Mr. Speaker, on Sunday I was invited by my community of Fort Good Hope to start off the alcohol awareness week with them. I was very happy to do that. I wanted to say a few words about that amongst the other statements being made today. We all know that alcohol has

had a tremendous impact on all of our people whether they are Dene or Metis, whether they are treaty or non-treaty, whether they are aboriginal or non-aboriginal people or whether they are Inuit or Inuvialuit. We all have had to deal with this problem. It does not matter whether we are men, women or children, whether we are rich or poor, whether we are workers or elected leaders. All of us have had to deal with the profound impact that alcohol has had on our people. Today I wanted to recognize all the work that has been done by the volunteers and the workers across the north over the past years and the achievements that they have made to deal and confront the problem of alcohol abuse. Also to recognize the support that all of us have given each other over the years to deal directly with this particular problem. In the end no matter what our dreams are, what great things we strive to achieve, all of us are in a fight to regain control. Not only of the north, of the land, of the political institutions, but our own very personal and private affairs. It means that our fight is for control, not only of great things but of little things. I want to stand today to say that I appreciate the efforts being made by everyone across the north.