Mr. Speaker, I would like to just make a short statement of appreciation to the new Minister of Education, Mr. James Arvaluk.

Earlier this year, when he was appointed as the new Minister of Education, many of my constituents asked some questions about him. They wanted to know who he was, and asked me to tell them a little bit about him. I told them that he was Inuk, from the Keewatin. I said that he was a very intelligent man who was very interested and excited about his work in education, and that he had a good sense of humour.

Last weekend, Mr. Arvaluk and myself went to my constituency, and in a day and a half, we went to Fort Franklin, Fort Norman, Norman Wells, and Fort Good Hope. I wanted to thank him on behalf of my communities and my constituents. They got to see for themselves the kind of person he is, and I want to thank him for showing the interest and taking the time out of his weekend to come and visit my constituents, and for not making a liar out of me. Thank you.

---Applause