This is page numbers 1 - 13 of the Hansard for the 14th Assembly, 1st Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was assembly.

Thanks To Constituents, Supporters And Family
Item 4: Members' Statements

Page 6

Roger Allen

Roger Allen Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate you on your election as the Speaker. I would like to congratulate the Premier-elect, Mr. Stephen Kakfwi, who I will join in Cabinet.

I would like to recognize a student I went to school with, who is here in the gallery, and most importantly, I would like to thank my parents and my family for their support. There is a very important gentleman who lays in Stanton Regional Hospital with terminal cancer, my uncle Stan "Goo-Goo" Tyrell. He has played a great role in my life, and I think he should be well recognized for encouraging me to work harder and be competitive.

As I said many times over, if it was not for the people of Inuvik Twin Lakes I would not be here today. Their fine effort, hard work and dedication to shared beliefs led me to put my name forward for election. I would like to extend my appreciation and gratitude to them.

There are other people who are very influential in our thoughts and beliefs in running for the 14th Legislative Assembly and I would like to recognize them, even though they are not here today. Gord and Lori from Northern Alberta. My wife, Dorothy, who is investing her time going to school in Fort Smith. There are many others who I will not be able to name today, but I would like to publicly state that I appreciate their continued support.

I do not have much more to add, Mr. Speaker, but I would just like to say that I am pleased to be here. It gives me great privilege to be standing here in front of you making this short thank you speech. Thank you very much.

-- Applause

Thanks To Constituents, Supporters And Family
Item 4: Members' Statements

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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you. Item 4, Members' statements. The Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

Job Action By Teachers Outside Of Yellowknife
Item 4: Members' Statements

January 18th, 2000

Page 6

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and congratulations. At this time, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the residents of the Mackenzie Delta for electing me for another four-year term. With that, I would like to raise an issue which is on the minds of all people outside of Yellowknife; the teachers' strike and the impact it is having.

I think it is important for us to realize one of the most vulnerable groups in our society is our children. The children have put their lives in the hands of politicians, teachers and educators. We need to make sure the parents and the community as a whole have a role to play in the upbringing of our children.

We gave the teachers the right to strike and raise issues and concerns they have to ensure they are treated fairly. In saying that, I would like everybody to know the teachers outside of Yellowknife are impacted more seriously by issues such as isolation, shortage of housing, cost of living and other essentials which we may take for granted in a large centre.

I think we should focus on the most pressing issues. A lot of the issues that are coming to the table are political. They have to be resolved in this House.

We talk about class size. We talk about the lack of funding for special needs students. We talk about setting priorities. I find it awfully frustrating being in this House when we have an incident such as this strike. To have to make a decision between the education of our people and institutionalizing people in jails. We spend almost $80,000 a year to keep one inmate in jail, yet we say we do not have money to educate our children. I will continue to do what I do best, and that is raise issues.

With that, I would like to thank you all, and I look forward to working with you over the next four years.

-- Applause

Job Action By Teachers Outside Of Yellowknife
Item 4: Members' Statements

Page 7

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Item 4, Members' statements. The Member for North Slave, Mr. Lafferty.

Thanks To Family, Supporters And Colleagues
Item 4: Members' Statements

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Leon Lafferty North Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will speak in my own language.

(Translation begins) Mr. Speaker, I am very happy to congratulate the Speaker of the House, the Commissioner, and all of the Ministers who have been elected to the Assembly, as well as all the other Members of the Legislative Assembly.

We all live in the Northwest Territories. When one is in trouble, we are all in trouble. In Gameti, Wha Ti, Wakweti and Behcho Ko, I would like to thank all the people who have elected me to sit in this Legislature. I would like to say thank you to my family, my wife, my children and all my friends who have worked very hard during the campaign to have me sit here at this time.

When I was in the communities talking to you during the campaign, I said I was going to visit the communities as much as I can.

When we enter a political position like this, we do not always understand everything. We have to teach ourselves. We have to be able to work together in this Assembly. I would like to thank everyone here.

(Translation ends)

-- Applause

Thanks To Family, Supporters And Colleagues
Item 4: Members' Statements

Page 7

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Item 4, Members' statements. The Member for Great Slave, Mr. Braden.

Thanks To Family And Supporters
Item 4: Members' Statements

Page 7

Bill Braden

Bill Braden Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to add my congratulations and express my faith and trust in you, the Premier and Cabinet-elect to lead us into the new North that is before us.

My riding, the new riding of Great Slave, is a very interesting and diverse part of Yellowknife and of the Northwest Territories. I am very honoured and grateful to have the privilege to represent this new riding of Great Slave. I will endeavor to return that trust and confidence with integrity and will resolve to be an open, accountable and hard working Member.

The decision to run in an election is a personal one, but once taken, it is one that demands the help and support of many other people. My family, my campaign people and of course, the voters, have done that. I am committed to this election and I am pleased to be here as a proponent of change and evolution in our young democracy, Mr. Speaker.

I want to build on the foundations that were so well built and so hard earned by our predecessors in this House and in many other assemblies in the North. I want to help build an even better way of delivering government to our people and to give our children an even more secure foundation for their future.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thanks To Family And Supporters
Item 4: Members' Statements

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The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Item 4, Members' statements. The Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Jake Ootes.

Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you Mr. Speaker. Like the other Members, I would like to congratulate you on your election as Speaker. I am confident you will do a great job for us. I would also like to congratulate our Premier-elect, Mr. Kakfwi. I am very proud he is in this position. I am very appreciative to have been elected to the Executive Council of the Northwest Territories and this new Northwest Territories, Mr. Speaker.

I would like to thank my constituents for having the confidence to return me to this lofty position. I would particularly like to recognize a person who was my team leader in my re-election, Mr. Gary Vanderhaden, who is here with us today.

Mr. Speaker, the make up of the group of people, as I look around, is very diverse with great skills and great abilities. I am very impressed with these people who have been elected. I am confident that as a team we will build a unified vision of the Northwest Territories, one that all MLAs can work towards. I am confident we will be in a supportive capacity with the aboriginal leaders of the Northwest Territories to ensure they can achieve their land claim and self-government dreams and that we will continue to build as we should. To ensure we share a vision for all of us, that our children receive a great education and that all our people receive the ultimate in health care and social services and that we will continue to prosper as a Territory so that all people can get a job.

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to be here. This is an historic occasion. This is the first Assembly of the new Northwest Territories, and I am very proud to be here. I am also very proud to have been here in 1967 when this government first met as a Council of the Northwest Territories for the first time in Yellowknife, the new capital of the Northwest Territories.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Item 4, Members' statements. The Member for Inuvik Boot Lakes, Mr. Floyd Roland.

Floyd Roland

Floyd Roland Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Congratulations to you and to Premier-elect, Mr. Kakfwi and his Cabinet. I think some time of reflection should be taken now. To reflect on the journey we just came from, the campaign and the new election on December 6th.

I would like to thank my campaign team who put a lot of effort into making a successful run and bringing me back here. Even though my riding has been split into two in this 14th Assembly, I still view it as one community. I look forward to working on behalf of our community as a whole. As I said in Caucus, welcome to the family.

For four years, we were like brother and sister. Friends come and go, but you are stuck with family. I am here and I am going to do my best. Something I demand of myself is hard work, integrity and honesty. I will do that and I will demand the same of ourselves and our government. I look forward to working with you, but most of all I look forward to getting back home. Thank you.

-- Applause

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Item 4, Members' statements. The Member for Weledeh, Mr. Joe Handley.

Thanks To Constituents, Family And Colleagues
Item 4: Members' Statements

Page 8

Joe Handley

Joe Handley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I too would like to congratulate you on your appointment and also congratulate the Premier-elect, Mr. Kakfwi, and my colleagues on Cabinet. I would like to thank from the bottom of my heart all of the people of Weledeh who have elected me.

I will continue to consult and seek support from those people as we go through the tremendous challenges in front of us over the next four years. I also want to thank my wife Theresa who is here, and my family. I urge Theresa to be a little less sensitive as people say nasty things about me over the next four years, because I am sure they will. I appreciate the continuing support and the support she has shown me in the past, as I made the decision to run and have gone through the process.

My late father always told me as I was growing up and trying to seek my way in life, to believe in myself and no matter what job I ended up with, to do it the best I can. I approach this job over the next years with that same advice he gave me.

Mr. Speaker, over the past few weeks I have come to know my 18 colleagues in this House very well. I am proud to be a colleague with you. I think we have a tremendous group of MLAs here. I have a lot to learn and I am sure you will find ways of teaching me. I think we can do the job. I am confident that as a result of our efforts, the Northwest Territories is going to be a more unified, healthier, better place to live. Hopefully a wealthier place as well.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thanks To Constituents, Family And Colleagues
Item 4: Members' Statements

Page 8

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Item 4, Members' statements. The Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Steven Nitah.

Thanks To Constituents, Colleagues And Family
Item 4: Members' Statements

Page 8

Steven Nitah Tu Nedhe

(Translation starts) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to congratulate you on your appointment. I would also like to congratulate the Premier-elect, Stephen Kakfwi, and the rest of Cabinet.

Within the Tu Nedhe riding, there is Lutselk'e, Fort Resolution and Reliance and the people that voted for me. I would like to thank them very much. We have a big job ahead of us. For everyone who lives in this Territory, I will do my best for you.

When we were visiting communities, I had said the only way to come out positive is to work together. I will do research and I will look at how the money is spent. Besides that, I have one more thing to say. The only way we can come out with positive situations here in the North is by working together.

For my wife and my children, I would like to thank them very much. I have a big job ahead of me and I still have a lot to learn. We all have a lot to learn. We will all learn at the same time, and that is positive thing.

For all of the young people that are growing up and all of the young people that have helped me in the past, thank you very much. My parents, my mother, the elders, I would like to thank them very much. I will be working with other Members here. They are all very hard working Members and they all have a big job and they all want to work positively.

There is one person I would like to thank from the bottom of my heart, my grandmother, who raised me. She was my mother, my grandmother, my father all at once. I learned a lot from her and she taught me right from wrong. While we were campaigning in the recent election, she passed away from me. That is what makes my heart cry. So now I speak to her with a positive mind. That is how I look at it and that is the way I keep her word.

One more time, I would like to thank you all very much. (Translation ends)

-- Applause

Thanks To Constituents, Colleagues And Family
Item 4: Members' Statements

Page 9

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Mahsi, Mr. Nitah. Item 4, Members' statements. The Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Brendan Bell.

Thanks To Constituents And Colleagues
Item 4: Members' Statements

Page 9

Brendan Bell

Brendan Bell Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would also like to congratulate you on being elected to your new position. I think you are going to do a great job. I think everybody in this room and in the gallery knows you are the natural choice, so it is nice to see you in that position.

I would also like to extend my congratulations to our new Premier-elect, Mr. Stephen Kakfwi and his new Cabinet. Mr. Kakfwi, I believe you truly are the man for the job and I am excited about working with you.

I have to thank all of the constituents of Yellowknife South for placing their trust and faith in me. It is an important responsibility that I have, and it is something I will not take lightly. I will work hard to do the best I can for you and work to the best of my ability.

There is one thing I would like to say. I was very encouraged to hear Mr. Kakfwi's words the other day when he mentioned we will make education a priority in the coming years. I know we cannot get into specifics, but I would like to encourage our government today to get back to the table with the NWTTA and work out a solution.

I know we are all aware of the tight fiscal situation we are facing, but I think we have to view education as an investment. Our negotiations with the NWTTA should be looked at as an investment in our children and our future. Thank you very much.

-- Applause

Thanks To Constituents And Colleagues
Item 4: Members' Statements

Page 9

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Item 4, Members' statements. The Member for Deh Cho, Mr. McLeod.

Thanks To Constituents, Supporters And Family
Item 4: Members' Statements

Page 9

Michael McLeod

Michael McLeod Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I too would like to offer my congratulations to you, to Premier-elect, Mr. Kakfwi, and the entire Cabinet. Mr. Speaker, I would like to say Happy New Year to all the people in the Deh Cho and all of the people in the Northwest Territories.

I also have to thank all of the staff for the coaching in the last few days. It was quite an ordeal learning when to talk, when not to talk, when to sit down, when to stand up...

-- Laughter

...so I have to thank the staff for the job they have done. I also have to thank all of the senior Members for their advice and all of the new Members for sticking by me.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my family in Fort Providence. My wife Joyce, my children Kevin, Robyn and Shawna, my parents Angus and Florestine McLeod and all of my brothers and sisters for their support throughout the campaign.

I also want to recognize one person who has worked extremely hard and who has put in an extra effort in supporting me, Susan Christie, who was my campaign manager.

I want to say to the people of the Deh Cho; Fort Providence, Kakisa, Enterprise and Hay River Reserve that I believe I have a clear mandate. The messages I heard over the duration of my campaign will be with me throughout all decisions I will be making.

Mr. Speaker, I also have to extend a sincere thank you to Mr. Sam Gargan, who served as the MLA for the Deh Cho prior to my election for 16 years of service. On behalf of all of the people of the Deh Cho, thank you.

With that, I wish all of the Members good luck, and I look forward to working with you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thanks To Constituents, Supporters And Family
Item 4: Members' Statements

Page 9

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery.

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 9

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

To all of our visitors in the gallery today, you are warmly welcomed, and you are too numerous to be named individually. I would like to thank you for joining us on this very special day.

I would however like to recognize some individuals, on behalf of all of the Members. I would like to recognize the other partner in the Senate team, Mrs. Karen Sibbeston who is with us here.

-- Applause

A very special recognition will go out to welcome His Excellency Gordon Giffin, the United States Ambassador to Canada. Mr. Giffin is accompanied by the U.S. Consulate General, Ms. Lisa Bobbie Schreiber Hughes.

-- Applause

I would never be forgiven if I did not recognize my partner and wife of 34 years, Elaine.

-- Applause

Another very special person who is in the gallery and must be recognized is Ms. Kate Hamilton, the partner of our esteemed Clerk.

-- Applause

Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Antoine.

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 9

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I also would like to recognize my partner, Celine. She is up there in the crowd. I would also like to recognize the Deh Cho First Nation Grand Chief, Michael Nadley. I would also like to recognize Joanne Deneron, the mayor of Fort Liard as well as the chair of the Northwest Territories Worker's Compensation Board. I would also like to recognize Chief Sammy Sangris from Jean-Marie River as well as Kathy Tetso of the Deh Cho Health and Social Services Board, as well as Ernest Hardisty of Jean-Marie River. Also, an elder, Horace Watsyk. Thank you, mahsi.

-- Applause

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 10

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Antoine. Item 5. recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Ootes.

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 10

Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There are a number of people I would like to recognize. They are all constituents of mine.

I would like to start with Superintendant Terry Elliot; Colonel Pierre LeBlanc, Fred Koe, Pat Thomas, Mayor David Lovell, Denise Burlingame, Cameron Aindow, Gary Vanderhaden, and Norm Glowach.

Some other people I would like to recognize are people who worked here in the early years, Sam and Dorothy Murdock, along with their son-in-law, Chic Callas who is a constituent of mine. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 10

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mrs. Groenewegen.