Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, prior to my Member's statement, I would like to say happy birthday to you as well.
This past winter, a member from my riding deceased. Today, along with my trapping friends in the Mackenzie Delta, I would like to pay tribute. His name was Ernie Moore. Ernie was a personal friend of mine, having known him from our days "from the bush", as he made his living off the land. Ernie was known to many of the west-end community of Inuvik to be a humble man with a simple lifestyle. I often sat with Ernie on our favourite seat on the benches outside the Northern Store or in front of the Mad Trapper sharing trapping stories and telling jokes. We shared stories on trapping, hunting and lifestyles outside the normal community life.
Ernie leaves many of his friends still sitting on those benches, telling much of the same stories and jokes. I look forward to joining his friends over the summer to reminisce about the good old times. Ernie is survived by his sisters Lena, Judy, Pauline, Rosalind, and Denise; and brothers Gordon and Billy. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
-- Applause