Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Exactly 25 years ago today, approximately 35 members of the Government of the Northwest Territories headquarters staff, including the newly appointed Commissioner, Stuart M. Hodgson, arrived in Yellowknife from Ottawa.
The move north followed an announcement in January, 1967 by the Honourable Arthur Laing, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, that Yellowknife would become capital of the Northwest Territories on May 1, 1967.
Mr. Laing also announced that the territorial government would move here from Ottawa before the onset of winter. Mr. Speaker, on September 18, 1967, the government employees boarded a DC-7 aircraft in Ottawa. Travelling with them were a pet skunk and a budgie bird. A second charter plane carried a half a ton of paper per employee, a total of 46,800 pounds, and 11,500 pounds of books, records, reports and publications.
The red carpet was rolled out for their arrival in Yellowknife and approximately 1,000 people greeted the newly arrived government. Among the people gathered at the airport were residents of Fort Smith, Hay River, Inuvik and, of course, Yellowknife.
Commissioner Hodgson's first words were, "at last we are home." Mr. Speaker, with Canada celebrating our 125 anniversary, it is worthwhile marking this important event in the history of this government. The start of the move north, began on September 18, 1967. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.