Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on the eve of division I am drawn to visualize the future of our new Western Territory. There are many things our government, our communities, our aboriginal leaders are occupied with:
-economic development;
-land claims;
-self-government;
-local government.
Very crucial and important matters indeed, but not the only areas in need of our attention. We must also concern ourselves with our youth, our future workforce, the talented individuals who will lead our society in the next century. Our youth have an innate desire to work, to do well, to excel and what we need to do is give our youth that opportunity to excel. There are many who are graduating from our high schools, from colleges, from universities, who are seeking job opportunities. We must provide them with that opportunity.
There are also many who are facing the social and emotional problems that are out there:
-substance abuse;
-violence;
-teen pregnancies.
These issues cross many boundaries; they are not solely issues of education, nor of health. They are issues for our communities, for our leaders, for our parents to address. What we need is a government vision, a vision that builds the capacity of our youth. The government needs to support and promote a society that desires to make its young people a focus of its programs. We need to get back at bolstering the moral fibre of our citizens. We need to help parents to care about their teenagers; communities to care about their young people. By dedicating our energies in the next decade to our youth, we cannot only move to becoming a rich society and a powerful society, but to be the great society of the Canadian mosaic. Let us keep our eyes on the stars and do the possible for our youth. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
--Applause