John Ningark Natilikmiot

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there is a current outbreak of RSV in Pelly Bay, as was the case in Arviat. Mr. Speaker, we have had approximately 20 children flown out of the community of Pelly Bay in the past 10 days or so.

Last night, there was another one medevaced from Pelly Bay. Mr. Speaker, there is a danger of this sickness spreading to other communities within the Territories. At the appropriate time, I will be asking the appropriate Minister what this government is doing to get the outbreak under control. Thank you.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you, Mr. Ningark. Item 3, Members' statements. Mrs. Groenewegen.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 4, Members' statements. Mr. Barnabas.

Levi Barnabas High Arctic

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Although we had bad news today, I have good news today. I would like to give very good news. An outstanding citizen of Grise Fiord is being given a high honour today. Mr. Speaker, I know that there are many people like Peter Flaherty who work selflessly for others out of the goodness of their hearts and without concern about being paid.

What we are celebrating today, Mr. Speaker, is not only the honour being given to Peter Flaherty, but also that our government is conveying a high honour on one of the many people who are doing so much to help others every day of their lives in our communities.

The mayor of Grise Fiord, Jarloo Kigutak, wishes me to express the pride of the entire community of Grise Fiord that one of their most-respected citizens is being recognized in this way. Mayor Kigutak tells me that Peter Flaherty is always helping whoever needs help, every day. He'll show up anywhere, the mayor told me, asking if he can help. Even if not asked, Peter will shovel snow off an elder's steps or help someone preparing for a hunt. Even as a teenager, he was always helping out. He is a very generous man who is outgoing and friendly to all. "Peter has a heart," his oldest sister Martha told me.

Mr. Speaker, Peter is described as mentally challenged. I want to recognize that there are many other people like him in our communities who are not always recognized. Many of them make very important contributions to community life. In our Inuit culture, helping without expectation of reward or recognition is a strong part of our tradition.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

The Member for High Arctic is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Do we have any nays? There are no nays. Conclude your statement. Mr. Barnabas.

Levi Barnabas High Arctic

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Elders have been telling us that young people, especially, should be assisting those who need help. This kind of volunteer work will be even more important in the years to come, when government programs cannot go as far as everyone would like.

Mr. Speaker, Martha Flaherty, who is the president of Pauktuutit, the Inuit women's association, is Peter's sister. She and Peter are the oldest in the family of five girls and four boys. Martha told me that Peter and his family went through a lot of hardship when they were relocated from northern Quebec; in 1955, the same year Peter was born. Martha gives great credit to their father, Josephee, who died in 1984 and their mother, Rynie, for helping the family to survive during those hard times.

Ms. Flaherty also said that as president of Pauktuutit, she believes that it's about time that one of many people who are volunteering to take care of others in our communities are being recognized. She says that many of these volunteers are women who are doing very important work every day helping our government deal with social problems.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage all Members to join me in congratulating these many volunteers and today this outstanding constituent, an excellent role model and good example to all the people of the Northwest Territories: Mr. Peter Flaherty. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--- Applause

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Item 4, Members' statements. Mr. Rabesca.

James Rabesca North Slave

Mr. Speaker, let me start by quoting the mayor of Rae-Edzo, Mayor Dan Marion. I quote: "This is truly a marriage made in heaven.' Approximately five years ago, my friend and the president of the Rae-Edzo Dene Band Development Corporation, Charlie Charlo, had a dream to see our people own and operate a modern fully-equipped grocery store. Unfortunately, Charlie was unable to see the results of this dream, as he passed on almost two years ago. Even so, the corporation continued with this quest, and over time were able to receive funding from CAEDS which allowed the corporation to hire the expertise of my colleague, Seamus Henry. With his assistance, they were able to convince the NWT Development Corporation, the Department of Economic Development and Tourism and the banking community to provide assistance and funding to see this project get off the ground. However, this project still was not able to fly because of the need for professional management, which was not available in my community.

Again, the Band Development Corporation and Seamus went knocking on doors. This time, they went to the Yellowknife Direct Charge Co-op. The response was overwhelming, and in a relatively short period of time, the Yellowknife Direct Charge Co-op and Rae-Edzo Development Corporation had signed a management agreement to be the general managers of a now store and provide training to our people who would be working there.

This proved to be the final piece of the puzzle required to make this proceed. All the lending institutions were pleased to see this come together. Construction started in November of 1995, as well as the training package which was put together by both Aurora College and Arctic Co-operatives Limited, in training local, unskilled residents to perform duties in the new store.

Mr. Speaker, on April 14, 1996, the doors of the Charlie Charlo Centre and Tli Cho Co-op were opened to the public, and the dream of the late Charlie Charlo has become a reality. Mr. Speaker, however, the story does not end here. Of the original 11 trainees who started the program, 10 graduated and seven currently hold full-time jobs.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my Member's statement.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

The Member for North Slave is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Do you have any nays? Conclude your statement, Mr. Rabesca.

James Rabesca North Slave

The store is able to provide a high quality of service and products that, until now, were only able to be purchased in Yellowknife. This store can easily be comparable to any that are in Yellowknife or in southern Canada. As you can see, Mr. Speaker, if it wasn't for the foresight of the late Charlie Charlo, the planning of the Rae-Edzo Development Corporation and funding by CAEDS to hire my colleague, Seamus Henry, the spirit of cooperation between the NWT Development Corporation, Department of Economic Development and Tourism and the banking community, as well as the overwhelming response by the Yellowknife Direct Charge Co-op, Arctic Co-operatives Limited and Aurora College, this project would have never been able to get off the ground. The community of Rae-Edzo may not have been fortunate enough to get a building or a store of this quality.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, as you can see, it is possible for government agencies on all levels and private business to work together to make a dream turn into a reality. Again, I would like to quote Dan Marion's saying: "This is truly a marriage made in heaven." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--- Applause

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Ootes.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Henry.