Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise the Members of the House and their constituents that, through the month of May, local law enforcement officers will be conducting seatbelt checks on the highways and roads in communities across the Northwest Territories. The failure to wear seatbelts is the leading cause of death and injury in motor vehicle collisions in the Northwest Territories.

Checkstops will be set up to see that drivers and passengers are wearing seatbelts and young children are properly secured in child restraint seats. According to Transport

Canada's last seatbelt survey in October 1994, the seatbelt usage rate in the Northwest Territories was 78 per cent. This is considerably lower than the national average of 92 per cent.

The seatbelt checks coincide with Transport Canada's national seatbelt survey this year all across Canada. For the first time, the survey will include all the people in a vehicle. The Northwest Territories aims to achieve the national occupant restraint program goal of 95 per cent usage for everyone in a vehicle by the year 2001. While past efforts have improved the usage in the Northwest Territories, there are still 20 to 25 per cent of drivers and passengers who fail to wear their seatbelts.

The use of child restraint seats is especially poor. Only 35 per cent of children travelling as passengers are safely secured in restraint seats. The Yellowknife and Hay River fire departments will offer child seat clinics to help parents make sure that their child restraint seats are securely installed and properly used.

Most of the deaths and injuries resulting from motor vehicle accidents could be avoided if only people would get in the habit of wearing their seatbelts. My message is simple. I urge everyone in the Northwest Territories to buckle up. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

--- Applause