Thank you, Madam Speaker. I rise with pleasure to inform Members of a very important event taking place in my constituency next week, February 22 to 24, the annual general meeting of Pauktuutit, the Inuit Women's Association. There will be a full agenda for the AGM. One workshop will feature economic development opportunities for women focusing on arts and crafts, textiles and traditional clothing. I am told there will also be serious discussion of Pauktuutit's strong concern that there is, at present, no legislation in place to provide copyright protection for traditional Inuit designs. This may well be an area in which recommendations may come forward to this Assembly.

The meeting will also include in-depth consideration of Pauktuutit projects, especially social issues and family law concerns, and will include healing sessions. I will be presenting copies of our Legislature's recent declaration on zero tolerance of family violence.

As a special event this year, in celebration of their tenth anniversary, Pauktuutit will be holding a fabulous fashion show featuring traditional Inuit clothing on the last evening of their meeting. I am told there is a great deal of interest in this meeting. In addition to the 43 voting delegates, about 250 people are expected. Many women are making arrangements to travel at their own expense to attend the meeting. I hear that charters are even being organized from Inoucdjouac and Ivujivik in northern Quebec. A hard working local volunteer committee has lined up activities every evening. Madam Speaker, I have been invited by Pauktuutit president, Martha Flaherty, to officially welcome delegates to the meeting on behalf of the people of Iqaluit and to participate in some of the workshops. I am very much looking forward to attending this event in Iqaluit. This is to inform you and Members that I will, therefore, be absent from this House next week. I will give you a full report on this important event. Thank you, Madam Speaker.