Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I want the House to note that Jack Bird, was the first and only native to be nationally certified in Canada. Incidentally, the only other native was from the NWT, Fred Lepine, from Hay River. In 1989, Jack Bird moved a step ahead in his career and was able to achieve the assistant manager of air operations until Wednesday, where his
responsibilities, including supervision of the air attack officers, had been questionable.
In addition, Mr. Speaker, another air attack officer, Mr. Jeff Austin, who is a certified air attack officer with 16 seasons of active fire suppression, who also lives in Hay River also has been given notice. I will be seeking clarification from the Minister responsible for the Financial Management Board with regard to these two lay-off notices, particularly with respect to what the Premier had announced in this House yesterday. I will also be requesting further clarification from the Minister of Public Works and Safety. I did invite Mr. Jack Bird, Jeff Austin to this House today. I will be pleased, at a later point in time, to recognize them, along with their regional vice-president, Mr. Keith Dowling. Thank you.
---Applause