Thank you, Mr. Roland. Good afternoon. Today is Literacy Day. The purpose of Literacy Action Day is to raise awareness of local and territorial issues and to reaffirm our support for literacy regardless of form in the Northwest Territories. Literacy is not only about reading and writing, but also about effective communication. Reading and writing is not only about reading what is on paper, but also on rock or a piece of wood. This would have been said if I was doing it in my own language, but we are communicating now. To get my message across sometimes we have to use the services of the interpreter translation staff. Their job is very important when it comes to communication. Sadly enough, the Northwest Territories has the lowest rate of literacy in Canada. The good news is that indigenous languages are alive and well in the Northwest Territories. We have the highest rate of indigenous language practice in Canada, perhaps even in the world.

Literacy is communication. Communication is needed for survival, whether you are saying a prayer or piloting a plane in a life-threatening situation. Sometimes saying one thing in one language may mean another thing in another. For example, in this House, I would address a Member according to the name of his constituency or by his last name. In the aboriginal culture, it is most respectful when we define the person by his first name.

Literacy skills are important. I would like to encourage all aboriginal organizations, business and labour groups and Members to include literacy as their activity, not only for today, but for the rest of their lives. Mahsi cho.

--Applause

Orders of the day. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Mr. Morin.