Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to speak briefly about both the communities I have the honour of representing, they are of course, Arviat and Baker Lake. Mr. Speaker, I attended the official opening of the new Inuit Heritage Centre in Baker Lake yesterday. The Governor General of Canada and his wife, along with Mr. Jose Kusugak, Senator Willy Adams, Peter Ernerk and Mayor David Tagoona were just a few of the guests who attended the opening. Mr. Speaker, this was an historic day for the people of Baker Lake. I hope some day my colleagues will have the opportunity to visit this magnificent centre.
Mr. Speaker, I am also pleased to state that Ms. Roxanne Baker, the daughter of Simona Baker, my constituency assistant and also Abbygail Noah of Baker Lake are two of ten young adults selected to participate in a pilot project known as the Nunavut Youth Abroad Program. This program is aimed at cultivating leadership, cross cultural awareness, individual career goals and international citizenship. In an effort to enhance student participation in education, the program offers life changing work and travel experiences. Roxanne and Abbygail will travel to southern Canada this summer where they will both earn credits in the work placement while gaining general exposure to southern work and life styles. This program will also provide Roxanne, Abbygail and other youngsters with a window to the world through direct experience. Mr. Speaker, I wish both Roxanne and Abbygail and the other students well and hope that they have an excellent time this summer travelling southern Canada. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would like to wish my colleagues and the residents of Arviat and Baker Lake a pleasant and safe summer. Thank you.
--Applause