Bishop Buckle, would you lease us in prayer, followed by the drum prayer and singing of O' Canada, by Susan Aglukark.

---Prayer

Please be seated. Mr. Clerk, would you ascertain if his honour, the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, is prepared to address the Legislative Assembly.

Ladies and gentlemen, please be seated. Mr. Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly, it is my pleasure to welcome you to the fourth session of the 12th Legislative Assembly. It is also a great privilege to offer my welcome to the Right Honourable Jean Chretien, Prime Minister of Canada, and the Honourable Ron Irwin, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, who are here to participate in today's celebrations. I would also like to note and recognize two former Commissioners of the Northwest Territories in attendance today who, in their own right, did much to introduce great and positive changes in the Northwest Territories. I speak of former Commissioner Ben Sivertz and John H. Parker. In addition, we are most pleased to have the Honourable Ken McKinnon, Commissioner of the Yukon, here today.

Mr. Speaker, I am particularly honoured to be here this afternoon and to have the privilege of delivering the first formal address in the newest parliament building in Canada. Today, events are historic and mark another milestone in the evolution of representative government in the Northwest Territories.

Some of you will remember that it was only about 42 years ago that responsible government began to take shape in the Northwest Territories. In 1951, there were only three elected Members on the Northwest Territories Council. They were: Merv Hardie; James Brodie and Frank Carmichael. These three representatives of the Mackenzie region joined the five appointed Members, and their sittings alternated between Ottawa and northern communities.

Twenty-four years later, on March 10, 1975, a fully elected Legislative Assembly took office in the Northwest Territories for the first time since 1905 when the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan were established, and the Northwest Territories was reintroduced to colonial status.

More recently, our government has assumed most provincial-type responsibilities and is becoming increasingly recognized as an important jurisdiction within the Canadian federal system. It took a lot of hard work and determination by Members of the House and their predecessors to achieve our current status. I think you will agree that our growth as a government, since 1975, has been nothing less than remarkable.

Unlike southern legislatures, this House is not divided by a party system. Through our process of consensus government, we have the unique opportunity to work as a team and in a spirit of cooperation to meet the long-term interests of our constituents. Our form of government may be imported, and it may be based on the British parliamentary system, but we can shape it to suit our own unique cultural perspectives.

All of us have an exciting opportunity and challenge to develop new rules and styles of public government at the community and territorial levels that are complementary, supportive and unique to our own northern style and cultural traditions.

Mr. Speaker, we have come a long way since 1975, but there is a lot of important work ahead of us if we are to reach our constitutional goals and, eventually, take our rightful place within confederation. Your government realizes that resolution of outstanding issues will not happen without leadership. It is the people of the Northwest Territories, through their representatives, who must exercise this responsibility. Accordingly, the government and Members of the Legislative Assembly are encouraged to promote the leadership necessary to provide for a rationalized and well thought out program of constitutional change as we move towards creation of a Nunavut government and a new western territory, by 1999.

We have to accept the fact that there will be differences on various issues, both in this House and among the various participants in this process, and that a lot of effort will be required to build the consensus needed to move forward in these important areas.

There is not much time to accomplish all that has to be done. As a result, it becomes increasingly important to renew our determination to make decisions for the long-range future of the Northwest Territories.

In recent months, two strategic workshops involving Cabinet and Members of the Assembly have identified the scope of the work that must be done. Each step has been recorded on a chart that is being distributed throughout the territories, and is being updated as various events are completed and new landmarks are identified. A third workshop is scheduled to be held in Fort Smith, next April.

Mr. Speaker, your government and this Assembly are committed to doing whatever they can to achieve the best possible future for the people they serve. Personally, I believe that your deliberations will be successful and that your political abilities will ensure development of a northern public government that will serve us well as we move into the next decade and as we work together for a better future for the people we serve, for the Northwest Territories and for Canada as a nation.

You will have, I am sure, strong support from the Right Honourable Jean Chretien who has accepted your invitation, Mr. Speaker, to address our House in formal session today. As you know, Mr. Chretien is no stranger to the Northwest Territories and it is fitting that he joins in our proceedings today as the Prime Minister of Canada.

In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, during this session your government will be presenting its capital estimates for 1994-95, and a legislative program including the following bills will be introduced for the consideration of the House: Appropriation Act, No. 1, 1994-95; Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 5, 1992-93; and, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1993-94. Mr. Speaker, your government considers these bills essential to the good conduct of government business, and I recommend passage of each of these acts. I would now like to commend to you, for your earnest consideration and wise judgement, the business of this House as I declare open the fourth session of the 12th Assembly of the Northwest Territories. Ladies and gentlemen, thank you.

---Applause

Please be seated. I would like to take this opportunity to welcome some guests in the gallery. A very warm welcome to Madame Chretien. Bienvenue, Madame Chretien...

---Applause

...Minister and Mrs. Irwin, Speaker Fraser, to former Members on the floor of the House and to distinguished visitors from across Canada and from all parts of the territories.

It is now my understanding, that it is desired to hear an address from the Right Honourable Prime Minister. Is there unanimous consent to permit the Prime Minister to enter the Chamber and address the Legislature?

Agreed.

---Agreed

Are there any nays? I hear no nays, I have unanimous consent. Mr. Clerk, will you please ascertain if the Right Honourable Prime Minister is prepared to enter the Chamber and address the Assembly.

---Applause

---Applause

Mr. Speaker, Government Leader Cournoyea and Members of the Legislative Assembly, thank you very much for inviting me to speak at your first Legislative Assembly meeting in this impressive new Chamber, which so visibly symbolizes the spirit of the north and its people.

It is no coincidence that I am here in the first few weeks as the Prime Minister of Canada. It is 25 years ago that I started to come here as Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs. For my wife and I, it brings back some fabulous memories. I was here at this Assembly many times as Minister and I participated at the opening of the meetings in 1972 and 1974. When I started, it was a very different Assembly than today. The Commissioner was running everything, apparently.

---Laughter

Most of the bureaucrats were living in Ottawa. Some Members of the council were appointed and we started the process of devolution. It has not been completed yet. But I am delighted that I am the Prime Minister today and the job will be completed while I am the Prime Minister, as I started it as a Minister some years ago.

---Applause

(Translation) To be here today, for me, it is an exceptional occasion because the north has been part of my life. I have often said the most beautiful years of my political life took place when I was Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs. I have learned a great deal about Canada, as well as the population of Canada, during the six years and the few months I was Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs. I hope the development of the north and its population will continue in the same spirit because it is the best of Canada. We have the diversity of Canada in the united manner of the north. (Translation ends)

I see the great values of the Canadian citizenship here today. It is part of our personality as a people, that diversity is there with unity. And that you are conducting your Assembly in many different native languages and I saw some of you picking up the translating device when I used my own French language to talk to you. That is the Canada I like, and it is a great sign of how great our country is. There are a lot of problems you face and we will talk about them one by one. As I said earlier, the job is not finished. There is still good potential for the north. I had the occasion to talk to your Premier a few minutes ago and she has a very positive attitude towards the population of the north. You are in a period of pause at this moment, but I know the potential is there. You will grow and it will be very exciting in the north. For me, I would just like to tell you we will talk about the problems, one by one. We have to carry on with the job of determining the territorial creation of Nunavut and the development of the constitution. We will have to work in collaboration with the people who will be developing the constitution. I will talk to you about the need to finish the transfer of responsibilities to the territorial government at a pace determined by you. It will take some time and we don't want to impose anything on you. We have to determine the work that was started when I was Minister of the land claims settlements. Some agreements have been signed, some are in the process of being signed

and the outstanding claims shall be determined as quickly as possible.

So, ladies and gentlemen and Members of this Assembly, I would like to congratulate you. I am very much impressed by the quality of this building. When I came here the first time as Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs, it was not like this.

---Laughter

I am very pleased that the Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs is with us today, as well as the Member of Parliament for the Northwest Territories. She is a Member of the ministry and you can be very proud of her, and Jack Anawak, who is unique and a good friend of mine.

My wife and I would like again to congratulate you. We wish you the best of luck. You have a great future. Keep up the spirit of the north. Keep up these values that are so Canadian and are illustrated here better than anywhere else. The trust, the confidence, the generosity, the sharing and the diversity have to be carried out in the future. I visited my own riding last week in Quebec, and Saint Maurice. My second visit is almost as close to my heart, to be here in Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories of Canada. Good luck. Merci beaucoup.

---Applause

---Applause

We will proceed to the orders of the day. Item 3, Ministers' statements. Mr. Pollard.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Friday, November 19, 1993, I will deliver the capital budget address. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Pollard. Item 4, Members' statements. Item 5, oral questions. Item 6, written questions. Item 7, petitions. Item 8, reports of standing and special committees. Item 9, tabling of documents. Item 10, notices of motion. Item 11, notices of motions for first reading of bills. Mr. Pollard.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Friday, November 19, 1993, I shall move that Bill 1, Appropriation Act, No. 1, 1994-95, be read for the first time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Pollard. Item 11, notices of motions for first reading of bills. Item 12, motions. Item 13, first reading of bills. Item 14, second reading of bills. Mr. Clerk, item 15, orders of the day.

Mr. Speaker, orders of the day for Thursday, November 18, 1993.

1. Prayer

2. Ministers' Statements

3. Members' Statements

4. Return to Oral Questions

5. Oral Questions

6. Written Questions

7. Return to Written Questions

8. Replies to Opening Address

9. Petitions

10. Reports of Standing and Special Committees

11. Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills

12. Tabling of Documents

13. Notices of Motion

14. Notices of Motions for First Reading of Bills

15. Motions

16. First Reading of Bills

17. Second Reading of Bills

18. Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

19. Report of Committee of the Whole

20. Third Reading of Bills

21. Orders of the Day

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. This House stands adjourned until 1:30 pm, Thursday, November 18, 1993.

---ADJOURNMENT