Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate and recognize our MP, Ethel Blondin-Andrew, who today has just received an honourary doctorate award for her role as a teacher, a role model and a political leader.

We all know Ms. Blondin-Andrew, if not personally, we know who she is. Ms. Blondin-Andrew was the first aboriginal woman ever elected to the House of Commons in 1988 when she was elected to Parliament. She was re-elected in 1993 and appointed Secretary of State for Children and Youth, making her the first aboriginal woman to become a Member of the Privy Council. Subsequently, she was again re-elected in 1997 and appointed Secretary of State for Children and Youth, and most recently re-elected for a fourth successful term in the 2000 election, Mr. Speaker.

Ms. Blondin-Andrew played a formative role in creating Youth Service Canada and developing youth employment strategies, and the Aboriginal Human Resource Development Strategy. She is a strong supporter in the development of strong post-secondary institutions in the western Arctic. She is a dedicated teacher, role model and political leader for the people of the western Arctic, and an advocate for aboriginal people, children, youth and people with disability throughout the country.

I would like to congratulate her and wish her the best in her deliberations in Ottawa. I think she is a good role model. I encourage the youth of today to go out and get a doctorate degree, but through the education system. Again, Mr. Speaker, I congratulate our MP.

-- Applause