Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I would like to talk about the opening of the new community hall in Nahanni Butte which took place on the 6th of February. Nahanni Butte is a small
community in my constituency at the foot of the Nahanni mountain range at the mouth of the south Nahanni River. The south Nahanni River is where the Nahanni National Park is. It is home for about 80 people. For the most part, Nahanni Butte is an isolated community and accessible only by air most of the year.
The people of this community still live a very traditional lifestyle, participating in activities like hunting, trapping and fishing; living off of the land. The people of Nahanni Butte have become more involved in community development over the past few years and one of the areas identified as a community concern was the need for facilities to hold council meetings, community gatherings and other events. It is with great pride to see the community benefit from such a building. On February 6th, in cooperation with the Department Municipal and Community Affairs and the Department of Public Works and Services, it was possible to open this building.
The honourable Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. John Pollard, as well as the Honourable Don Morin, then Minister of Public Works and Services, attended this gathering. On behalf of the people of Nahanni Butte, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the two Ministers, the departments and this Legislature for helping the people of Nahanni Butte to have a new building to meet and have celebrations, like most of the other communities in the north enjoy today. Mahsi.
---Applause