Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, last week, the town of Iqaluit and the Nunavut Implementation Commission hosted an important meeting of men and women representing some 25 Nunavut communities; seven MLAs from the Nunavut Caucus; one from the Constitutional Development Steering Committee, Mr. Koe; the Premier; and, executive members of Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated.

The town of Iqaluit has recently established a hospitality committee under the leadership of the mayor of Iqaluit, Joe Kunuk. I would like to congratulate the mayor, council and the community for the fine job they did of hosting this major meeting last week. There were activities each night; games and dancing in the parish hall; more music dancing and entertainment, along with the community feast at the Inuksuk High School. There was a banquet hosted by the Iqaluit and regional chamber of commerce and corporations, followed by games and dancing in Apex. I would like to thank the entertainers, young and old; people like the hunters who secured country food for the feast, business people and especially each member of the Iqaluit hospitality committee.

I was quite impressed, Mr. Speaker, by the very grateful comments of many of our visitors from Nunavut, some of whom had never been to Iqaluit before. The community I represent is a strong Inuit community; in fact, the largest Inuit community in the Northwest Territories. They noted that it has what has to be the smallest and oldest community hall in Nunavut and that Iqaluit can reflect the very best of northern hospitality and entertainment in an alcohol-free setting.

So, Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank all of the people who honoured us by attending this meeting. Iqaluit now looks forward to the honour of hosting the Nunavut trade show this coming weekend and, later this spring, the annual general meeting of the NWT Association of Municipalities. Qujannamiik.

---Applause