Mr. Lewis, would you lead us in prayer? I would ask all Members to remain standing, after the prayer, for one minute of silence for remembrance of the miners who lost their lives in the tragedy last Friday.

O, God, we ask your strength, and love, to guide us in the coming days as we work for the benefit of all our people.

Today, we mourn the loss of nine men who lost their lives in Royal Oak Giant Mine last Friday. Our thoughts and prayers are with families, friends, and neighbours, as they grieve their tragic loss over the coming days and weeks. We offer our deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of Josef Pandev, Dave Vodnoski, Shane Riggs, Malcolm Sawler, Chris Neil, Vern Fullowka, Norman Hourie, Robert Rowsell, and Arnold Russell.

God, give strength to the community of Yellowknife to help it bear its grief, heal its wounds, and make it once again, strong and vibrant.

God, we pray for our young people, our future leaders. Give them strength to bear the grief that is not of their making.

God, give Members of this Legislature the wisdom and inspiration to proceed with its public work in the midst of great suffering and grief.

Amen.

Please be seated. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Madam Premier.

Mr. Speaker, a lot of sorrow, frustration and bitterness has resulted from Friday's tragedy at Royal Oak Mines. I would like to take this opportunity to appeal for calm, and an easing of tensions.

This is not the time to be pointing fingers. It is not the time to be speculating, or accusing others, about how the nine miners lost their lives in such a senseless manner. We have to trust that all our concerns and questions, those of the families, residents, government, C.A.S.A.W., and the mine, will be answered as various investigations reach their conclusion.

These processes have to run their course. All of us have to work together to help those who are charged with the investigations reach a final conclusion.

As you know, Mr. Speaker, the mine has been shut down by the Chief Mining Inspector until he is satisfied it is secure and safe for work to resume. The inspector and his staff are assisting the R.C.M.P. with its investigation, and will continue to fulfill their responsibilities under the Mining Safety Act.

The Chief Inspector will complete his investigation once the R.C.M.P. have finished their examination of the site.

Mr. Speaker, the multiple deaths at Royal Oak Mines, are the results of an incident unlike any other in the history of mining in the Northwest Territories. It is impossible to understand, or speak with certainty, on how something like this could happen, yet a lot of people are trying to do that.

Just because there is a criminal investigation under way does not mean there was union involvement. It is unfortunate that striking union members, their families, and their leadership, have had to defend themselves from insults, accusations and abuse over the past few days.

Mr. Speaker, we are faced with two serious matters. The most immediate is the R.C.M.P. investigation into the death of the miners. The other involves resolving the labour management dispute that has been going on since last May.

At this time, the investigation requires everyone's cooperation. Politics must be set aside, and we have to stop linking this terrible tragedy to the strike situation in order to assist investigators with unbiased, and factual information, that will help lead to an explanation of this tragedy.

That does not mean, however, that we have to abandon our political efforts to have the federal Minister of Labour fulfill his obligations in the Northwest Territories in respect to the settlement of the strike.

To the contrary, I have advised the federal Minister's office that we want him up here right away. As the responsible Minister, he must find a way to get labour and management talking in a manner that will end the strife all of us have endured over the summer months. That could include establishment of an industrial disputes inquiry.

Mr. Speaker, none of us want this terrible tragedy at Royal Oak Mines to continue tearing Yellowknife apart.

I have noted C.A.S.A.W.'s call for a public inquiry. We are not dismissing the request, but consideration is being deferred pending the results of the criminal investigation, and mine inspection processes, that are currently in place, each of which is there to serve the public need.

In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, the government and yourself, on behalf of the Assembly, offered our comfort and heartfelt sympathies to the families of the dead miners Friday afternoon. I am sure all Members will want to join me now in restating our sympathies, and in encouraging everyone to be reasonable, and to conduct themselves with fairness, and integrity.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Premier. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Mr. Whitford.

Thank you, Mr. Whitford. Ministers' statements. Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi. Ministers' statements, Members' statements, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Members' statements, Mr. Lewis.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This city has been in shock since nine miners lost their lives at Royal Oak Giant Mine last Friday. While families grieve the loss of their loved ones, friends and neighbours share the loss of life in a small close- knit community. It affects us all. My family and I share the sorrow of all those who have suffered personal loss from this tragedy. I grew up in a small mining community, Mr. Speaker. My father and both grandfathers were miners. As a small boy, I shared in the grief of many school friends who lost brothers and fathers in mine disasters. Those childhood memories have come flooding back this weekend.

Today, Mr. Speaker, I pray not only for grieving wives and offspring of our lost workers, but I pray for our young people. They need comfort and healing. The tragedy has deeply divided the community and pitted friend against friend, and family against family. There is much passion and anger, Mr. Speaker. I would urge all Yellowknifers to share in a period of calm, so that we can heal the wounds and divisions in our community.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Lewis. Members' statements. Mr. Zoe.

Mahsi, Mr. Zoe. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Koe.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I would just like to make a statement on behalf of myself, my family, and the residents of Inuvik. We offer our heartfelt sympathy to the families, relatives, friends, and co-workers of all involved in this terrible tragedy. I wish the officials involved Godspeed, and hope that the mystery surrounding this incident is resolved as quickly as possible. God bless everyone. Mahsi Cho.

Thank you, Mr. Koe. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Nerysoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of all the ordinary Members of the Legislative

Assembly, to express our heartfelt and deepest sympathies to the families and friends of the nine men who died last Friday, as a result of an underground explosion at Royal Oak Mines.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of Norman Hourie, Josef Pandev, Chris Neil, David Vodnoski, Shane Riggs, and Vern Fullowka, all of Yellowknife; Arnold Russell of New Brunswick; and Malcolm Sawler and Robert Rowsell of Ontario. Moments like these, and times like these, draw and tug upon each of our emotions and, as leaders, we ask for your help and the help of the people of the north, and Yellowknife, in particular, in dealing with these most difficult of all times.

We ask that the people of Yellowknife, and throughout the Northwest Territories, come to the aid and support of the people who have tragically lost fathers, husbands, brothers and sons. Mr. Speaker, I can say to you that we have all asked in our prayers that the Creator watch over and guide this community and all of the families during these most trying days.

Mr. Speaker, I can say to the families, the friends, and the people of Yellowknife, that all of our constituents, and all other Members in this House, mourn with you and share in the loss of your loved ones. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Nerysoo. Item 3, Members' statements.

With the indulgence of the House, I have a short statement that I would like to give.

A senseless tragedy of great proportions has devastated our community. As the enormity of the tragedy slowly sinks in, it affects all of us, deeply and profoundly. I find myself thinking that surely nothing is worth this result. No philosophical, no political, or no economic theory, or disagreement, is worth this result.

No one could have foreseen a disaster of this magnitude, everyone is feeling the shock and the pain. I know for a fact, that the shock and pain is being felt equally by union executives, and union members, as it is by the people who work for the company as well as for all of us. Nobody is spared the shock and the pain of this disaster.

I think the time now is wrong to attribute blame. The time now is to support the families and the friends of the miners that we have lost. This is the time for the community to pull itself together, time for us to put aside our differences. There are still many questions to be answered. There are still many questions that we must ask ourselves to ensure that this tragedy can never repeat itself.

This will and must happen. But first, we must mourn, and we must comfort the families and friends of our lost friends. We must comfort each other. We must remember that whatever our differences, we are all human beings confronting a reality too awful to contemplate, and especially now, we need each other very badly. Thank you.

Mr. Dent.

Motion To Adjourn, Carried

Your motion is in order. All of those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

This Legislative Assembly, to show respect for the miners who perished on Friday, to their friends and to their families, will adjourn for the remainder of today. Thank you very much.

---ADJOURNMENT