Good afternoon. Welcome back to the Legislative Assembly. I ask Members to join me in sending our prayers to the community of Cape Dorset. On May 16th, respected elder Kovianaktuliaq Parr died in a fatal hunting accident. He was 68. It appears Mr. Parr decided to go hunting after seeing four people heading out to the ice floe. These men were not aware that Mr. Parr was coming to join them. It is common practice for older hunters to join hunting parties taking off from a floe edge. It has been noted that blowing snow-covered cracks in the ice along the ice floe. The crack Mr. Parr fell into was not far from shore which is usually a common sense trail at this time of year. It may be a comfort to those he leaves behind to know that Mr. Parr died doing what he loved best, hunting. I would like to offer condolences to the friends and family of Mr. Parr, on behalf of Minister Goo Arlooktoo, who was a close friend.
Mr. Parr will also be well remembered as one of the artists who created the original mace of the Government of the Northwest Territories. It is gratifying to know that Mr. Parr had the chance to see the completed mace when he, and the other surviving artists, came to view their creation at a mace ceremony at the Legislative Assembly last summer. It was a pleasure and an honour to have met Mr. Parr during both the Yellowknife and Cape Dorset mace ceremonies.
It should be noted that during this sitting the Pages used will be from across the north. Starting this week, the Pages will be made up of cadets. This year, NWT cadets will reach two significant milestones. This fall the army squadrons of Fort Smith and Inuvik will be celebrating their 35th anniversary, while the air squadrons of Iqaluit and Yellowknife will mark their 25th anniversary. I am sure all Members will join me in offering our congratulations to cadets past and present, for the superb work they have accomplished over these years and wish them good luck in the years to come. I would also like to remind Members of my challenge for them to join me, tomorrow afternoon, in a shooting competition against the cadets.
Again, I welcome Members back to the Legislature. I am sure we will have a productive and beneficial session.
--Applause
Orders of the day. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Mr. Premier.