Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm proud and happy to announce that my wife, Susie, and I will have a first-hand opportunity to experience the custom adoption recognition procedures of our government.
On Monday, February 13th, at 6:04 am, Bradley Trenton Akalukak Akhok was delivered at the Cambridge Bay Health Centre, weighing in at 7 pounds 10 ounces. The natural parents are Susie's younger brother, William Nakashook and Rosalyn Akhok. Both Susie, our children and I are extremely happy and excited on the addition of Trenton to our family.
Although it us customary to hand out cigars to celebrate the arrival of an addition to a family, I've decided at this time not to follow this tradition for a few reasons. Firstly, I do not want to be perceived as encouraging smoking by providing free cigars. Secondly, most people given these cigars waste them by throwing them away and not smoking them. Finally, I didn't think that the tax revenue from my cigar purchases would make any significant dent on the territorial or federal coffers.
---Laughter
However, having now said this, I recognize that that decision may open me to criticism from my colleagues and friends about being frugal, or the tightness of my wallet. I have instead decided, Mr. Speaker, to write a cheque in the amount of $300 to the Canadian Cancer Society in lieu of providing cigars.