The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Mr. Arvaluk, your time for your Member's statement has lapsed. I believe your last paragraph has to be repeated. Would you like to request unanimous consent?

James Arvaluk Aivilik

Madam Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement. Thank you.

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent to continue. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Please proceed, Mr. Arvaluk.

James Arvaluk Aivilik

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. (Translation) What I'm trying to say is that the renewable resource officers have to make sure that they relay the legislation to HTA. I was blaming the renewable resource officer because he is supposed to inform the HTA. I wanted my statement and my questions to be understood by the Minister of Renewable Resources. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Lewis.

Brian Lewis Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I did have a prepared statement yesterday, Madam Speaker, about curling but recognizing that Mr. Koe was back in the House, I felt that yesterday was his day. But, I would like to talk briefly about sport today, Madam Speaker, because it is a distant memory now when over a decade ago two young ladies from Inuvik

were members of the Canadian national cross country ski team who are among the best cross country skiers in the world.

Over the last decade, a Yellowknife family has competed across this country and overseas and have made the whole sport of dog team racing something which we can compete with anybody in the world and become the best. In fact, there were five members of the Beck family this past weekend who were in the top ten in the Canadian national championship. Just recently, members of one family represented us nobly, I felt, in Nova Scotia and showed people that when we concentrate in those areas where we can be strong because of our climate and all kinds of other things, not only are we a group of people who, when challenged, should not be taken lightly, but when things don't go our way, we can show people how to behave properly.

It's a sad thing for me to think that the Koe boys are not overseas representing not only the Northwest Territories, but Canada because they showed people what the true spirit of sport should be like. Thank you.

---Applause

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Inuvik, Mr. Koe.

Fred Koe Inuvik

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my appreciation, on behalf of the Northwest Territories Curling Association, the athletes and the supporters who travelled to the Brier which was held in Red Deer and the Junior National Curling Championships which were held in Truro, I would like to thank the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism, the staff of his department, the people of the Northwest Territories Development Corporation and any other people in the Northwest Territories who supported these athletes and spectators in whatever ways they did.

The Northwest Territories Development Corporation, through the Rankin Inlet Meat and Fish Company provided some caribou and Arctic char delicacies which were served during hospitality nights in both places. The food that we served got rave reviews and I noticed that there wasn't one tidbit left on the tables that the food was set up on at the end of the evening. Everybody who ate these goodies came to me and expressed their appreciation and commented on how good the products were. We served over 750 people at the Brier and over 300 in Truro.

I would also like to say that the athletes, especially the junior women athletes wore, as part of their uniforms, articles of clothing from the Northwest Territories, specifically they wore the Arctic Winter Games jackets. I know a lot of the parents also wore these jackets and they were one of the most popular items of clothing there. They got a lot of very nice comments and everybody wanted to buy or trade for them.

The point I'm making, Madam Speaker, is that when we send athletes and when we are supporting spectators and representatives of the north, they do represent the north and any support they receive from anybody in the Northwest Territories is greatly appreciated and is recognized as a good product by people of Canada. Mahsi.

---Applause

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for High Arctic, Mr. Pudluk.

Ludy Pudluk High Arctic

(Translation) Thank you, Madam Speaker. What's my name? Ever since I became a Member in 1975, I have encountered problems with regard to who we are as Members. During the 12th Assembly of the Legislative Assembly, we made some mistakes amongst our colleagues. Even the public get our names mixed up. I don't want to change my name at this time. I want to be Pudluk. I don't want to be Pudlat. In Nunatsiaq News on the 18th of this month, there was an article that said that Pudlat said something to do with ammunition and firearms, and it was me who said it. Sometimes, they send the wrong faxes to us. I always get faxes for Kenoayoak Pudlat at my address. I don't mind this, but it is not my name. We don't have the same name.

I just want to tell my colleagues and the members of the staff that I am Mr. Pudluk and he is Mr. Pudlat. I don't want to see any confidential stuff for Mr. Pudlat coming to me. Thank you.

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Thank you. Your names are very close, though. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Baffin South, Mr. Pudlat.

---Laughter

Kenoayoak Pudlat Baffin South

(Translation) Thank you, Madam Speaker. I would also like to thank my colleague, Ludy Pudluk. Madam Speaker, I was supposed to state that there was an accident because of the weather. Near Iqaluit, there was an accident. Someone had hurt themselves with a ski-doo. On the same day, one person got lost and he had only a ski-doo and nothing else. They were lost for two days because of the bad weather.

Madam Speaker, the person who was lost was found in good condition. I would like at this time, to thank the rescue people from Iqaluit. I would like to thank the Iqaluit rescue team very much, and all the other rescue people who have helped throughout the year. At this time, that's why I'm standing, Madam Speaker. Thank you.

The Speaker Jeannie Marie-Jewell

Item 3, Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Madam Premier.