Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in January of 1991, Yellowknife's mayor, Pat McMahon, and her delegation attended the winter city forum in Sault Sainte Marie, Ontario, where they were successful in their bid to bring the winter cities association conference to Yellowknife.
The winter cities association mission statement is geared towards a better winter life-style. The common goal of transforming winter from an obstacle into an economic opportunity and making winter cities more liveable emerged simultaneous in cities as far flung as Minneapolis, Sapporo, Toronto, Edmonton and Yellowknife. The first conference was organized in 1978 in Minneapolis. The first international conference was hosted by Sapporo, Japan with the theme of "light must come from the north."
The theme of the conference this year is, "north in transition, remedies, not problems." It will take place March 22 to 25, 1993, and bring together delegates from: Russia, China, Denmark, Norway, Alaska, Yukon, the southern United States, across Canada and the Northwest Territories. Panel discussions and workshops will be centred around three sub-themes: transportation - the key to northern economic development; tourism in the north - trends and opportunities; and, northern settlements - design and the use of innovative technologies.
Concurrent with the conference, Mr. Speaker, a trade show will be held at the Yellowknife community arena. Exhibitors from many companies and organizations interested in the north will be displaying their special talents and unique products. The contacts, exchanges of information, development of new ideas, promotion of services, business ventures and opportunities to learn about some of the challenges and opportunities in the north that will be generated from an event such as this will be endless. I would encourage Members of this House to attend winter cities forum, 1993, and visit the trade show in the Yellowknife community arena to better accommodate the public...