Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate my regional superintendent, Mr. Mike Ferris, on his recent appointment to the position of deputy minister, Community Government, Housing and Transportation for the Government of Nunavut.
Mr. Ferris has worked for MACA for 19 years, all in the Baffin Region. He is well known for his commitment, hard work and dedication. He has been a key member of the senior management team of MACA and is highly regarded by his colleagues at headquarters and in the region.
Mr. Speaker, I am particularly pleased with Mr. Ferris' appointment because he knows the Inuit and our communities well. He loves the land as we do. He enjoys hunting and fishing, as we do. In his home community of Iqaluit, he is a dedicated volunteer and plays a key role in his church and his community. Mr. Ferris is well known throughout Baffin for his commitment to emergency services. As a person who respects the power of nature and the land, he has always been very responsive to community emergencies whether they are search and rescue, fire response or emergency preparedness planning. He always does his very best to give all the assistance that he can provide.
Mr. Ferris has a well-deserved reputation as a person who works very hard. In a recent News North article, Mr. Ferris was identified for being in his office well into the evening, having put in another 13-hour day. This is typical of his dedication and commitment to getting the job done. I know that Mr. Ferris would be the first to say that any achievements he has made, have been made with the support of his team of excellent staff. I also know that his staff would be the first to acknowledge Mr. Ferris' excellent leadership and management skills.
Mr. Speaker, in closing I would like to say again how proud I am that Mr. Ferris has been chosen to be the deputy minister of the Department of Community Government, Housing and Transportation. I know his colleagues in MACA wish him all the very best in his new position. I invite Members of this House to join me in extending our thanks to Mr. Ferris for a job well done for MACA over the past 19 years, and our warmest congratulations and best wishes for every success in his new position in Nunavut. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
--Applause