Merci Mr. Delorey. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you Mr. Speaker. I would also like to speak on Canada Day today and the celebration of citizenship. My parents emigrated from Holland after World War II, when I was a young boy. They came to create a better life for their two children, my brother and I. We came on an immigrant ship and landed in Halifax. We travelled from Halifax over a two-day period, on a coal-fired train to the Ottawa valley. We lived in a one-room log cabin in the country and my brother and I attended a one-room school. We felt very fortunate. This country has been very good to our family. We are very lucky. This is the best country in the world, Mr. Speaker, there is no question about that.

The United Nations has acknowledged that some eight times. It is based on a comparison of some 175 countries in the world and some 100 criteria in terms of education, lifestyle, health services, and so on. People from around the world want to come and live in this particular country. They are, all over the world, very anxious to be citizens of our country here.

I would like to publicly thank my parents for bringing my brother and I to this country. I would like to thank this country for what it has done for my brother and I and my family. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Item 3, Members' statements, the honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you Mr. Speaker. I rise today to make a Member's statement and to state, Mr. Speaker, that I also am proud to be a Canadian, proud to be a Northerner and proud to sit in this Legislature.

As Mr. Krutko so eloquently said, we have much work to do to bring about true prosperity, true equality and true freedom for Northerners. We sing in our national anthem the line "the true North, strong and free", and that should be the motto of the efforts of this government. Strong, rich in culture, rich in resources, rich in people, but also free, Mr. Speaker. Our people need to be free. Free to pursue their goals and aspirations, free from fear, free from the things that would bind them, such as addictions to drugs and alcohol, free to access every opportunity available to them.

Mr. Speaker, I am happy to put forward my best effort, along with the honourable colleagues in the Legislature, to make our country, particularly the citizens of the Northwest Territories, strong and free. Happy Canada Day.

-- Applause

Merci, Madam Groenewegen. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Nahendeh Mr. Antoine.

Merci, Mr. Antoine. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Steen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. During my time as a Member of this Assembly, I have had opportunities to travel abroad, to Russia and the far East. It is during travelling times that you become aware of how good a country Canada really is. The freedom we have and the ability to move around freely within our country is not reflected when you go abroad. You realize that they do not have the same opportunities. You then become more proud of the country you are from. In particular, Mr. Speaker, I think that it is most evident when it is time to return to Canada, you really appreciate that you are returning home. It is really good to see Canadian soil from an aircraft from high above, and you know that you are returning to a country that is free.

One of the things that I have also realized is the value of a Canadian passport. It seems to be a very coveted document. Many people would like to be able to possess one. I was kind of proud to have that document in my possession. I will be returning home to take part in celebrations on Canada Day. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Steen. Item 3, Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Bell on June 27th. Later today at an appropriate time, I will be tabling the Peoplesoft audit. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery, the honourable Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As you know, today for the first time, the city of Yellowknife participates as a host for the Celebration Canada in the Capitals program. So in the next few days, six families each from a different province or territory are here to visit Yellowknife to explore our country's diverse culture and heritage. In turn, we have dispatched 13 families from across the Northwest Territories to other capital cities in the country to celebrate Canada Day.

I would like to recognize the folks who have taken the time to visit us today. From Swan River, Manitoba, the Better family; Anita, Harvey, Ben and Kay. From Fort McMurray Alberta, the McBatridge family: Randy, Sharon, Katherine and Sara.

-- Applause

From Prince Rupert, British Columbia: Julia Watts, Dorothy Young, Crystal Young, Raymond Gunnal.

-- Applause

From Sachs Harbour, Northwest Territories: Teddy Elias, Yvonne Elias, Margaret Lennie.

-- Applause

From Charlottetown, PEI: Craig Walker, Joanne Walker, Nick Walker and Joal Walker.

-- Applause

From Whitehorse, Yukon: Calista Warner, Susan Warner, Wayne Mattheson and Melissa Mattheson.

-- Applause

Thank you very much for taking the time to join us.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Welcome to the Legislative Assembly. We truly have people from coast to coast to coast and everything in between. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Nunakput Mr. Steen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it is not too often that I get the opportunity to recognize some of my constituents. So I too would like to recognize Teddy Elias, Yvonne Elias and Margaret Lennie. I would like to welcome them to the House. As I have stated earlier, they are here to take part in Canada Day events with the families from coast to coast to coast.

Thank you, Mr. Steen. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize the constituent I spoke of earlier today in my Member's Statement , Melissa Fletcher. I would also recognize another constituent I have not seen for awhile, Yvonne Quick, who is with the Celebrate Canada in the Capitals program, obviously helping others hosting today.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The Member for Great Slave, Mr. Braden.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am at a bit of a disadvantage, I cannot see her, but I am advised that Renee Lamoureux, who is an advisor with the St. Pat's Students Against Drinking and Driving, is in the gallery with us today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to take this opportunity to recognize two constituents of mine in the gallery, Blair Dunbar and Linda Dunbar. May I say, Mr. Speaker, they are long term residents of Yellowknife, a strong backbone of the volunteer community in Yellowknife, and part of the team of Capital Canada.

I would like to recognize Blair and Linda Dunbar. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Item 6, oral questions. The Member for Great Slave, Mr. Braden.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A question for the Minister responsible for Youth. As the Minister knows, from a recent presentation by the Students Against Drunk Driving committee, major sponsors are being sought for the CYAID conference in Yellowknife next March. The students have outlined a very professional budget, somewhere in the neighborhood, I understand, of $200,000 to present this event. They have targeted the Government of the NWT as one of the potential contributors, to the tune, I believe, of $35,000.

The Minister is seeking funds from within government. Can the Minister advise this House of funding that the Government of the NWT is able to commit in support of the CYAID conference? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. The Honourable Minister responsible for Youth, Mr. Allen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is my pleasure to inform the Member today that we have sought financial income support to be provided to the Yellowknife chapter of SADD.

As the Minister responsible for Youth, I have asked that we get the response back by today, June 30th. As of yesterday, I am pleased to advise the Member that we have received, from the Department of Transportation, $10,000 plus income support. We also received confirmation from Education, Culture and Employment of another $10,000. We expect to have some form of inclined proportional support from the Department of Finance.

We will continue to work and seek more financial assistance from other participating departments.

-- Applause