Mr. Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly, good afternoon.
To our friends in Gwich’in country: Good afternoon. To our francophone friends: Good day, bonjour. For our friends in Chipewyan country: Good day. To my Cree friends and relations: How are you today? To my friends in the Slavey communities: Good day. To our friends in the Beaufort-Delta who speak Inuvialuktun: How are you today? And last, but not least, to our Tlicho friends: Greetings.
---Applause
Although I was sworn in as Commissioner of the Northwest Territories just over five months ago, I feel very honoured to be here in the House in an official capacity for the very first time. I will work very hard to serve all Northerners with pride, courage and dignity.
I was invited to the high school graduation ceremony in Behchoko -- the day after I was sworn in -- followed by the Sport North Annual Awards Banquet the same evening. You could say that “I hit the ground running!”
At the end of June I attended an event in Ottawa, where I had the privilege of meeting Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada, and His Royal Highness, Prince Phillip, the Duke of Edinburgh, when they visited Canada on their Royal Tour. I was a proud Northerner and a proud Canadian that day.
On October 1st I had the pleasure of representing the people of the Northwest Territories at the installation ceremony for our new Governor General, His Excellence, the Right Honourable David Johnston. I had a brief conversation with him and his wife, Sharon, and have written to him with an open invitation for them to visit the Northwest Territories.
During my term as Commissioner I hope to visit every community in the Territory at least once, and to attend as many cultural events and school graduations as possible. Of course I would welcome invitations to accompany the Members of this House in visiting their communities and constituents in my role as Commissioner. Over the next five years I look forward to working with each and every one of you, keeping in mind there is an election on the horizon.
Now, as Commissioner of the Northwest Territories I am pleased to asset to the following bills:
• Bill 8, Social Work Profession Act
• Bill 9, An Act to Amend the Tourism Act
• Bill 12, An Act to Amend the Liquor Act
• Bill 13, Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures) 2011-2012
• Bill 21, Supplementary Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures), No. 4, 2009-2010
• Bill 22, Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 5, 2009-2010
• Bill 23, Supplementary Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures), No. 2, 2010-2011
• Bill 24, Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 4, 2010-2011
Thank you, merci beaucoup, mahsi cho, quanami.