Merci, Mr. Braden. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In keeping up with the spirit of recognizing our fellow leaders and partners for the Yellowknife Members, I would like to recognize the new Chamber of Commerce board in Yellowknife. They had an election on October 27th and I would like to recognize the award winners who were honoured the same night. A business award of merit went to MacKay and Partners. This award acknowledges the accomplishments of a special Yellowknife business each year, recognizing those achievements that have made them an outstanding corporate citizen within our business community.

Also, an award for the business person of the year went to Mr. Bill Aho of Central Mechanical Systems. He is also the president of the NWT Construction Association and one of the founding members of NORD, which stands for Northern Organization for Responsible Development. Mr. Gordon Van Tighem received an award for outstanding dedication as well.

Mr. Speaker, with the time remaining, I would like to recognize the new executive committee elected on October 27th. Mr. John Ondrack has been elected as the President; Jerome Babyn, first vice-president; Dave McPherson, second vice-president; and John Taylor was elected treasurer. I would also like to recognize the second year term directors, Jerry Jaud, Bob Hoddinott, and Mike Olson.

I would also like to congratulate and acknowledge new members of the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce board of directors, Mr. David Connelly, Mr. Rod Lowen, Ms. Shawnette MacNeil, Mr. Dave McCann, Ms. Karen Poitras, Mr. Gary Reid, Mr. Doug Snodgrass, Mr. Bill Tait and Mr. Andy Wong. I would like to congratulate them and tell them that on behalf of all the Yellowknife Members here, we look forward to working together and I especially valued their advice and input regarding the hotel tax. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Merci, Ms. Lee. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, Mr. Allen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to speak to an important item that follows up on some Members' statements last week in respect to the renewable resource sector.

Mr. Speaker, we often find the need to address the critical issue of the method in which we utilize northern food items. I would like to share in the House today, an interesting statistic that is found in an article produced in Inuvik that supports our northern diet.

Mr. Speaker, interestingly, the people at this specific venue consumed more than 8,000 Eskimo doughnuts, 60 pails of muktuk, 1,500 pounds of Arctic char and whitefish, and over 2,500 bowls of geese and caribou soup. Perhaps today this will give us some food for thought as we continue to support our renewable resources in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Allen. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Antoine.

Mahsi, Mr. Antoine. Because of your kind words, the Speaker bent the rules on the single subject Member's statement. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, sometimes in order to effect change, we have to work very hard to see some results. It is true that very often our political will does not persevere as quickly as we would like, but when change comes then we must always see it for what it is. I am pleased to see the changes in the Legislature today. I believe it is a significant and positive change that has come to the decor of this, the most unique of all Legislatures in Canada. Mr. Speaker, I recognize your personal commitment today in wearing a truly northern First Nations coat. It is a visible, strong statement. I want to commend you for it. I also would like to commend and recognize for the very first time, a truly positive change of garment by the Clerk and the deputies. In the Legislature, where even Mickey Mouse makes the odd appearance inside an otherwise truly dignified traditional First Nations coat, it is good to see, Mr. Speaker, your officials of this Legislature making their first appearance in Dene garments. I want to recognize it for the significant statement that it is. Thank you very much.

-- Applause

Thank you, Minister Kakfwi. Item 3, Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great honour to recognize the mayor from Fort McPherson, Mr. Willie Koe, and also his acting SAO, Mr. John Smith. Welcome.

-- Applause

Thank you. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. At this time, colleagues, I would like to recognize in the gallery Ms. Berna Beaulieu of Creations by Berna, who designed and sewed the ceremonial clothing of the clerks and myself, the ones that we are wearing here today.

-- Applause

Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question today is for the Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment and it is about the literacy strategy that his department has embarked on. As I mentioned, his department has the lead in this area, but one of the guiding principles of this literacy strategy is that this be a government-wide initiative and not just ECE out on an island acting in isolation. Can the Minister discuss how he intends to make this literacy strategy truly government-wide? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. The honourable Minister responsible for Education, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have been working in collaboration with other government departments on the literacy strategy and while that has taken some effort to accomplish, we are doing that and continue to work closely with the various departments. As you can appreciate, sometimes in areas such as the plain English that may be needed, we need to involve the Department of Public Works, for example, on contracts and other areas. So we are working with other government departments. Thank you.

Thank you, Minister Ootes. Supplementary, Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I picked up on something the Minister said there and was encouraged. I think I heard him say "plain English." I am wondering can the Minister tell us if we are considering plain language legislation for this government?

Thank you, Mr. Bell. The honourable Minister responsible for Education, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I do not believe that is been looked at as of yet, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Bell.

Thank you. If this recommendation were to come out from the consultations that are being held, would the Minister bring this recommendation before Cabinet?

Thank you, Mr. Bell. The honourable Minister responsible for Education, Mr. Ootes.

Mr. Speaker, I do not have all the details as to what will come out in the literacy strategy as of yet. Certainly once the strategy is brought forward, we have to look at all the implications in the plan to implement the strategy. Thank you.

Final supplementary, Mr. Bell.

Mr. Speaker, not only am I interested in how collaboration within the Government of the Northwest Territories is going to work, but also with other stakeholders like private business. BHP, for instance, is embarking on some literacy initiatives of its own. Can the Minister tell us how they are collaborating with private industry and maybe specifically use BHP as an example? Thank you.