Merci pour le priere, Mr. Braden. Bonjour, mes colleagues. My colleagues, I am pleased to recognize Monday, March 12, 2001 as Commonwealth Day. Commonwealth Day is an annual celebration of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and its members. Commonwealth Day brings together some 1.7 billion people from all over the world, approximately 25 percent of the world's population, of many faiths, races, languages and traditions.
The goal of Commonwealth Day is twofold:
- • to promote the virtues of both the Commonwealth and parliamentary democracy to the younger generation; and
- • to provide people with a memorable and enjoyable day of celebration for our association of nations.
The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Secretariat will be hosting the Commonwealth Day celebrations in London, England this year. The theme of Commonwealth Day is The Year of a New Generation, focusing on showing youth around the world that they can achieve any of their goals if they are given the right chance.
Mr. Paul Cook, a resident of Yellowknife, is currently attending university in England. He has been invited to celebrate as the Northwest Territories' representative. The Commonwealth Day events Mr. Cook will be participating in include:
- • a discussion on Commonwealth and Commonwealth parliamentary associations and their contributions to parliamentary democracy;
- • the observance at Westminster Abbey of Her Majesty the Queen as Head of the Commonwealth and all of the Commonwealth high commissioners in London;
- • a tour of the United Kingdom House of Parliament and the opportunity to observe from the gallery in both the House of Lords and the House of Commons.
Please join me in recognizing March 12, 2001 as Commonwealth Day.
Item 2, Ministers' statements. Déclarations de ministre. The honourable Minister responsible for Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Handley.