Thank you, Mr. Roland. Good afternoon. Honourable Members, I wish to advise that I have received a message from the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories which states:
Dear Mr. Speaker:
I wish to advise that I recommend to the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories, the passage of Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 1, 1999-2000, during the Seventh Session of the 13th Legislative Assembly.
Yours truly, Dan Marion, Commissioner.
As Members are aware, next week the Legislative Assembly will host our first NWT-wide Youth Parliament. One student from each of your constituencies will be participating in this event. The students will assume the same role that you play in the Legislative Assembly and I am sure it will be interesting for us to see how these youths handle themselves in the Legislature and the issues that they feel are important. I am advised that they have been watching the sessions on TVNC and I hope they do not pick up any of our bad habits.
The students selected are:
-Melanie Kimiksana, Holman
-Jill Chinna and Louis de Klerk (he will be the Clerk), Inuvik
-Terry Simba, Kakisa Lake Territorial School
-Clinton Unka, Hay River
-Jackie Pascal, Fort McPherson
-Lana Nahanni, Fort Simpson
-Roxanne Mantla and Kristen Tanche, Rae Lakes
-Shelly Lemon, Fort Smith
-Terrence Kelly, Fort Good Hope
-Leanne Boucher, Fort Resolution
-Eddie Peart, Andrea Tam, Dawn Smith and Jeff Babyn, Yellowknife
The students have already started work on statements, questions and petitions based on concerns of the constituency. Your student may have already contacted you looking for some assistance and guidance. I am sure that each of you agrees that this is a very worthwhile project. The Youth Parliament will help us promote a better understanding of how the Assembly works and how bills become laws. I am sure we will learn from our youths as they have a lot to teach us.
I invite each of you to attend the events scheduled next week. One to mark on your calendar is the soccer challenge scheduled for Tuesday night at Sir John Franklin High School where the students and MLAs north of the lake will take on those students and MLAs from south of the lake. I regret that a number of the Ministers will not be with us and I hope that the soccer event did not send you off to other parts.
At this time I would like to thank the Legislative Assembly staff and particularly Ronna Bremer, Laurell Graf and Ben Nind, who have been working very hard to pull this event together. I would also like to thank the staff at the schools who have helped the students prepare for the Youth Parliament.
The northern businesses who have offered their support also deserve our thanks. These businesses include Canadian North, First Air, Air Tindi, Northwestern Air Lease, Raven Tours, Pizza Hut, Polar Bowl, Inkit, Northern Fancy Meats, Pido Productions, Office Compliments, Javaroma and the Mayor and city of Yellowknife. Without the support of these businesses this event would not be possible, and I would ask all Members to join me in thanking them.
--Applause
The actual Youth Parliament will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 20, and will be rebroadcast on TVNC at a later date so people in the NWT will be able to watch the Youth Parliament and hear the views of some of our young people. Good luck to all students involved in the Youth Parliament. Mahsi Cho.
--Applause
Orders of the day. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Mr. Dent.