Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, I believe it is important to recognize our many volunteers here in the NWT. The United Nations declared this year as the International Year of Volunteers to recognize the contributions of all volunteers. During this year, we have had many opportunities to recognize the ways that northern volunteers make our communities better places to live.

Recently, I had the opportunity to appear and speak at the Annual Live to Give Volunteer Symposium held in Inuvik on Saturday, October 27th. This was just one of many volunteer recognition events that have been held across the North this year. Many of these events honoured the recipients and nominees of the outstanding volunteer service awards program MACA sponsors.

Personally, my interest in volunteerism goes back some years, thanks to the opportunities I have had while growing up in the Delta. Along the way, I met some very fine people who volunteered for a variety of causes. It was inevitable that I would make volunteerism one of my focal points in the Assembly, along with the achievements, issues and concerns of people, especially the youth. I am delighted to see volunteerism receiving this much attention. It is almost as much as the attention that volunteers give to those they share so much of their precious time to help.

Helping our family, friends and neighbours is a way of life here in the North. Almost every volunteer I have ever met would shun the public spotlight. However, they must all be gratified to see that volunteer work, per se, is receiving the publicity and plaudits it deserves. Hopefully, this will draw others to volunteer. I have yet to meet a volunteer who is not a better, more rounded person because of his or her volunteer work.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of my colleague for Inuvik Boot Lake, Floyd Roland, and myself, I would like to thank the town of Inuvik for taking the time to recognize their 58 volunteer organizations. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause