership, bilateral negotiations to ensure that we can conclude the unfinished business in the southeast Yukon with the Kaska Nation.

It’s very important to the Yukon Territory that these things be done.

As far as a legal opinion, the court challenge is against Ottawa; it’s not against the Yukon. This government is trying to be proactive in coming up with a solution and resolution to issues that will impact, even though we are not a party to the legal challenge.

Ms. Duncan: What we’ve learned from the answers of the Premier is that he still loves to tell me that, no matter what I say, I’m wrong in this Legislature. Secondly, what he said is that there’s a legal opinion, that it exists — I’m assuming he has read it — and he’s saying that the Yukon is paying $200,000 in a sole-source contract — the highest ever sole-source contract to one individual in the history of the Yukon. Yukoners are paying that for this abeyance, or stoppage, of a court case to which we’re not even a party?

And the minister is also not confirming what the terms of the abeyance are. How does the Premier intend to judge whether or not the contract has been successfully concluded if he doesn’t know what the terms of the abeyance are?

Hon. Mr. Fentie: Again the member has it wrong. The total contract is capped at $200,000. It may end much cheaper, depending on what progress we get.

As far as how I, or this government, will determine what’s in the abeyance agreement, that’s quite simple. Litigation will be put into abeyance and we’ll be back at the land claim table with the federal government and the Kaska Nation.

It is not, again I remind the member opposite, simply just an abeyance negotiation. There’s much broader work at play here with First Nations when it comes to formalizing our relationship, full economic partnership, and ensuring that we can conclude the unfinished business in the southeast Yukon. It is the one First Nation that has no agreement, and it’s obvious that the southeast Yukon has a major role to play in the economic fortunes of this territory.

So, we as a government are being proactive. We as a government are doing everything we can to advance those issues that the former government failed to conclude while in office.

Mr. Cardiff: Mr. Speaker, the Yukon Party election platform promised an inclusive approach to governing that avoids unilateral action. When it comes to the Workers’ Compensation Act review, the minister responsible is clearly not up to speed on his party’s promises. He seems to be ignoring the promise to consult with stakeholders about legislative changes that are going to affect them.

Will the minister provide this House with specific details on the structure, process and timelines he intends to use to review the act?

Hon. Mr. Jenkins: The act requires that a review commence on certain sections of the act, effective January 1 of this year. That was underway. There was a three-party panel that was put to task with this responsibility. They are currently underway. That process is phase 1.

And I have an initial report, but the terms of reference that the member opposite asked for — I’d be happy to share those with the member opposite.

Mr. Cardiff: I appreciate that.

On December 12, I asked the minister in writing for details on the act review process, and almost three months later I’m still waiting for his reply.

Mr. Speaker, in last Thursday’s Yukon News, the minister is quoted as saying that the review process is almost complete, and yet the newspaper cannot find anyone that the minister has consulted.

Will the minister tell us exactly whom he has consulted and who has been involved in the first phase of the review process?

Hon. Mr. Jenkins: There was a three-party panel tasked with the responsibilities. The request released to that effect came out of the NDP offices, Mr. Speaker, so it’s well-known as to who these individuals were. I have agreed to provide the member opposite with their terms of references for the phase 1 review. I have received an initial report from those three individuals who were tasked with that responsibility, and the issues that have to be examined are clearly outlined in statute in the Workers’ Compensation Act.

Mr. Cardiff: From what I read in the newspaper last week, they didn’t know the review had even started. Mr. Speaker, last week, the minister unveiled several changes he was considering to the Workers' Compensation Act in that article as well. These changes would fundamentally change how workers’ compensation works in the Yukon.

The minister said he was considering pulling YTG workers from the Yukon Workers' Compensation Health and Safety Board, and having YTG self-insure its workforce. The minister also claimed that these changes would have little impact on the Workers' Compensation Health and Safety Board.

Can the minister tell this House whom he consulted on these novel ideas, or if we’re witnessing another example of unilateral action by the minister?

Hon. Mr. Jenkins: It looks like we’re taking verbatim, as the platform of the government, what is reported in the newspaper, and I’d encourage the members opposite to not do so.

With respect to the Workers' Compensation Health and Safety Board and it being the insurer for the Yukon government, that is under the purview of the minister responsible for the Public Service Commission. I do not have a responsibility in that area.

As far as the impact on Workers' Compensation Health and Safety Board, that information comes from within that organization itself.

So I would encourage the member opposite to perhaps consult with the Workers' Compensation Health and Safety Board as to its position with respect to the impact on the government being in its fold or outside of its fold, and what that financial impact would be.

Mr. McRobb: My question is for the Minister of Infrastructure. The Yukon Party platform was flush with broad statements about investing in our territory’s infrastructure, but was very light on detail. Then, after the election, the Yukon Party backed far away from its own platform document.

Yukoners were left guessing as to what this new government was going to do. I would very much like to bring some certainty to an issue important to all Yukoners, and my constituents in particular. The Yukon government had scheduled a lot of work on the important Alaska Highway route through the Kluane region; however this work, and the jobs that go with it, are threatened by this government.

Will the minister undertake to provide us with a work schedule of highway projects scheduled over the next two fiscal years, including those for the Kluane region?

Hon. Mr. Hart: The Department of Infrastructure will be continuing to work on the Shakwak project over the next two years — between $20 million this year and between $15 million and $20 million next year, as far as construction goes. And that’s providing we get the funding through Washington, D.C. — next year’s funding for that process.

We will also be working on a portion of the Alaska Highway just outside of Haines Junction to finish up a piece of the road that was commenced last year in that area — I believe in the area of $2 million to work on that area. We’re looking at finishing off that small piece near Mendenhall in next year’s budget.

Mr. McRobb: Well, that’s very disappointing, Mr. Speaker.

As the minister may know, most of the old sections of the Alaska Highway in need of reconstruction are already on track for completion. The cost-shared project west of Champagne, for instance, which was half-done last summer, will be completed next fall, thanks in part to the federal SHIP program. That’s the project the minister just alluded to, Mr. Speaker.

The Champagne bypass was the most expensive section, and it was completed last fall. Previous to that, the Pine Lake corner reconstruction was completed. So most of the work will already have been done by the time this government gets around to creating its own projects.

The previous government did provide me with a workplan schedule that completed all of the remaining reconstruction this side of Haines Junction by the year 2006. Yukoners want to know: where does the Yukon Party government stand? Will it honour that same schedule?

Hon. Mr. Hart: I would ask the hon. member to await the budget on Thursday.

Mr. McRobb: That answer is simply a cop-out. The minister could have provided a response to my question. Instead, we get a deferral. That is not in keeping with the good spirit and nature that this Yukon Party campaigned on, Mr. Speaker — being forthcoming with information and trying to collaborate with members of the opposition.

Now, the Alaska Highway is the Yukon’s only land route to southern Canada. Improvement of our most important highway is essential to the survival and health of the Yukon’s economy, including tourism. This type of work creates employment for Yukoners and is generally done by Yukon contractors. Upgrading this to modern standard is also fundamental to public safety. Just what cuts is this minister planning to make to the highway projects planned at the time this government took office?

Hon. Mr. Hart: I reiterate that we will be bringing it up in our budget process.

Mrs. Peter: My question is for the Minister of Environment. The Yukon Party platform promises to support the initiatives of the Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation to ensure the integrity of the Porcupine caribou herd. Is this a commitment that the minister intends to keep?

Hon. Mr. Kenyon: I had the good opportunity within the last 10 days to spend some time in Old Crow and in Inuvik with the Gwitchin on that side, and I gave them the same assurance that I give the member opposite now — yes.

Mrs. Peter: Mr. Speaker, the Gwitchin way of life solely depends on the Porcupine caribou herd for survival, including protection of the birthing grounds. Once again we are in a very critical state. We are in a very critical state because of the political state of the world.

Can the minister tell the people of Old Crow what measures he plans to take to support us in this effort?

Hon. Mr. Kenyon: A number of different initiatives have been taken over for some time and I give them the same assurance as I gave the member opposite a couple of weeks ago. The survival and the stability and the continuance of the Porcupine caribou herd are of great interest and of great necessity to the Gwitchin people. We are very, very well aware of that and we will work with them in the excellent work that they have already started, and try to give them every bit of support we can in that.

Mrs. Peter: Mr. Speaker, education of people in the United States and Canada plays a key role in our efforts and this requires a lot of travel. We have heard from the government before that paid us lip service. We need the government to honour this commitment.

Will this minister promise to allocate funds so that we can continue our work at this very critical time for our people?

Hon. Mr. Kenyon: Once again, as these initiatives develop from the Gwitchin and from our government and from third parties, we will give every bit of support that we can to the projects and the initiatives as they arise. At this point in time, without any details on that, it’s difficult to respond and again there will be information in the budget on that.

Mr. Hardy: The Yukon Party platform document contains a number of clear commitments under the title of "open, accountable, fiscally responsible government".

Will the minister responsible for the Public Service Commission tell the House if he intends to keep these promises that relate to his portfolio, or are these among the commitments that won’t be happening during this term?

Hon. Mr. Edzerza: The answer is yes.

Mr. Hardy: A lot of quick answers. There’s a lot of detail that’s just pouring out of this other side. I guess we’re going to have to work a lot on this side.

Some Hon. Member: (Inaudible)

Mr. Hardy: That’s good they’re easy questions. We’re starting you off soft.

Mr. Speaker, one of these commitments is the promise to implement effective whistle-blower legislation protecting public employees who report abuse within the government. What models is the minister planning to use for that legislation, and when does he plan to table it in this House?

Hon. Mr. Edzerza: At this point in time, I would like to just say that, upon looking at the whistle-blower legislation, there appear to be several factors that would not work in that favour, and there are other options being looked at, at this time.

Mr. Hardy: I’m looking forward to seeing what those other options are. However, the platform also promises enhanced opportunities for public employees to provide input on Yukon government decisions, individually and collectively. Will the minister give his assurance that the government’s mandate to the Public Service Commission in the upcoming contract negotiations with the government employees will include these enhanced opportunities for input?

Hon. Mr. Edzerza: At this point in time, I would just like to say that the collective bargaining process is happening, and I do not comment on what’s going on with that process.

Ms. Duncan: We began Question Period with me asking the Premier about the sole-source contract to Obsidian Consulting. In his answer, the Premier indicated that the contract to Mr. Allen Edzerza is for a total of $200,000 for almost a year. In fact, Mr. Speaker, the contract also provides for all travel and incidental expenses to be paid over and above this $200,000, which is, of course, the highest sole-source contract in Yukon history to any one individual.

Would the Premier please advise the House as to how much in additional monies has been paid to the contractor for travel within the Yukon, in particular to Watson Lake or Upper Liard?

Hon. Mr. Fentie: Again, the member should be providing full disclosure to this House that the contract is capped at $200,000. It could end next week. As far as travel expenses, of course — we didn’t expect this individual to walk around the Yukon or hitchhike. There are expenses that go with travel throughout the Yukon Territory, something we face with health care and medevacs. Of course, I can provide the information to the member opposite once we’ve compiled it, and I’ll bring it forward to the House. I don’t necessarily keep track, on a daily basis, of travel costs.

Ms. Duncan: Mr. Speaker, the contract for $800 a day plus travel and plus incidental expenses is for $200,000 from January 6, 2003 to December 31, 2003. The likelihood of it being less is slim to none.

Mr. Speaker, terms and conditions in the contract also indicate that the contractor will formalize a government-to-government relationship with Yukon First Nations for the better operations of all governments in the territory. Mr. Speaker, would the Premier please advise which other governments he consulted with? For example, did he consult with any other self-governing First Nations prior to awarding the sole-source contract?

Hon. Mr. Fentie: Mr. Speaker, again I must point out for the member’s benefit that the $200,000 that the member seems to be hooked on is a ceiling. The member is getting a little ahead of herself in determining what the costs of this contract will be.

As far as consulting with other governments, we consulted through 30 days of a campaign that this is what we were going to do. We stated clearly that if we were elected to government, we would bring First Nation people into government so that they play a meaningful role. No one can dispute the fact that, in this particular case, we have a First Nation person who is taking on a priority initiative for the Government of Yukon that includes working with First Nation governments in this territory to formalize our relationship as governments, to put into effect a full economic partnership for the benefit of all Yukoners, to negotiate a bilateral arrangement with a First Nation that has no land claim, and that that bilateral arrangement will allow us to conclude unfinished business if we’re successful, and to hopefully — so we can conclude that unfinished business — negotiate an abeyance agreement that would allow not only devolution to proceed unimpeded but would bring the federal government back to the negotiating table for land claims. All these things are of the highest priority, of vital importance to the Yukon, and we intend to proceed.

Ms. Duncan: Mr. Speaker, so far in Question Period today we have confirmed that the Premier has issued a sole-source contract for $800 a day plus travel and incidental expenses, for a total of $200,000 for a one-year period. That’s the value of the contract. We have confirmed that this individual, in the terms and conditions of their contract, are to formalize a government-to-government relationship with Yukon First Nations for the betterment of all governments, but there was no consultation with other First Nation governments prior to issuing the sole-source contract.

We have also confirmed, Mr. Speaker, that the Premier has asked this individual, and only this individual, to seek an abeyance, or a stoppage, of a court case to which the Yukon is not even a party, and we have no idea on what basis the Premier sole-sourced this contract.

Would the Premier tell us: prior to expending $200,000 of taxpayers’ money, $800 a day, for an abeyance agreement, what did he receive in terms of supporting documentation or an opinion that would justify spending $200,000 this year?

Hon. Mr. Fentie: What we have learned today is that the member opposite simply refuses to be receptive to the fact that this $200,000 amount is a ceiling. We could wrap this contract up in coming weeks. In fact, the court date of May 13 has been set for devolution, or the challenge on devolution. That’s not a very far-off period in time.

Mr. Speaker, I think what the member opposite clearly does not understand is the relevance to a court challenge as it relates to devolution, what it means to the investment community that we so desperately need to bring back to this territory.

If a court challenge proceeds, you can rest assured that the investment community will deem the Yukon as a very bad place to invest.

Secondly, we have now the federal government agreeing to extensions on the MOU process that the member opposite so ceremoniously trumpeted as a great accomplishment and we have found out that devolution, as far as a challenge in court, may impact those First Nations that have yet to conclude through the MOU ratification process.

So this is a huge issue for the Yukon. We are being proactive. We’re taking steps to try to avert litigation, as we broadcasted for 30 days across this territory that we would do if elected. We’ve chosen to bring a First Nation into this very high priority area as we committed to do. We are putting our money where our mouth is, and I would urge the member to allow some time to elapse to see what product we get in this initiative, and then the member can challenge and criticize when there is some basis in fact. Today the member has not provided any basis in fact or the rationale for her position.

We will proceed accordingly, and we are very hopeful …

Speaker: Order please. Would the member conclude his answer.

Hon. Mr. Fentie: ...that we will conclude.

Speaker: The time for Question Period has now elapsed.

Hon. Mr. Jenkins: I move that Patrick Rouble, Member for Southern Lakes, be appointed Deputy Speaker and Chair of Committee of the Whole.

Speaker: It has been moved by the hon. government House leader that Patrick Rouble, Member for Southern Lakes, be appointed Deputy Speaker and Chair of Committee of the Whole.

Hon. Mr. Jenkins: I move that Dean Hassard, Member for Pelly-Nisutlin, be appointed Deputy Chair of Committee of the Whole.

Speaker: It has been moved by the hon. government House leader that Dean Hassard, Member for Pelly-Nisutlin, be appointed Deputy Chair of Committee of the Whole.

Hon. Mr. Jenkins: I wish to inform the House, pursuant to Standing Orders 26(2), that consideration of a motion for an Address in Reply to the Speech from the Throne shall take place Tuesday, March 4, 2003.

Speaker: We will now proceed to Orders of the Day.

Speaker: Address in Reply to the Speech from the Throne.

Mr. Cathers: I move

THAT the following address be presented to the Commissioner of the Yukon:

MAY IT PLEASE THE COMMISSIONER: We, the Members of the Yukon Legislative Assembly, beg leave to offer our humble thanks for the gracious Speech that you have addressed to the House.

Speaker: It has been moved by the hon. Member for Lake Laberge

THAT the following address be presented to the Commissioner of the Yukon:

MAY IT PLEASE THE COMMISSIONER: We, the Members of the Yukon Legislative Assembly, beg leave to offer our humble thanks for the gracious Speech that you have addressed to the House.

Mr. Cathers: First of all, let me say how honoured I am to rise here today to represent the riding of Lake Laberge. I’d like to begin by thanking my constituents for electing me to represent them in this 31^st Yukon Legislative Assembly. I will continue to work hard to be worthy of the trust they have placed in me, and I welcome them to contact me not only when they have a problem but also to let me know what is on their minds.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to remind my colleagues on both sides of this Legislature that the trust placed in us by our constituents is not by any means a trivial matter. By entrusting us with the power to change the laws and the power to direct the actions and operations of the Yukon government, our constituents are granting us the power to affect their ability to do anything from driving on the highway to buying a piece of land to call their own, buying a home, being cared for when they’re sick and even having an economic climate where they and their children can work — possibly the most important of all, the ability to sustain a living. They are quite literally entrusting us with their lives.

Speaking to people in my constituency of Lake Laberge, I have heard the effects that mistakes and misdirection of government policies, regulations and laws have had on their lives. Previous Yukon government decisions and the repercussions of those decisions, or in some cases the failure to make a decision, have quite literally had a devastating effect on the lives of some of my constituents.

Mr. Speaker, ladies and gentlemen, this is a very serious business we’re in. Previous legislatures have degenerated into name-calling, snippy remarks and cheap political shots. How do you think the people of the Yukon feel when the only way they can tell the difference between their elected representatives sitting in this Legislature and a classroom of scrapping kindergarten kids is two feet of height and the lack of actual hair-pulling in this Chamber?

Mr. Speaker, I could tell you how my constituents feel, but I’m not sure you’d consider "need a good spanking" parliamentary language when directed toward members or previous members of this Legislature.

I’m pleased to see this throne speech commit to seeking an all-party agreement on a code of conduct and decorum for this Legislature. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues across the floor to work with this government on this matter. I ask that on this, and indeed on all matters this Legislature faces, they do not oppose this government merely for the sake of opposing it. I have no doubt that their constituents will thank them for putting partisan politics aside and working together with those of us on this side of the House for the betterment of all Yukoners. And let me assure them that, if they approach me with a good idea, I will not hesitate to listen, to advocate that idea and, at the end of the day, to give credit where credit is due. Mr. Speaker, I am confident that my colleagues on this side of the floor will do likewise.

This throne speech made it clear that one of the key priorities of the Yukon government is practising good government. That’s what we’re supposed to be here for. The throne speech clearly outlines this government’s commitment to a new inclusive form of governance based upon consensus, consultation, collaboration and, where need be, compromise. I believe that together we have the potential of ushering in a new era where "politician" is no longer a word Yukoners want to spit after saying. Elected service should be an honourable profession, but to receive that respect, we must act like honourable professionals.

Regarding words and terminology, Mr. Speaker, I would like to pass some words of wisdom on to the members of this Legislature. I cannot, unfortunately, recall the name of the author, but I believe this phrase is one of the most apt descriptions — or perhaps I should say mission statements — for the job that we in this Legislature share, what we’re tasked with doing and what we should do.

The phrase is, "A politician thinks about the next election. A statesman thinks about the next generation." Mr. Speaker, I believe a question hangs in the air over the heads of each one of us in this Legislature today. This is not a question that any one of us can answer, but the question is, "Are you a statesman or a politician?" This is the question by which our constituents will regard us. This is how the people we meet on the street will think of us with regard to this question — how we fit into it. This is a question by which history will judge us. Are we statesmen or merely politicians? All any of us can do is choose what direction we wish to take to try and get there.

As the saying goes, if you don’t know where you’re headed, chances are you won’t end up there. Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you may end up in the stars.

Mr. Speaker, these are lofty statements and broad goals here, but we have to keep them in mind, I believe. We have to keep in mind our principles, our directions, what we hope to accomplish, and the context of everything else we do in this Legislature fits in there.

This brings to my mind another quote, "In the end, it will not matter whether we fought with sticks or flails. It will matter greatly on which side we fought." What side are you fighting on? What are you fighting for?

The subject of the moon reminds me of the tragic explosion of the space shuttle Columbia just a few weeks ago. I, like many Yukoners, felt shock and dismay to hear the news that morning. I was in a hotel in Carmacks at that point. I flipped on the TV and suddenly I see this. It’s unbelievable. You never expect it. It just comes out of the blue and it seems like something from a bad movie. I can’t imagine how the families of the astronauts must feel. Not only have they lost someone that they loved but they have to listen and watch each day as the TV stations, the newspapers, the radio, all the media, remind them of their loss again and again. They have to listen to their friends and colleagues, associates, people on the street, talking about this.

Their grief is public. They are unable to escape the constant reminder of their loss. My heart goes out to them, and I would like to salute the bravery of the astronauts who were on the Columbia and, in fact, all the astronauts who have ever blasted off into space. Their risks and the endangerment of their lives are what push the boundaries of science and of our collective knowledge. It is that spirit — the desire to see how far you can possibly go, the urge to go where no one has gone before — that has pushed the frontiers and boundaries of human existence forward.

My thoughts wandered back to the explosion of the space shuttle Challenger in another February. It seems so long ago and yet so recent. I can’t recall whether it was 1985 or 1986, but I do remember seeing it. It was a simpler time then. When the Challenger exploded, no one thought about the possibility of terrorism. We all saw a horrible accident. This time, I’m sure the thought of terrorism was the first one that crossed the minds of most Yukoners. It certainly was what crossed my mind first. Immediately, within the first few minutes, questions were swirling. Was it a missile? Was it sabotage? What’s going on?

It seemed far too coincidental that the space shuttle would blow up with the first Israeli astronaut ever in space on board the shuttle as the result of a mechanical failure. The Israeli gentleman who was on board was a decorated colonel in the Israeli air force. He was one of their country’s heroes. He participated in Israel’s F16 raid, which destroyed the Iraqi nuclear facility a number of years ago, so there was quite a bit of animosity felt toward him by some of our less friendly citizens of the world.

So we looked at this, and immediately we think of terrorism. It’s not a nice situation that this is the first thought that crosses our minds.

Mr. Speaker, the troubles of today’s world are something most of us could never have predicted on that bright and hopeful day in the autumn of 1989, when we watched the Berlin Wall, the very symbol of the Cold War, ripped down on TV. We watched the blocks torn down, piece by piece.

And on that day, too, I was filled with a sense of disbelief. I was a child of the Cold War era. I grew up knowing that the destruction of the world, the destruction of everything that I know, by a field of mushroom clouds was only 15 minutes away. That’s the length of time it would take for an intercontinental ballistic missile to cross and to land and wreak its devastation on us. I grew up knowing that my life depended on the decisions of governments that I had no control over — not even just my life, but the very existence of humanity.

Growing up during the Cold War gave me my first appreciation of the power that government has over our lives. Since that day, I have seen many examples of that power from many different levels of government. And I have seen far too many other examples of government decisions that make little more sense than mutually assured destruction did — that of course being the term that referred to the balance of power between the United States and NATO allies and the Soviet Union. The acronym they used was MAD, and I don’t think there is another acronym in the world that is more fitting or that more aptly portrays its effect or its meaning.

But on that glorious fall day in 1989, it seemed that the threat that had hung over our heads for all those years had ended. It was a dawning of a new world order — a kinder, gentler world. Politicians spoke about it, how wonderful the world would be now that this had ended and that we no longer had this horrible threat hanging over our heads — a kinder, gentler world. Except that it was not.

As mad and dangerous to us as mutually assured destruction was – and it was dangerous — in fact, during one point during the Cold War, NATO ran a training operation that was named Operation Able Archer. It was an exercise dealing with NATO’s preparedness. Unfortunately, Operation Able Archer was misinterpreted by the Soviets as the start of an apparent NATO invasion, a conventional invasion with primarily ground forces but also the powering up of air forces.

We understand now, which we only found out about after the fall of the Soviet Union and their increasing freeness with letting us know some of their internal decisions that took place, that they were on the verge of launching intercontinental ballistic missiles as a pre-emptive strike because they thought NATO was invading them with conventional weaponry. Yes, mutually assured destruction was mad, but to a large degree, it was also stable. The communists were different, and they were dangerous, but they were not madmen. They did not want to bring about the end of the world and the existence of humanity either. They were different, but, again, they were people who were not put into place by some fanatical cult or group of individuals.

Today we face a far different world. We face far different nation states and tribal groups, which you might describe groups such as al-Qaeda as, and there is far less control. On that day back in 1989, members opposite of us had no idea of the Pandora’s box of horrors that would be released when the Soviet empire crumbled. We didn’t consider the fact – a lot weren’t aware of the fact – that trained killers, assassins and terrorists, which the Soviets — and to a lesser extent NATO — had used in their desperate struggle against each other, but they’d controlled them and that now the control was being taken away and these individuals were being released unfettered on the world, penniless but armed to the teeth and with their radical agendas very much in place. They no longer have a threat of cancelled Soviet funding to control them. There is no Soviet funding. The Russians are broke, and they’re no longer interested in their former proxy warriors that they used for so many years.

There is no longer the threatening spectre of the Red Army marching in to invade, burning their towns and homes to the ground and killing their families in a crash of AK-47 fire. This is something that regimes such as Saddam Hussein’s have used to great effect against people who have no fear of dying themselves. But as Mr. Hussein is prone to do, if anyone poses a threat to him, if he feels they’re disloyal, if he doesn’t like the way they cross the street and suspects they might be plotting against him, he doesn’t just kill them, he kills their entire families. He wipes out entire villages, because a lot of people who are willing to sacrifice their own lives are not willing to sacrifice the lives of everyone they know.

So this control that was used by the KGB and by the Red Army under the Soviets, of course, is no longer in existence. With no threat or incentive hanging over their heads or being used to threaten their bank accounts, these radical groups have been completely released from their cages, and we have seen the effect. The image of the Twin Towers, the World Trade Centre, burning and crumbling, and the image of the planes crashing into it — these will remain emblazoned in the minds of most of us for the rest of our lives. It’s this generation’s counterpart to the assassination of John F. Kennedy. It’s a defining moment that we’ll talk about for decades to come. Decades from now, we’ll probably still be sitting around the table talking about: where were you when the World Trade Centre towers fell? Did you see the planes crashing in? What did you hear about it? What did you think?

And we in the Yukon were not insulated from this. It was not some foreign conflict, not even a crisis faced by our neighbour and our closest ally to the south, not some tragedy we watched on TV but felt removed from, as if it never really happened.

I was listening to the radio, as probably most of you were, when you heard that the 747s were arriving in Whitehorse, Mr. Speaker. Then we heard that one was hijacked, or was reportedly hijacked, just minutes before its arrival. At that moment, the blinders were removed from our eyes. We were no longer in a secure world. This was no longer some remote thing that was happening down in New York, a place where many Yukoners have never been, which to some extent you could argue in the minds of a lot of people exists in the eye of TV movies and sitcoms. You know it’s there, yes, it’s somewhere, but you don’t really believe it. This was the Yukon. How could this happen to us?

I went on top of the hill outside our house when we heard the 747s were coming in, looking to see if I could see these aircraft, and I did. I saw the 747 that they were reporting was hijacked. I saw it come in over Lake Laberge. It actually turned right in front of our house; it went over Lake Laberge in a wide bank, two F18s right on its tail. I watched it come in as it headed toward Whitehorse, a 747 on a direct flight path, two F18s on its tail, one of them constantly in missile-firing position, maintaining a certain length. Of course, the F18s are much faster than the 747, so it would be catching up, it would be holding as it came in on its tail, just perfectly steady, not moving an inch that you could see. The second F18 would be circling behind, then all of a sudden, the first one would peel off in a sharp, abrupt manoeuvre, and the second one would be right behind, following it in.

I watched it as far as I could toward Whitehorse. I couldn’t see the F18s as it got closer — they were far too small — but I watched the 747 and, all the way in, I was wondering, "Am I going to see a missile go out from one of these fighters? Are they going to shoot them down?" — wondering what would happen, where would the aircraft land? Would it crash in the lake? What would happen to the people on board? Would there be terrorists on board? Would they be washing up, or rafting in the inflatable rafts on board this 747 on to the beach outside my home?

As I believe you know, Mr. Speaker, I live right on Lake Laberge. Where would they be coming from? Would I be dealing with someone who was armed and might threaten me and my family? I watched it go in and, of course, it went in without incident. We watched the dust cloud from the top of the hill. The dust of the 747s landing in Whitehorse was visible from 35 miles away.

After the protracted standoff on the tarmac of the Whitehorse Airport, it turned out everything was fine. But was it fine? Was anything ever fine?

So we face here this issue that probably many of us never thought we would have to face — the issue of terrorism, one that we don’t really think will affect us. In fact, there are a lot of people here in the Yukon and perhaps even in this House who believe that it won’t; it’s somebody else’s problem; it’s the United States’ problem. We share a common society, a common border that is so large that it can’t be defended or limited to any effectual extent with the United States. Anyone who enters our borders can enter their borders and vice versa.

Yes, the direction of the terrorists has been mostly directed at the United States. Al-Qaeda has targeted them. But let me remind you, Mr. Speaker, and members of this House, that the most recent tapes that have been discovered that they believe are from Osama bin Laden make specific mention of Canada as one of their targets. Even if we were not a target, which this is casting very grave doubts on, how many Canadians would be in the States if there was an attack? And to suggest that the United States, in protecting its security and economic interests, is only protecting the United States, is a foolish and fallacious argument. We share a common society. The saying goes that when the United States sneezes, Canada catches a cold. What affects them, affects us to a greater extent.

Yes, they’re threatened and we’re threatened too. But why don’t we think we’re threatened? Well, it’s nice to exist under the umbrella of the United States’ protection. We have had years of declining military spending and we’ve backed away from this field of endeavour. Canada would have to increase its military spending by $13.6 billion per year to be up to the NATO standard.

Yesterday we had the air show in Whitehorse. We had four F18 fighter jets — or, technically, CF18 fighter jets, the Canadian variant — sitting on the runway. Well, there wasn’t an air show. Why? They were all broken. It can happen, but it happens a lot with the Canadian fighters because they’re outdated.

The federal government has not put the money into maintaining the military that should be put in there. Canada only has, according to the Department of National Defence’s Web site, 60 operational F18 fighters. So we had 6.7 percent of Canada’s fighter group sitting on the tarmac of the Whitehorse Airport, broken.

And then we talk about the Sea Kings. Well, you know how that has affected people. It has put the lives of Canadian soldiers, Canadian men and women, at risk because of a lack of funding. Mr. Speaker, this is something that is not within our power here in this Legislature to alter, but as a Canadian and on behalf of my constituents, I’d like to express to the federal government that this is a concern, this affects us as well. The people who have their children going off into war to defend Canada do not appreciate this. They don’t appreciate the risk to which these people are put.

Mr. Speaker, I’d like to return once again to the point about direction in government, to our goal, what should be our goal — practising good government. We as a territory, those of us who are charged with governing this territory, with voting on the bills that are put forward — we have to do our best to make sure that our decisions are not done merely for popularity or for imaging. An election promise such as cancelling a helicopter contract, that put the lives of our citizens at risk — good government, practising good government. I’m pleased to see that principle recognized in the throne speech as a key priority of this government. Mr. Speaker, it will be our task to back up those words with our actions. I believe that my colleagues here are equal to that task.

My duty as a member of this Legislature is to work for the betterment of the Yukon as a whole and to represent the needs of my constituents in this House.

My riding is the riding of Lake Laberge. During the election last fall, one thing I heard over and over on the doorsteps of my constituents was that they did not feel they had had an MLA who actually represented them for a long, long time. That’s not acceptable. They felt they had been abandoned by their MLA, and they felt they had been ignored by a Whitehorse-centric territorial government that ignored the issues of rural Yukon, and this had been going on for a long time.

Mr. Speaker, as you know, the government caucus is composed of members from rural areas, as well as from urban areas. It’s a very diverse caucus that stretches right across this territory. I think this will be helpful and that it will tend to create a government that won’t be as disconnected from rural Yukon, a government that doesn’t have its base of power and all its MLAs in the Whitehorse area, but this isn’t enough.

One of my key commitments to the people of Lake Laberge is to hold a minimum of three public constituency meetings per year. I said this on the radio, I said this in the paper, and I said it on the doorsteps. Every doorstep I went to, I made a commitment that I would hold a minimum of three public constituency meetings per year. It’s not the end solution. That alone isn’t enough, but I believe it is a very important first step.

It gives people the ability to hold their MLA accountable in front of the community. If their needs haven’t been addressed, if their MLA has not been accountable, hasn’t responded to their needs and made every effort to satisfy them as best as can be done, you have the opportunity to let that MLA know that you’re not happy and why you’re not happy.

And there are people who maybe don’t understand at some point the issues that are faced on the other side, so it gives the MLA the opportunity to explain, as well, to those people if there is something that they misunderstood. But it’s the opportunity for dialogue; it’s the opportunity for criticism, for accountability and for discussion.

Mr. Speaker, I held the first of these public constituency meetings that I committed to on February 11, and I was absolutely floored. Five percent of my constituents showed up at that meeting. I went into that meeting, and I didn’t know what to do. I thought I’d maybe have, you know, 12 people, maybe 20. I had the meeting at 7:00. I thought I’d go in 10 minutes early and nobody is going to be there. This is the Yukon. I figured I’d get maybe three people walking in at 7:00, five at 7:05, and maybe a half dozen walking in at 7:10 and 7:15, and then two people coming in at 7:30. I walked in the room and there were already 20 people in there. I couldn’t believe it.

I’m very flattered. I’m honoured that they feel they have the chance of getting somewhere with me. Clearly they’ve shown that they think that my ears are open, and certainly they are. And I’d like to thank them for taking time from their busy lives to let me know what’s on their minds.

Mr. Speaker, I’m pleased to announce that I will be holding a second public constituency meeting on March 20. This, along with my open-door office policy, is, I believe, the first step to addressing lack of representation by their MLA, that the people of Lake Laberge still need to see the Yukon government pay attention to them and respond to their concerns. As I mentioned, it’s not enough that the governing caucus is spread across the Yukon. It’s valuable, it’s important, and it’s a good grounding in what’s happening in the Yukon, but we have to go further than that. That alone is not enough.

The people of Lake Laberge need to see the Yukon government pay attention to them and respond to their concerns. With that in mind, Mr. Speaker, I’d like to give you and members of this Legislature a quick overview of my riding. You will be hearing much, much more about my riding from me in the future but today I’m going to stick with the overview.

The riding of Lake Laberge first came into being in 1992 but, during the electoral boundary review, the boundaries were changed, so I have the honour of being the first MLA to represent the riding in its current configuration. Driving north out of Whitehorse, the riding of Lake Laberge begins just before you reach the junction where the Mayo Road meets the Alaska Highway, just this side of the Forestview area, which, as you may know, is off to the right, and the Cousins Airstrip road — it’s just on this side of that, just to the south.

If you keep driving north on the Alaska Highway, you’ll be in the riding until you cross the bridge over the Takhini River. To the west of that, the riding includes the Echo Valley Road and the Jackson Road area. There are quite a few homes and a fair bit of property in that area. Of course, it also extends over to the east, which is the main area that my riding covers.

On the Mayo Road, the Lake Laberge riding begins at the junction with the Alaska Highway and it continues along up that way until a bit past Braeburn Lodge. Speaking of Braeburn Lodge, I would like to congratulate Ms. Braeburn Lodge, Leigh Knox, for being crowned the Second Princess and Miss Congeniality in the 2003 Sourdough Rendezvous Queen contest and to issue my congratulations to all the participants and to the First Princess and the Queen as well.

But I was personally very glad to see Leigh get that title. I believe she’s very deserving of both titles and a wonderful person.

Getting back to a description of my riding, or the brief description of my riding, the Lake Laberge riding also includes Deep Creek, Grizzly Valley, Jackfish Bay, the Takhini Hot Springs Road area, Hidden Valley, MacPherson subdivision, and numerous roads and driveways off the Mayo Road and Alaska Highway, such as Burma Road, the Ten Mile Road, Shallow Bay Road, Vista Road, and quite a number of other ones and, as I say, individual driveways. It also includes the area of Fox Lake and Braeburn and around there.

To the east, it extends to an area that includes no one except me and my family on the east side of Lake Laberge, and the boundary goes a little bit to the east of that. And to the north, its border is just past Frank Lake. In case you don’t know, Mr. Speaker, that’s a lake that’s on the Yukon Quest trail and is used as a reference point on the boundary map.

I was actually at Frank Lake just a few weeks ago, snowmobiling in there. The Quest trail wasn’t all the way through, and I put a section through from Frank Lake to the end of Ken Lake there. It was rather a rough trail in there due to a lack of snow, but it wasn’t too bad in there. It was about the only chance I’ve actually had to go out snowmobiling this winter, which is something I’ve usually been fortunate enough to spend a great deal of time doing in the context of the business that the family and I operate, to break trail for the dog teams coming behind me. Unfortunately, I’ve been deprived of that pleasure, to a very large extent, this winter, due to my new duties here.

Lake Laberge is a rural riding. Even the portion that is technically inside the boundaries of the City of Whitehorse is most definitely not an urban area. It’s very much rural residential.

My constituents come from all walks of life and professions, and they include a large number of entrepreneurs.

I don’t have the statistics on this, Mr. Speaker, but from talking to people at the doorsteps and my personal knowledge of that, I strongly suspect that my riding may actually have the highest percentage of small business owners of any riding in the Yukon. And I mention this because it is the private sector that is the engine of economic growth. Too often we forget how much of our territory’s ability to prosper — prosper for all people, right from the business owners to the public servants to the waitress in the restaurant and the janitor in the hotel lobby — depends on the entrepreneurs, on these men and women who throw their heart, their soul, and everything they own — frequently all their financial resources — into pursuing a dream. And I commend them for their courage and their dedication.

I don’t mean to lessen or to overlook the contribution of people who dedicate their lives to making this world a better place as teachers, as doctors, firefighters, construction workers, civil servants or whatever profession they may choose. It’s all very valuable. Anyone who works to make this world a little better than they found it has my admiration, whatever profession they’ve chosen. But I’d like to focus on the entrepreneurs today, because it is the placer miner with one bulldozer and one backhoe, the restaurant owner who serves the food and cleans the tables and mops up afterwards, the farmer who does the books, cleans the barn, saddles the horses or whatever type of operation he or she has, and all the other entrepreneurs who start the whole process. They get the whole ball of wax rolling. Without the entrepreneur working toward a dream, no one else works either. In the economic discussion about which came first, the chicken or the egg, they came first. It’s the entrepreneur. It’s someone with a dream, with a vision, and with the courage to put everything on the line that starts the process. And all the rest of us depend on them. Everything else flows down from that initial starting point.

As you know, the Yukon has had two main industries, those being mining and tourism. Mining has been on the rocks the past few years. I apologize for the pun, Mr. Speaker, but I couldn’t resist it. I’m going to speak more about mining shortly.

Tourism, right now, despite the aftermath of September 11^th, is currently the Yukon’s biggest industry and it still has much untapped potential, in terms of markets, product development and enhancement. When you compare the Yukon to an area — I believe Paris is the city that has the record for the most visitors per year, and I believe the number is 59 million. There is a lot of potential out there. Obviously we’re not in the same league as Paris or Las Vegas, but we don’t need to be to go a long way toward funding the Yukon’s economy.

Tourism isn’t the be-all and end-all. The engine of the Yukon economy, when it is successful, has always been the mining industry. Tourism has a lot of potential, but mining is, right now, what has sustained us and what fuels the economy for a very large number of Yukoners.

I’d like to speak about another industry where the surface has barely been scratched in terms of its potential, and that industry, Mr. Speaker, is agriculture. I know that probably a few people’s eyebrows went up with that remark. Many Yukoners have fallen into a box in terms of their mindset and their approach toward Yukon agriculture.

When it comes to growing fruit trees, we’re never going to compete with the Okanagan. When it comes to wheat, we’re never going to compete with Saskatchewan. We can’t be Saskatchewan. I believe there are two very good reasons why that view of "we won’t be as good as they are, so we won’t try" is far too limited in its perspective.

The first point is, if the Yukon can supply its own needs in certain areas of agricultural food production, the money you spend will go into your neighbour’s back pocket. It won’t go down south; it won’t go to someone you don’t know. It’ll go into the Yukon economy. The chambers of commerce tell us that, for every dollar spent locally, it generates four dollars of economic value, so it’s going here. That dollar will go into the Yukon economy, not down into the southern economy.

Also, Mr. Speaker, in these uncertain times with the possibility of bioterrorism or other forms of terrorism hanging over our heads like a sword of Damocles, the concept of localizing production of our food supply is very good sense. We don’t depend as much on something that comes from the south, and if there is an attack on the food supply, it’s likely to be on a main market food supply, not on something small from the Yukon, so we would be insulated from that, or could be insulated from that. That doesn’t solve the problem for the rest of the country but we can only do our part and try to do what we can. The more that the country diversifies, the more it benefits all of the country if we are faced with such a terrifying prospect, if that prospect becomes actuality.

Moving on to my second point, there are some fields and endeavours of agricultural production where Yukoners can do as well or better than southern agricultural producers. One of these is elk farming. Yukon-grown elk are actually bigger than those in southern Canada. The climate seems to be ideal, the fodder seems to be good. Actually, the biggest elk ever grown was raised by constituents of mine right in the riding of Lake Laberge. I don’t believe the elk industry has even glimpsed its full potential yet. Public interest in buying elk products has been severely impacted, as you may know, Mr. Speaker, by the chronic wasting disease problems in Saskatchewan and the fears that CWD — chronic wasting disease — may be transmitted to humans. I think it’s important to note that there is no evidence that CWD is transmissible to humans; there is only suspicion. In fact, approximately 15 percent of the deer in the wild in the State of Colorado have CWD. They’re widely hunted; a lot of people eat them. This has happened for years. They have a real problem there with their deer population. And this is in the States. It hasn’t extended, fortunately, into Canada to a large extent but it’s a very big problem in the State of Colorado, yet not one person has been infected with CWD, chronic wasting disease.

The Centre for Disease Control in Atlanta, Georgia, which, as you probably know, is the premier centre of this type in the world, has been back-tracing cases of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, which is the human version of CWD, or also similar to the bovine form — bovine spongiform encephalitis I believe is the name for it. They have been checking back on these cases of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease for years. They’re trying to find a link between the two, to see if people can get chronic wasting disease or can get Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease from eating CWD-infected deer.

They’ve been looking for a long time but they haven’t been able to link the two in studies or in laboratory tests. On the other hand, what they’re left with is that they can’t conclusively determine that it can’t. And it’s similar in form, so they’re being over cautious and that’s very prudent when you’re dealing with the food supply.

It’s worth mentioning here that, when you’re talking about the safety of elk as a meat, the whole cause of public fears and worries about the possibility of chronic wasting disease spreading to humans is the United Kingdom’s problem with BSE, or mad cow disease, and how it infected their cattle stocks. Yet, here, most of us eat beef without any fear. I eat it very regularly. I eat beef almost every day. I wouldn’t want to be without it. But why don’t we feel any fear? Well, we know that precautions have been taken by the Canadian government and by the American government and by the British government to keep mad cow disease out of here.

Mr. Speaker, only one case of chronic wasting disease has been discovered in elk in Canada, west of Saskatchewan, and actually the last case of chronic wasting disease being found in Canadian elk occurred almost a year ago, in May of last year.

And they’ve been looking. Every elk that is slaughtered — they don’t do live tests at this point, but they can tell after they’re dead. But they haven’t found anything since May of last year. With the diminishment of concerns about CWD, chronic wasting disease, and coupled with the successful testing that they’ve been performing — this successful testing regime on all elk — there haven’t been any diseased elk in the food supply. As a matter of fact, the elk industry has a checking and tracing procedure in place that is far superior to that used for beef. Every elk part that is sold in Canada or that is dealt with in Canada to be sent to another jurisdiction — every single one has a number attached to it. It’s traced. If there’s a problem, they can check back and find out not only what animal that came from but what farm that came from, because you have to have permits to move elk from farm to farm. That doesn’t apply to beef. So they know exactly where it has been transmitted. It has some of the highest standards in control of any industry.

And I would like to point out that our local elk farmers, the Yukon’s elk farmers, were the first in Canada to implement CWD testing. They did this voluntarily. They put it in place as a voluntary standard that all conform to. This was before CWD testing became mandatory in the country. They were the leaders in pushing for it. They have been leaders on the national stage in establishing other industry health standards, and they are to be commended for the health and the care standards that they have imposed upon themselves.

Mr. Speaker, the elk and the deer industry in New Zealand has surpassed the value of the sheep industry there. And we think of sheep when we think of New Zealand, but it has surpassed it in value. The market is there.

We had someone who visited my family and I on one of our trips, and that’s his business. He was one of the first people to establish a farm in New Zealand. He has elk and he has red deer and does quite well. It’s a very successful industry; it’s very sustainable. They face the same fears in the public as we have faced to some extent here, and the same initial lack of acceptance, but once education has taken place, that concern disappears. This is a very safe industry. Nothing is 100 percent, but this is very, very safe.

I’ve been focusing on the elk industry, Mr. Speaker, but the demand, the market and the potential also applies to reindeer and bison farms. As with any other product, the public must become aware of the product, and this is the challenge that is faced. At this point, most North Americans have never even met anyone who has eaten elk meat or reindeer meat or bison meat, but there’s a vast, untapped market, based on our growing desire and recognition in this country — well, this continent — of the need for a healthy lifestyle, of foods with less fat in them and, of course, more exercise.

This demand, this philosophy, is giving rise to this potential here. Once education takes place, this industry will grow. I firmly believe that there will soon be a massive demand in the North American market for meat such as elk, bison and reindeer, and that’s not even talking about the tourist market we have here.

Look at all the tourists we have coming through the Yukon. I was mentioning and pointing out the fact that tourism is now the Yukon’s main industry.

What percentage of the tourists who come to the Yukon do you think would be interested in eating elk, bison or reindeer in our local restaurants? I would suggest that the question is probably more accurately, how many wouldn’t be interested in eating it? How many locals would eat it? A lot of people would if it were available, if we had the proper food inspection set up here so it could be marketed in the stores. That would take place, and people would eat it.

Mr. Speaker, I’d like to point out the fact here that I have the honour of representing all of the Yukon’s elk, reindeer and bison farmers. That’s why I have raised this issue today. This affects a large number of my constituents. A small number have operations but the effects that ripple through the community are very large. I may have bored you with these statistics but the other significant problem that is faced by these farmers — my constituents — is largely a result of ignorance. So I’m attempting to begin correcting the problem here in this House.

Aside from market issues, the major problem faced by the Yukon’s elk, bison and reindeer farmers has been the Yukon government. You are aware of how the previous Government of the Yukon almost put the Yukon wildlife preserve out of business last fall, so I won’t go into further details about that at this time.

Mr. Speaker, I stand here today and I give my constituents who farm elk, bison and reindeer, as well as the Yukon wildlife preserve, which has domesticated wildlife species, the assurance that they have my full and unequivocal support as long as they continue to treat their animals humanely, follow health and food safety regulations, and do not endanger humans or Yukon wildlife, and I will do my very best to defend them against all who seek to infringe on their rights and their livelihood.

Mr. Speaker, we have inherited the British democratic system and follow the traditions. One of the fundamental principles of that system that we have inherited is that the will of the majority must prevail but the rights of the minority must be safeguarded. I believe that we, as MLAs, are the principal guardians of the rights of Yukoners at the territorial level. I am here to defend my constituents against undue government interference with their lives, their livelihoods and their property.

I am here to make this territory work better for them and for all Yukoners.

Mr. Speaker, I am humbled and I’m honoured just to be standing here representing my constituency. I feel even more humble when I consider the trust that has been placed in me by my constituents. I still can’t quite believe — there are mornings that you wake up and want to pinch yourself — that a majority of them chose me to represent them, and I thank them for their trust. This isn’t an easy job but it is a great opportunity.

I would like to express my great appreciation to my campaign team for working so hard to get me where I am today. I thank my friends and my family for their support and the part they have played in not only getting me to where I am today but in forming part of who I am. In particular I would like to thank my sister, my parents and my friends, Charity, Ron, Laura and Larry. I’d like to say to everyone that I will try very hard to make them proud of me and I hope that I am equal to that task. I cannot promise you that I will not make mistakes but I do promise you that I will try to correct my mistakes and to learn from them.

Our government, a new government, has provided Yukoners with desperately needed hope. That was the biggest thing I ran into on the doorsteps when I went around during the election — hope. They needed hope and that was delivered to them. The Yukon has been moving backward and sliding downhill and it is now time to move forward. I am excited to be a part of this new Team Yukon. I believe that this government’s inclusive, consensus-style approach is a first very important step toward a Yukon that works for all Yukoners and a Yukon where all Yukoners can work.

Like many of my constituents, this is something I heard on a lot of doorsteps, Mr. Speaker, "I’m tired of seeing my friends move to Alberta in search of a job." The Yukon economy urgently needs to be rebuilt, and I am pleased to see rebuilding the economy stated as the very first commitment in this Speech from the Throne. As a matter of fact, Mr. Speaker, I met one of my constituents last night whom I had unfortunately missed during the campaign, and we had a nice conversation. I found out that her husband has a good job now — Outside. Couldn’t find one here. This is something that this government has been working toward changing, but it needs to be done and it needs to be done quickly. I believe that it will be done, but as you know, government does not create a strong economy. Government creates a climate for economic prosperity, but it is the private sector that creates economic growth.

Mr. Speaker, this government has made amazing progress in restoring private sector confidence and interest in the Yukon since taking office just three months ago on December 2. As you’re aware, we were elected on the 4^th of November, but it wasn’t until the 2^nd that we actually took office.

At the Cordilleran Roundup, which took place in Vancouver at the end of January — it’s a yearly event that you, Mr. Speaker, I’m sure, are familiar with — the interest shown by industry in investing in the Yukon was unprecedented. Our Premier, the Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources and the Minister of Environment travelled to the Cordilleran Roundup to represent the Yukon and to make it clear to potential investors that the Yukon is once again open for business. Their presence and their message were well-received. In particular, I understand that the presence of the Yukon’s Minister of the Environment was a tremendous shock to the industry. Supposedly, this is the first time a minister of the environment from any jurisdiction has attended the Cordilleran Roundup. And I understand that he had the experience of walking into a meeting and having everyone just stop dead. They couldn’t believe that he was there, and they were very pleased to see him there, to show that we are working together — both sides of the equation here.

The signal that was sent to industry was very clear. In this new Yukon government, no longer are economic growth and environmental protection two warring interests. This Yukon government is a government that believes in and practises balance.

We’re fortunate to live in a beautiful territory with vast, untapped resources. No one among us considers destroying the land we live in acceptable. Let’s stop pretending that. But it is time to stop pretending that development and environmental devastation are synonymous terms. Today’s resource development techniques are not the techniques of the 1950s. Yes, there were problems with mining techniques but, to a very large degree, these have been addressed because of concerns of environmental protection.

Mr. Speaker, I’m sure that most of the people here in this room today have seen the ads in the newspaper, those paid for by the Klondike Placer Miners Association. As you are aware, these ads are protesting the decision by the federal Minister of Fisheries and Oceans to cancel the Yukon placer authorization. This was a document and a process that was put in place and committed to by the federal government and, at the last minute, they rejected it.

Minister Thibault’s decision that the Yukon placer authorization was insufficient protection of fish stocks has no factual basis. He appears to have been led astray by his bureaucrats. Our government is strong in its support of the Yukon’s placer miners during this struggle, and I commend my colleagues, especially the Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources, the Premier and the Member for Klondike, for their continuing efforts to convince Minister Thibault that his decision was erroneous.

As well, the Klondike Placer Miners Association, and particularly their president, Tara Christie, are to be commended for their dedicated efforts on behalf of their fellow placer miners. You’ve seen the one ad in the paper, I’m sure, showing the little girl there. This isn’t some child who was picked up off the streets to create a nice message here. This is the daughter of one of the placer miners. It is affecting them.

But, Mr. Speaker, placer mining has less impact on the environment than almost any other industry. You probably saw the letter in the paper from a placer miner awhile ago mentioning the level of sediment that is allowed in potato-processing plants, that they’re allowed to discharge in Mr. Thibault’s home province. It’s far in excess of what the Yukon placer authorization even allowed, but they are allowed to put all this gorp out into the harbour. But that’s supposed to be okay, but here it’s not fine. But a decision was made in error, and efforts have been made by our Premier, by the Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources, to help convince Minister Thibault that an error was made, and we hope that he will be listening with open ears.

Placer mining does not release chemicals into streams. The water released back into streams by the average Yukon placer mining operation is of better quality than the water that flows out of the taps of thousands of Canadians. I’m not talking about Walkerton. I’m talking about a lot of the other areas across the country. The water coming out of placer mining operations is of better quality than a lot of Canadian tap water. So, any person or group suggesting that sediment from Yukon placer mining operations adversely affects fish has proven their own ignorance of science and of the area by those comments.

To understand that placer mining is not responsible for the silt in the Yukon River, one need only do two things. First, pick up a map showing the location of all the placer mining operations in the Yukon, and secondly, travel down the Yukon River. Go to the confluence of the White River and the Yukon River. There aren’t any placer mining operations on the White River yet its water is almost thick enough to walk on. As you’re going down the river, the Yukon River has picked up a lot of silt by that point, from the Teslin River, from the Pelly River and from numerous other rivers that flow in. When you get to the White River, the already silty water of the Yukon River mixes with the water of the White River and you see this line going down for quite a ways in the river. You can see exactly where the current of the White River is. It’s disgusting. It’s natural but it’s disgusting.

That is what is colouring the water at Dawson, not placer mining operations. It is the water from the White River. The White River goes through a very silty area — it’s glacial silt. Well, maybe the glaciers were a bad thing and they probably shouldn’t have been authorized by the federal government because of their environmental impact, but that was a long time ago.

Mr. Speaker, we live here in a democratic society. Sir Winston Churchill, a former prime minister of Great Britain, who of course was prime minister during a very key point for them during World War II — a very key point for all of us. They may be responsible for the fact that we live in a democracy today. He spoke of how the ultimate power in our society comes down to a little man walking into a polling booth and marking his little X with a little pencil. I have paraphrased Mr. Churchill — I can’t recall his exact words and I don’t have the book that it came from in front of me. He phrased it a lot more eloquently than I did but I think you get the point. But I submit to you that the next greatest power in a democratic society is the right to freedom of speech. It is through freedom of speech, through that right — the freedom of speech and the freedom of political association — that we influence the opinions and the votes of our fellow citizens — freedom of speech. I believe that when any person exercises power over the lives of others, they have a deep, moral obligation to ascertain the facts first. I would argue that rushing off half-cocked to change the lives of others without ever checking the other side of the story is morally a crime against humanity. It is an abuse of power that rips out the very foundation of our democracy. You’re threatening the lives of your fellow citizens and you’re not even bothering to check the facts that you’re going off on a tangent based on.

Mr. Speaker, I care about the environment and the health of the Yukon’s ecosystems as much as anyone does. In fact, my first interest in politics began because I was concerned about the environment; I was worried about that. Like a lot of people at a young age, you hear about the concerns that are out there, you hear about problems that exist. Back in the early 1970s, there was a book that came out, Silent Spring, referring to how all of the fish stocks were going to be devastated; there wasn’t going to be anything left. There was also talk in other books about how all the icepacks were all going to be melted by this point and we in the coastal areas were all going to be drowned by now.

Well, it’s important to bring up these concerns, and it could be argued that bringing up these concerns prevents them from taking place. But I recall people I know who were around back in the early 1970s, as I was not, who thought that basically life as we know it would be devastated by this point. It’s not. It’s very easy when you hear one side of the story, and it’s something you care about, to immediately act on it, to go off on a tangent based on that and on that alone, but you’ve got to get the other side of the story. You have to realize that the world has faced crises for years. Every time we face some massive, horrible crisis that’s going to end the world — well, maybe it will, but maybe it won’t, either. It’s very important to read history, because those who are not students of history are doomed to repeat its mistakes.

Mr. Speaker, as I said, I care about the environment and the health of the Yukon ecosystems as much as anyone, and I state to you today with as much confidence as I declare that the sun rises in the eastern sky that placer mining is not a threat to fish stocks or any part of the Yukon’s ecosystem. And I stand here in unequivocal support of this government’s request to Minister Thibault that he reinstate the Yukon placer authorization without further delay.

And, Mr. Speaker, to the groups who have supported Minister Thibault’s decision to eliminate the placer authorization, I have a message. I say shame on you. You would rip away from others their fundamental freedom to earn a living without undue interference because you were too lazy to check the facts and correct your ignorance. And if my words seem overly forceful, allow me to point out that the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development predicts that 56 percent of the Yukon’s placer miners will be forced out of business. This is just based on the areas that they’re in, that the creek valleys are too narrow to put in place the sediment settling ponds that they would be required to put in under this — 56 percent.

This isn’t my figure. This is the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs’ figure, and they say that 90 percent of placer miners will likely be affected, at the minimum. How many Yukoners will go bankrupt? How many children will not have a warm coat next winter, or maybe even something to eat?

One of the key priorities laid out in this throne speech is achieving a proper balance between economy and the environment. I wholeheartedly support that principle, for we must not sacrifice either economic growth or environmental protection, but we don’t have to either.

Mr. Speaker, as you know, we will soon be debating the so-called mirror legislation — those bills that were tabled today. These are laws that are called mirror legislation because they are supposed to be virtually mirrors of the federal laws in effect at this point. These laws must be passed so the devolution of federal powers to the Yukon on April 1 of this year will take place.

This is a very important step for the Yukon. We have been after devolution for years. This is transferring control into our hands from the hands of Ottawa experts, whose most intimate experience with the Yukon is running their fingers over a topographical map on their office wall, or maybe flying over it at 35,000 feet and looking out the window.

So, Mr. Speaker, this throne speech is a very historic one. It lays out the direction the Yukon government will take after devolution — the very first Yukon government after devolution. I believe that the direction, as laid out this past Thursday in the throne speech on the floor of this House, will serve as an excellent road map to guide us into the future.

This past decade in the Yukon has been one of tremendous change. The signing of the Umbrella Final Agreement and the subsequent land claim agreements with Yukon First Nations has changed the way we will live and the way we will do business in this territory.

No longer are the Yukon’s affairs run just by the federal and territorial governments. First Nations now have a myriad of legal powers that affect not only their own citizens, but also any person or corporation that seeks to do business on First Nation lands and within their traditional territories. The Yukon government can no longer try to dictate decisions to First Nation governments. The Yukon government and the Yukon First Nation governments must work together if we are to succeed. We are all in this together. Either we work together, or none of us will be working at all.

Mr. Speaker, it’s very important that the Yukon government reach agreement with First Nations on formalized government-to-government relationships. It has been made a very key priority of this government. There has been a lot of focus on this because it is of crucial importance.

The issue of the Kaska lawsuit against the federal government to put devolution on hold has come up in this House today. The direction this government has taken is very important, in working to negotiate with the Kaska to come up with a mutually agreeable economic partnership and a government-to-government relationship — a formalized one — that may allow this lawsuit to be put into abeyance. Otherwise, devolution may be put on hold. It is very important that this be proceeded with.

I commend the government and the Premier, who is the minister responsible for this, for putting the importance on this issue that has been placed on it.

Mr. Speaker, we have to work with these First Nations. We have to formalize government-to-government relationships, and we must move together as partners in building a strong future for the Yukon and for all Yukoners — as partners.

And I call upon the Yukon First Nation governments to join with the Yukon government to create a streamlined resource development decision-making process that protects the environment, that recognizes the needs of all Yukoners and that doesn’t create an unnecessary burden on industry but one that protects the interests of all Yukoners. We must remove the roadblocks to economic growth. We must repair the potholes in the road to Yukon economic success.

I look forward to working with them; I look forward to working with all of you to make the Yukon a better place to live. As stressed in the Speech from the Throne, all of this comes down to the quality of life, the issue of the quality of Yukoners’ lives, because if the actions of government do not work to improve Yukoners’ quality of life, what do they achieve?

I commend the Premier for his success in standing up to the federal government, for walking away from the health care table in negotiations, for not accepting an agreement that does not recognize the needs of the Yukon and for working together in a pan-northern agreement with the other two territories, forming a new partnership and successfully going to the Prime Minister and achieving the recognition of the federal government that the northern territories need something in addition to per capita health funding, that there needs to be a base fund in place. And they have been successful in negotiating that, and I commend them for that. Federal funding for health has to take into account our increased distances, our increased costs, because this is a very important part of sustaining and improving Yukoners’ quality of life. Health care is very important to all of us. There are increasing pressures on health care across the country. It’s a very difficult, difficult time for health care, but it is very important that we come up with solutions that protect the access of every Yukoner, of every Canadian, to health care, that protects their access and continues to make it so that no person is denied health care because they can’t afford to pay for it.

But it’s also very important that the issues be addressed that affect the waiting lines in the health care system. The status quo is not acceptable. We’re facing increased pressure and, as the Minister for Health and Social Services has pointed out, the spending trajectory in Health and Social Services has been increasing tremendously over the past number of years. We can’t sustain that, particularly with the demographic changes coming as baby boomers retire. This can’t be sustained, so we have a very, very difficult challenge ahead of us. But it is very important that we come up with a solution that works. We have to make health care accessible to all Yukoners — that’s our task — and the country needs to make it accessible to all Canadians. It has to be accessible in a timely manner. It’s not acceptable that we have people dying in line waiting for heart bypasses. I think the waiting list is something like seven months now. There are a lot of procedures here that I as a Yukoner, I as a person here, have no access to if I were to be stricken with some disease or some problem for which I needed treatment urgently. I wouldn’t be able to get it for months. Yet here we have it that if the same thing happens to your dog, you can get it the next day. So, we have to come up with a solution here because it’s not acceptable that we have better health care available for our pets than we do for our family.

I don’t have the solution to give you here today. No one does. If it were an easy solution, one of the jurisdictions in this country would have come up with it, but it is something that we must work on as a territory collectively with all the other jurisdictions in the country — to come up with a solution, not to drive it into the same box where it has been for years where, whenever anyone even suggests minor changes to health or suggests that we need to look into it, they’re immediately demonized and falsely criticized as wanting to tear apart medicare and to tear apart equal access of all Canadians. We’ve got to come up with a solution, one that works.

There has to be access to health care for all citizens, and it has to be something they can afford. It’s not acceptable that someone can’t pay for their health care, but it’s also not acceptable that it’s paid for you, but you’ll be dead by the time you receive it.

So it’s quality of life. That is very important. Federal funding is not enough, nor is fixing the health care issue. If the country comes up with a solution, it doesn’t fix all our problems because, without a successful private sector, the Yukon’s economy, and Yukon as a whole, will continue to slide downhill, as it has over the past few years, along with Yukoners’ quality of life. If you don’t have any money to spend, your quality of life isn’t very high if you’re sitting there, eating old cans of soup and stale crackers.

Mr. Speaker, during the election campaign last fall, the people of the Yukon made it clear that their single biggest concern was the economy. It’s not a surprise to any of us. We’ve all seen too many people we know move out because there just aren’t any jobs here. We’ve seen the massive drop in population. We’ve seen the wonderful unemployment figures touted toward the end of the previous administration’s lost mandate, but they weren’t giving us the population figures. They were trying to give us a snow job into believing that things were going wonderfully now, but it’s just that people have given up and moved elsewhere.

The economy in my riding of Lake Laberge was clearly the most important issue to my constituents. I would say, in fact, that that issue was more of a concern than all the other issues expressed to me during the campaign put together — all of them. The need to turn the Yukon’s economy around was the main reason that I chose to run for office here, because I’ve seen too many of my friends leave the Yukon in search of work. I know too many people who are struggling just to keep their heads above water, making it from paycheque to paycheque, juggling credit card balances — that’s not acceptable. We live in a territory that is rich in resources, yet I have constituents who are on the verge of selling their homes for a fraction of their value, selling their homes for less than what the mortgages on them are, in some cases, picking up everything, leaving their friends behind, and moving out to Alberta in search of work.

That’s not acceptable, and that’s why I’m here. We have to change this. I have nothing against Alberta. It’s a lovely province, but it is time, in my opinion, to change the definition of a Yukoner from a person who owns a home in Whitehorse but lives and works in Alberta. That’s what it seems to be these last few years.

This government must set in place the climate for economic growth so our people can return home. Mr. Speaker, I’m proud to be a member of the team that I believe will do this. But I’d like to comment further on that point.

I was puzzled to hear the Member for Porter Creek South criticize our government for not having fixed all the Yukon’s economic woes by our second month in office. I’d like to express my appreciation for her confidence in the ability of the members of this government, but I’d also like to point out that turning around the economy is not something that happens literally overnight. It takes time. We are going there, and we are going there at a very good pace, but it doesn’t happen as quickly as we would like or anyone would like. But at least we’re headed in the right direction.

This Yukon government has already taken major strides toward bringing about the Yukon’s economic recovery. Private sector hope is back again, and private sector confidence is growing as industry sees our government fulfilling its commitments, removing roadblocks to sustainable economic prosperity and getting rid of red tape. Industry is very pleased. All the people I’ve spoken to are very pleased to have a government in power whose members understand how the private sector functions. Because theory is all very well and good, but as I’m sure you know, Mr. Speaker, theories often don’t work in real life. They just don’t pan out. Any businessman or business woman knows that some of the most wonderful and some of the most expensive, often, theories that they’ve put a lot of money into coming up with themselves or having someone else develop a prospectus for them — these theories just don’t work. You can’t always even figure out why the theory doesn’t work. And the way you figure out what works and what doesn’t is experience. Experience is very important.

This is a government whose members have a lot of experience in the private sector and that is very key at this point. I can tell you that the business people I’ve spoken to are very happy to see a government that understands reality and practises reality than one that practises theory. They’re pleased to see that our government has a workable, realistic vision for the Yukon’s future. They’ve seen the early evidence of it and this is not something that will happen overnight. The devolution transfer will give us considerably more ability to control our resources. The agreements that have to be forged with First Nations that I believe will be forged because they’ve shown a great deal of interest in it as well — it’s to the mutual benefit of the Yukon government, the First Nation governments, First Nation citizens, Yukon citizens — it’s to everyone’s benefit to get the economy rolling again. We all want a job. All our friends want jobs. People don’t want to be on welfare. They don’t want to be on unemployment insurance. They want good jobs. They want jobs they can be proud of so that when they get home, tired, at the end of the day after a long day’s work, when they put their feet up they think, boy, I really did something today; I sure earned my dollar today. We all may complain at times at the end of a long day — probably most people do. But when you really think of it, when it really comes down to it, you’re glad that you had that to do. You feel proud of yourself for accomplishing something. People who don’t have a job aren’t proud. They kind of hunch their shoulders a little bit as they walk by. They’re embarrassed. They don’t really want to tell you because it hurts them. It hurts their self-esteem, their pride, their confidence, that they don’t have a job. It bothers them that they know that as they take their welfare cheque, that that’s paid for by their neighbours. They don’t want it to be that way but without a good economy, some of them are left with no choice.

Mr. Speaker, it’s very important that we recognize that we must have strong social programs in place. We’re all agreed on that — I assume we’re all agreed on that. Certainly it seems to be very hard to run into anyone who doesn’t agree that we should have a strong social safety net, health care, unemployment insurance, welfare — in case people are unable to find jobs.

We don’t want people to be starving. We don’t want anyone to be without clothes on their back and food on their table, but it’s also very important to recognize that the best social safety net, the best program to protect people socially, is a strong economy.

In a strong economy, if you lose your job, there’s probably another one right there. If you’ve been a good worker, chances are you’ll get it. Maybe it’s not your field, so maybe you won’t, but there’s usually something out there. If it didn’t work at that door, you go on to the next one and, by golly, there’s something there. That is the best program, not focusing all your efforts on saying, gee, things just aren’t working here. Of course we have to have the programs in place, but we have to have a positive attitude. If we don’t have a positive attitude here, if we don’t have optimism about what can be done, why are we sitting here? We have been elected to move the Yukon forward, not to move it backward, not to sit around and discuss it for four years, and say, gee, I sure wish somebody would do something. We’re here to move it forward, and this applies to all members in this House, Mr. Speaker, whatever side of the floor we’re on.

It’s very tempting to descend into partisan politics, to descend into arguments and fighting. Most legislatures in the last while have done that, particularly when there are difficult decisions, but it is very important that all of us try to work with the members, whatever side of the floor they’re on, and that we employ mutual respect. Of course we’re going to disagree at times. Yes, we will have disagreements. We’ll probably even have arguments, but let’s keep it civil. Let’s keep the mutual respect there. Let’s keep decorum in place.

We were elected to act professionally. As I pointed out before, people don’t want kindergarten kids here. If they did, they would elect five year olds, and it’s probably unfair of me to pick on them because I’ve heard some of my constituents say that people in this Legislature in previous times have, at times, acted worse than nursery school children. That’s not right, and when it comes right down to it, I don’t think anyone here wants that.

So I would suggest that, first and foremost, when we address people here — well, as you know, Mr. Speaker, there is the protocol in place that in this House we do not refer to members by name; we refer to them by their titles so it’s less personal, and that’s good. But it’s also used by some to shield themselves from the fact that that’s a real person they’re dealing with — a person who, presumably, better be here because they’re trying to make things better. They should be here representing their constituents. I certainly hope they are. And if they’re not, that’s between their constituents and themselves.

But we should treat them with the respect that their office accords — the seat that they have. If we don’t respect what they’re saying personally, well, take a deep breath and remember that they represent a riding that deserves respect. We can’t affect the actions of others here, we can’t change what other members will say, but just because we have someone direct a comment at us that isn’t appropriate or called for, or is hurtful, nasty or vindictive — and it may happen — it doesn’t mean we have to respond in kind. It’s very important that we remember this and that we raise the level of decorum here, that we raise the respect.

Mr. Speaker, my riding, as I have mentioned, is one where people have felt left out of the equation for a long time. Well, they’re not alone in this. They have felt separated from government. That is the other part of our jobs. It’s not enough for us to stand here and be respectful to each other in this House. If we just go home at the end of the day, and we lock ourselves away and don’t talk to our constituents, if we don’t listen to what they’re saying — we’re elected to represent them.

This Yukon Legislature here has one of the lowest ratios of constituents per member than anywhere in the country. On the federal scene, I believe the average Member of Parliament has about 150,000 constituents. And this is a very spread-out area. We need to have a large number of MLAs here, in my opinion, because we need to be able to contact the people.

The distances affect us, even if there are fewer people in place. It still takes the time to get there. I experienced this during the election. I wasn’t able to get to every doorstep in my riding, no matter how hard I tried.