Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, like my honourable colleague from Nahendeh did last week, I would also like to take this time to acknowledge and remember the many elders who have passed away in my region recently. Mr. Speaker, in the past two weeks, we have experienced a high number of deaths in the Deh Cho. In fact, we have witnessed the passing of five people in a relatively short period of time and I would like to offer my condolences to the families of Berna Bonnetrouge; Celine Lafferty, whom I acknowledged here last session on her 100th birthday; Pierre Lacorne; Sarah Helen Bond; and, to the members of my family on the passing of my father, Angus McLeod.

Mr. Speaker, all these people were respected elders from my region. All were bilingual, some were trilingual and with the passing of these people the North has lost a wealth of knowledge, history and culture. I would also like to commend the people who helped out and pitched in during these very difficult times with the preparation of the gravesites, cleaning of the churches, setting up of the churches, for the food preparation and others who came in from the different communities to help us in our time, this very difficult period.

When that many people pass away in a short period of time in the small communities, it causes many problems and compounds problems. There becomes a shortage of priests. We have only one priest in our region. There is also scheduling our churches and the use of other facilities.

In closing, I want to thank Father Joe Daley and Father Piche who came in from Edmonton to help out, the medical staff from Fort Providence and Fort Simpson and the Members of this House, including yourself, Mr. Speaker, who took the time to attend the funerals and to offer support. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause