Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good afternoon. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased today to inform the House that on March 23, 2001, I attended the 2001 Canadian Youth Against Impaired Driving (CYAID) Conference Cultural Feast on behalf of the Department of Transportation, along with my colleague, the Member for Great Slave, Mr. Bill Braden. This event was held in Yellowknife at the new Norman Byrne Gymnasium at the Weledeh Catholic School.

Mr. Speaker, CYAID's 11th annual conference in Yellowknife was attended by over 400 young adults and support personnel. I was extremely pleased to represent this government before such a great group of young people. Every year, residents of the Northwest Territories and many more in other parts of Canada are killed or injured because of impaired drivers who have not yet heard the message and who insist on mixing alcohol or drugs and driving.

The young people of CYAID from across Canada help to convince both this government and all provincial governments to tighten up on impaired driving legislation and introduce new deterrents to this very serious problem. Their message has been very effective at encouraging other students, parents and the population at large into changing their attitudes towards the acceptability of getting behind the wheel after consuming alcohol or using drugs. These caring young people are making a difference through their important work.

I know, Mr. Speaker, that all Members of this Legislative Assembly are truly encouraged by the efforts of our youth who are out there getting involved in changing people's attitudes towards drinking and driving. This change will prevent needless death and injury in the future.

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate both organizers and the students for a well-run conference and wish them the very best success with expanding their message in getting others to embrace the challenge of reducing high-risk behaviour. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause