Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there are many men and women who provide services to the residents of the Northwest Territories, who are engaged in extremely hazardous occupations such as police, fire fighters and similar service employees whom we often take for granted. They risk their lives whenever there is an emergency. These dedicated individuals are observed by all of us on a regular basis and every once in a while we publicly show our gratitude and pay tribute to those who help to ensure our safety.

However, it seems that there are people who are forgotten. As the winter season approaches I am reminded of storms in which the blizzard conditions reduce visibility to a few metres and confine us all to the warmth and security of our homes. Mr. Speaker, there are few people who would venture out during these conditions, but there are those who do on a regular basis. We can all recall with some trepidation when the lights flicker and go out on those windy blustery days. It is usually easy to remember the relief we feel when, a short time later, the power is restored. Most of the time, when the power fails it is not some state of the art computer that restores our electricity. It is the dedicated plant operators and line crew of the Northwest Territories Power Corporation and other such people who brave extreme conditions, climb poles and make repairs. These individuals are on call under all-weather conditions and all throughout the year. They venture out to service the many kilometres of power lines so that we can remain safe and comfortable within our homes.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to salute those employees of the Northwest Territories Power Corporation for their self-sacrifice, dedication of service and for keeping our homes warm, safe, bright and secure. Thank you.

---Applause