Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there is widespread recognition that the early childhood years are crucial to the development of healthy children. From conception to age five or six, all children develop the foundation of their physical, social, emotional and intellectual skills and attitudes. Delays in this early development can result from many risk factors during both the prenatal period and early childhood. Potential difficulties in school and later life can be minimized or prevented through

programs and services to support children and their families during these early years.

Today I would like to announce the Healthy Children Initiative in partnership with my colleague, the Honourable Kelvin Ng, Minister of Health and Social Services. The vision of the initiative is healthy children born to healthy parents, growing up in strong and supportive families in caring communities. This year $3.75 million has been allocated this year to help communities support the healthy development of their young children. A formula has been developed to distribute funding to each community. A similar amount will be proposed in the department's 1998/99 business plan.

The Department of Education, Culture and Employment and the Department of Health and Social Services have developed a framework that describes the vision, principles, scope and options for action. The document is designed as a guide for community members, community government, service delivery boards and agencies and government departments in developing and implementing early childhood intervention programs and services. Any project proposed under this initiative must meet its vision and principles.

The framework document and information on how to apply for funding will be sent to communities and stakeholder groups shortly. Further information on how to apply for funding can be obtained from regional offices of the Department of Education, Culture and Employment.

Mr. Speaker, the Healthy Children Initiative represents an investment in our most important resource, the children of the Northwest Territories. I look forward to seeing the range of programs and services that communities develop to meet the needs of young children and their families. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Mr. Speaker, in August, 1996, I had the privilege of announcing the creation of the Northwest Territories Pollution Prevention Awards Program. These awards recognize northern companies that demonstrate leadership in reducing pollution which originates from their daily operations. At the April annual general meeting of the Northwest Territories Chamber of Commerce, two northern companies, White Bear Chrysler and Canarctic Graphics were recognized for their achievements in this area.

As a part of this week's Environment Week celebrations, the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment announced a national recognition and award program on pollution prevention. By doing so, Canada's Environment Ministers have challenged all Canadian organizations, large and small, to develop ways in which innovation and ingenuity can help them reduce pollution and achieve their goals.

Increasingly, Mr. Speaker, pollution prevention is becoming the strategy of choice for environmental protection in Canada. I am pleased that the Northwest Territories is at the forefront of promoting this strategy through our own northern awards and recognition program. Thank you.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to pay particular attention to a very special group of young people from the community of Fort McPherson. Mr. Speaker, the graduating class of 1997 is made up of Tommy Blake, Shaun Vittrekwa, Joanne Francis, Alisa Blake, Roberta Alexie, and Laura Vittrekwa. This group, Mr. Speaker, certainly have had to work harder than your average student in order to graduate in time this year.

Since their school burnt down in the early part of January, 1996, this group of young people had to deal with the stress and uncertainty, not to mention makeshift classrooms and limited resources. For well over a year, these students were being bumped from one temporary facility to another in order to complete their secondary education.

I am very proud, Mr. Speaker, to say that they did it. On June 13, 1997, the six hardy students will be the first ever graduating class in Fort McPherson's new Chief Julius School. I am sure, Mr. Speaker, that all my colleagues here in the Assembly will join me to congratulate this special group of young people and believe that they will continue on to make better and better endeavours. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In keeping with the Liberal sentiment expressed in this House this afternoon, I would just like to touch briefly on the issue of extended adjournment which we are going to be entering into at the end of Thursday, where we intend to recess until October. Mr. Speaker, I have found that every time we go on extended adjournment or recess, there is a perception out there that we are all on holidays. I would like to point out very clearly, there are many parts to the MLA's work and the Session is only one small part.

Mr. Speaker, while we will be in recess, we will all be working in our constituencies on many issues that have been probably long overlooked or that we have to catch up on. We have to worry about programs for our communities and the Northern Employment Strategy, issues like community empowerment, economic development and in my case, I am interested in a South Slave leaders meetings as well as mine training. There are also western issues that affect us from the west as there are division issues and Nunavut issues that affect those from the east, things like formula negotiations, the constitutional work, the assemblies over the course of the summer not to mention all the local and regional meetings that we will all be attending during the course of the summer.

In addition there is going to be committee work. For those on the Social Programs Committee, we have the Family Law Review. We have to look at the mid-year review departments that are coming up as well as all the work related to division that will be going on during the course of the summer. We have been away from our ridings for a long time. There is a lot of catching up to do. There is a lot of work to do and this summer, hopefully, will be for our constituents. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today on a matter of serious concern to all of us; job losses. It is no secret that we have had many job losses because of the downsizing of our government and in the west will face further losses because of division. But today I wish to propose a constructive proposal to this problem that will benefit not just us here in the west and in my constituency but all of the north, Nunavut and in the western Arctic.

There are many federal public servants in various departments in the south and throughout southern Canada who are working on northern programs and who are more appropriately and should be located here in the north. I am speaking of the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, Natural Resources Canada, Environment Canada, Fisheries and Oceans, and agencies such as the National Energy Board. Federal employees with responsibilities for the north should be located here in the north. The employees will be more sensitive and more aware of our problems when they are here. The federal government has a responsibility in this and they have a golden opportunity to replenish lost jobs here in the north and to transfer those to where they belong. It will assist our ailing economy.

I was pleased with the Premier's statement yesterday about him achieving an endorsement and support from the western Premiers to transfer natural resource responsibilities and many federal employees working in those areas. Having jobs in the north is not only good for our economy and tax base, but it will result in a better delivery of programs to us here in the north. In the west, we are building part of our economy around the mining industry and the resource industry such as oil and gas, but we cannot get the tax royalties for that so I feel the least the federal government can do, is assist us by transferring those jobs here. We will soon have a new Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs and I would urge all of us to pursue this initiative. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause