Can we have some order? Mr. Ootes, Members are only allowed to make one statement per day. I would like to ask you to stick to that one statement. I will allow you to make your statement, but please, just a reminder.

The Member for Yellowknife Centre is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Do we have any nays? Mr. Ootes, you have unanimous consent.

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Members' statements. Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on January 6th, Echo Bay announced the temporary closure of the Lupin Mine. The impact was on approximately 480 total employees, we are told. Of those, 40 were full-time positions from Kugluktuk and Cambridge Bay in my constituency. There were another 15 to 20 part-time seasonal jobs affiliated with that for work on the Ulu Project and the ice road. That equates to approximately $2.5 million to $3.5 million of income. This supposedly temporary closure is regrettable. It is regrettable to the company and their shareholders for their investment in the Northwest Territories. It is regrettable for the businesses that provided some of the services. Mr. Speaker, not only is it regrettable, but it is tragic for all the employees that were employed there, employees who had mortgages and loans, employees who had families to support.

Of particular concern to myself, of course, is the 50 to 60 families impacted in the Kitikmeot constituency. Although the layoffs have been a bad situation for them, there has been some positive aspects of the closure. The closure has drawn together the community agencies in support of the laid-off employees. The hamlet councils; the Kitikmeot Inuit Association; the Kitikmeot Community Economic Development Organization; the GNWT through the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development and Education, Culture, and Employment. The regional health and social services boards have all come together to support the laid-off employees, along with Human Resources Development Canada. Representatives of those organizations have formed the working group that are committed to minimizing the impact on these laid off employees and assisting them in their time of transition. Skilled profiles will be collected of the employees. Assistance will be provided in developing resumes which will be forwarded to mining and exploration companies. Income producing and training opportunities for those wishing to access them will be provided. Personal counselling and money management counselling will be provided to those wishing to access them. In the interim, two former employees have been contracted, Lucy Ivarluk of Kugluktuk and Eddie Maniyogina of Cambridge Bay to act as a liaison between the laid-off employees and the support group. I want to close by saying I commend all those involved in the spirit of cooperation that they have put together in trying to assist these employees in their time of need. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Thank you, Mr. Ng. Members' statements. Item 5, returns to oral questions. Item 6, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Enuaraq.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It gives me great pleasure to recognize the mayor of Broughton Island, Lootie Toomasie and also the mayor of Pangnirtung, Joanasie Maniapik. Thank you.

--Applause

Welcome to the Assembly. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Ootes.

Welcome to the Assembly. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Barnabas.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (Translation) Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize Natsiq Kango, as well as Victor Tootoo, who are in the gallery. They are from NTI. (Translation ends)

--Applause

Thank you. Welcome to the Assembly. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the gallery today is Mr. Ken Harper, a well known local businessman in Iqaluit, Mr. Jerry Ell from the Qikiqtaaluk Corporation, and Natsiq Kango from Iqaluit, who is also the secretary treasurer for NTI, introduced earlier by Mr. Barnabas. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Thank you. Welcome to the Assembly. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Henry.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize a few people in the gallery today. Normally I do not get an opportunity because I very seldom see the people behind. Some former Members of this House, Mr. Speaker, Fred Koe and Michael Ballantyne, I believe, are in the House. Mayor Lovell has been identified. Ben McDonald. I believe some of the deputy ministers of the government are here, Don Cooper, Penny Ballantyne, Margaret Melhorn and Lew Voytilla. I also believe some of the Yellowknife business community that I would like to identity: Jack Walker, Tony Chang, Allan Vaughan and Alex Arychuk. I believe Garth Malakoe the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce president is here as well. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Thank you. Welcome to the Assembly. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Evaloarjuk.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize a person from Pond Inlet, Billy Merkosak. (Translation ends)

Welcome to the Assembly. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you. Welcome to the Assembly. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. We will take a 15-minute break. I would like to invite people in the gallery for coffee, tea and munchies in the Great Hall.

--Break

The House will come back to order. Item 7, oral questions. Mr. Ningark.