Thank you, Mr. Steen. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, Mr. Allen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As a courtesy, I would personally like to congratulate Ms. Glenna Hansen as the newly appointed Commissioner for the Northwest Territories.

Ms. Hansen not only comes from my riding of Inuvik Twin Lakes, but also from my home town of Aklavik. At this time I would like to express my sincere well wishes in her role as the newly appointed Commissioner. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Allen. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I too would like to congratulate the decision that was made to put Ms. Glenna Hansen as the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories. I believe she will prove that she was the right choice, and of course, coming from and living in Inuvik at this time, it always makes us proud to have another representative in government, working at the business of government.

She has proven over the last number of years that she is very capable. She is a strong lady, and I believe that she will be able to carry on the business that is required of the Commissioner to properly show the Government of the Northwest Territories, to the residents of the Northwest Territories. I would like to congratulate her, and I know that she will do a great job. Thank you.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Item 3, Members' statements. The Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I too would like to take this time to congratulate Ms. Glenna Hansen on her appointment as the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories. I have known Glenna for a number of years, and I know for a fact that she will do a great job.

Glenna is not only a mother, she is a lady who is involved in aboriginal politics, and is also involved in the social and economic well-being of people in the communities, through her involvement in different forums, education boards, health review committees.

Most of all, I think one thing that Glenna brings to this responsibility as the Commissioner is her being an Inuvialuit, and a woman. Commissioners in the past were primarily men. At this time, I would like to say that having had the opportunity to work with Helen Maksagak, who is now the Commissioner of Nunavut, I considered it an honour and a privilege to have been involved with her during her term as Commissioner of this Territory.

Other people from the North, especially the Mackenzie Delta, did play a role in the past. We have had a Deputy Commissioner, an Inuvialuit, from the Mackenzie Delta, who also played that role. The past Commissioner, Mr. Dan Norris, who is also from the great Inuvik region, served as the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories from 1989 to 1994.

With that, I would like to extend all the best, and say again that this role, I feel, is unique because she is not only an Inuvialuit, but she is the first Inuvialuit woman to take the role on as Commissioner of the Northwest Territories. I look forward to working with her, and I ask my other colleagues and Members of this House to bring her in with open arms and work with her for the next four years, to make her job that much easier.

The benefit this brings is recognition to this government that reflects the unique cultural differences that we have in the North, and especially with the first Commissioner for the 14th Assembly. With that, congratulations, and thank you.

-- Applause