Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Mr. Speaker, this is in regard to National Wildlife Week, April 4-10th. Mr. Speaker, the biggest threat to wildlife today is the loss of suitable habitat. In southern Canada, animals are being squeezed out of areas where they once flourished. Fortunately, wildlife in the Northwest Territories has not been threatened to the same extent. We have a unique opportunity in the north to be proactive in looking after our wildlife and its habitat.

Please join me in celebrating National Wildlife Week during April 4-10, 1999. This year's theme, Home is Where There is Habitat, reminds us that without sufficient food, water, shelter and space, wildlife simply cannot survive.

Many wildlife species travel great distances through a variety of habitats. For example, grizzly bears wander hundreds of kilometres looking for food while caribou travel vast distances during the annual migration. Even though wildlife species may not live permanently in an area of development, their needs must be considered in planning for any development. With growing interest in the resource development potential of the NWT, including oil, gas and minerals, it is increasingly important for us to remain good stewards of our wildlife and their habitat. The Protected Areas Strategy will help us maintain wildlife habitat by protecting wilderness and important traditional harvesting areas. As we enter our first year as the new Northwest Territories, we want to celebrate our wildlife and their habitats. National Wildlife Week provides an excellent opportunity to profile our rich wildlife resource and its importance in our northern culture. Thank you.

--Applause

Jane Groenewegen Hay River

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Mr. Miltenberger and Mr. Steen as the two Members elect to Cabinet today. I had them both over for supper last night and they were joking with me about whether or not the turkey was cooked and whether I was taking this opportunity to feed them so that I could poison them. I must confess, at the time I did not think it was necessary.

--Laughter

They kidded me about what time the Leadership Committee started today attempting to lead me to believe that it started later than it did. You might think them honourable men, but they also suggested that they might hijack some of the candidates on the way to the Legislature today and lock them up in a room with a television so they could follow the proceedings, but not get out until it was too late to vote.

All this talk of pranks and capers resulted in me having a terrible dream last night and this was what I really dreamed. I am not making this up. This is not a joke. I dreamed I was in Hay River trying to get to Yellowknife for the Cabinet selection. I was driving an old car and after loading it up to set out the door fell off. I then rushed to the airport to catch Buffalo Airways at 7:30 and in my dream it was just taking off the runway and it was only 7:27, three minutes ahead of schedule. I then called Landa Aviation to charter a flight, and Larry and Anne were away. The replacement pilot told me he could not fly me to Yellowknife, because his dog had just had puppies the night before. Just as I was resigning myself to the fact that, perhaps, I was not meant to be in Yellowknife today, I woke up and was pleasantly relieved to see that I was in Yellowknife. So as to avoid any unforeseen circumstances, such as hijackers, I left for the Legislature at 7:00 a.m. As the morning proceeded I realized that it might have been better if my nightmarish dream had in fact been a reality.

Seriously, everything turns out the way that it was meant to be. Now I do not have to be away from Hay River for the next six months, I do not have to move my office, I don't have to put my business into a blind trust, yet, and yahoo, I can spend the summer at home in my constituency. As I always believe, all things do work together for good.

Congratulations and thank you to all the candidates who had the courage to put their names forward and especially good wishes to Mr. Miltenberger and Mr. Steen. Thank you.

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would also like to add my congratulations to Mr. Steen and Mr. Miltenberger for being elevated to our exalted positions of Cabinet Ministers. I am confident they will do excellent work there and do an excellent job of representing all of us, Mr. Speaker. However, I would like to make reference to Mr. Steen's promise that he would continue to be one of the Ordinary Members in thought, and sometimes in practice. I think we should hold Mr. Steen to that, because we may, from time to time, need a vote on this side of the House. I think it is important for you to remember that, Mr. Steen, because it was a promise and I think there were Members that voted a specific way in considering that.

I would like to say, Mr. Speaker, that it was a pleasure to be able to take part in the leadership race. Certainly I think it was a good process and one that I enjoyed taking part in. Naturally I am disappointed I did not get elevated to that exalted position, however, there will be another race hopefully in November, in which hopefully I will be able to return and seek a position then.

That particular opportunity this morning gave me a chance, Mr. Speaker, to speak about a number of areas, and one was the need to address a program over the next ten years to address the needs of our youth. I see we have many of them in the House here today, and I think that is a critical area for us to address our concerns. After all, here sit the future leaders of the Northwest Territories. Here are the leaders in the next millennium. People who will be sitting in this House perhaps in ten or 15 years, perhaps in five years depending on their age. I think it is important for this government to dedicate itself to youth issues, youth programs and youth needs. Be they whatever they are, social areas, economic areas. That is what is really important, Mr. Speaker. I think everybody in the territories will agree with me if we do that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to take this one opportunity in three and a half years to say hello to my family back home. I will be hopefully home in the next day or so. I would like to thank my colleagues for the honour they have bestowed upon me, by electing me to Cabinet. I will work as hard as I have to, and as long as I have to, to do the job on behalf of all the people of the Northwest Territories. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause