Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good afternoon. Mr. Speaker, White Cane Week took place between February 4th and 10th. The Government of the Northwest Territories is pleased to acknowledge the work that has been done with the blind and visually impaired of the Northwest Territories and to reaffirm its commitment to northerners facing special challenges.

We must continue to develop a supportive attitude towards blindness and visual impairment in the Northwest Territories. Residents who have poor or failing vision often play important roles in our communities.

We must also work to draw blind and sighted northerners closer together, not only in the workplace but in activities in our communities and our families. We commend the work of the CNIB in this area.

Mr. Speaker, we all know of blind or visually-impaired members of our communities. I urge each of you to pause for a moment and think about these individuals, the lives they are leading and if there is anything we can do to improve conditions for their benefit.

Blind and visually-impaired individuals should be integrated into the mainstream of community life based on their ability to function in the community.

Mr. Speaker, it is up to us to assist groups such as CNIB in finding ways for blind and visually-impaired individuals to lead satisfying lives. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.