Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Item 4, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I start out my Member's statement in this session, I would like to send greetings back home to my wife and children. Mr. Speaker, spring brings on a special feeling for many people in the Northwest Territories. I refer specifically, Mr. Speaker, to those who are preparing for graduation from their formal years of education, the K-12 system as we call it.

Mr. Speaker, I was fortunate to attend and be part of the ceremonies and the banquet of the graduation ceremonies in Inuvik on June 1, 2001. It was a special time, Mr. Speaker, to see the young men and women there preparing to move on. It was like a rite of individuals moving forward to become young men, women and adulthood. Many will be pursuing further levels of education and some will be looking into the job markets right away.

Mr. Speaker, during the banquet, I had also listened to an event they had. This was the first time I have attended their banquet. During the banquet, they held an event they call the prophecies, where they do a slight roast of all of the graduates. Listening to that, Mr. Speaker, I also had warning at that time that some of these graduates would be looking to challenge in the area of leadership when it comes to this Assembly. I look forward to that, and encourage them to step forward and to look wisely at the decisions they make in the near future.

I wish them the best in their writing of the exams as the end of the month comes by, and I also commend them for being positive role models to their brothers and sisters as well. I think it is something we need to celebrate and show that it is something we definitely look forward to and hope that they will be achieving their actual graduation certificate and moving forward to further levels of education. Thank you.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Item 4, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I thank you for saving the best for last.

-- Laughter

I believe I am the last of the Members to speak here. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to honour Seniors' Week this week and recognize all of the elders we have in the gallery today, along with honoured guests. I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate and express our thanks to all those elders who were honoured for their contributions during the ceremony earlier today.

I am especially happy to have, for the very first time, the most important elder in my life, my mother, who I will be recognizing later, and also my aunt, who recently moved from Korea.

Mr. Speaker, a couple of weeks ago, I had an opportunity to attend a part of the workshop on elders abuse awareness held at Baker Centre in Yellowknife. I understand there will be a report arising out of that workshop and I look forward to getting their recommendations and acting upon them.

While I was sitting in the workshop, it made me think about the elders in my life. Not only those who are related to me, but elders I see around me. I realize that we constantly rely on our elders: mothers, fathers, grandparents, aunts and uncles, and we take them for granted to meet all our needs. It seems to be forever, no matter how old we are or how old they are, and how able we are or how able they are. I know when I walk in the house or whenever I am in need, I expect my mom to be there to give me support.

At the same time, without even knowing that we are doing this, we practice ageism. Like every other "ism" in our society, such as sexism or racism, it is ever so subtle, harmful and hurtful. It is not right.

As years go by, as I come closer to being an elder myself, I am always surprised at how the elders I know have the same goals, dreams and desires. They have expectations about their life. They have great talent and skills and great experiences for us to learn from.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

Thank you. The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude her statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. You may conclude, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. May I end the statement by saying perhaps it is because they are in a stage in their life where all the desires, needs and their appreciation for life is more pronounced, because they understand the concept more clearly about time and experiences. I do not think the rest of us, as individuals and a society, understand this enough. I think we have to take the time for this week, as Seniors' Week and Elders Week, to understand that we have to be aware of not practicing ageism, that we as legislators provide support and services and resources necessary to make sure that the elders and seniors in our society could fulfill and live their lives at their best ability, and that we appreciate them as much as all the other people in our society who need extra help. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Item 4, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Handley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I too join Ms. Lee in thanking you for saving the best for last. Thank you.

-- Laughter

Mr. Speaker, today I would also like to recognize Michel Sikyea, who was born 100 years ago today and, as we speak, is enjoying his birthday party over at Aven Centre.

He had a very interesting life. He was orphaned at three years of age and lived at the Fort Resolution Mission until he was 18. In 1923, he and his wife Rose were married. He came to Yellowknife for the first time in 1928 for a visit and then moved here in 1934. He worked for Con Mine for 15 years, but on a part-time basis so he could have time for both he and his wife to continue to live a traditional lifestyle hunting and trapping at Moose Bay.

Michel also worked for the Town of Yellowknife in the 1950s, and in 1963 moved to N'Dilo. In fact, the main road leading into N'Dilo, Sikyea , is named after him. As was already mentioned, he is famous for having shot the million-dollar duck. That duck cost him one dollar: it cost the federal government one million dollars. That duck was, until recently, on display on the second floor in the Yellowknife Courthouse, a female mallard.

Mr. Sikyea and his wife live in the Aven Manor Home, where they moved in 1995. He and his family and friends are celebrating his 100th birthday today. Mr. Sikyea will receive birthday congratulations from Her Majesty the Queen, the Prime Minister of Canada, and the Governor General. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Indeed, the congratulations of this Assembly go to Mr. Sikyea on achieving such a milestone in life, 100 years. Item 4, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would also like to thank you for saving the best for last.

-- Laughter

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to publicly recognize Cameron Clement, president of NTCL, as the Northwest Territories Chamber of Commerce's Businessperson of the Year. Cameron is retiring from the NTCL later this year, so the timing of this award is even more appropriate.

Cameron has worked for NTCL for the past 32 years, and has been a full-time resident of Hay River for much of that time. He has held many different senior management positions with the company before being appointed vice-president in 1993. In 1995, Cameron was instrumental in relocating the head office for NTCL to Hay River from Edmonton. In 1996, he became president.

Under Cameron's leadership, NTCL has established itself as a prime contractor for resupply and delivery materials, including fuel to the Northwest Territories and Nunavut communities, as well as other circumpolar regions, including the north slope of Alaska.

Not only has Cameron made an outstanding contribution to NTCL, but he has also maintained a strong sense of community and commitment to local causes. He has ensured his company has been at the forefront in the sponsorship of community-based programs, including education, the HH Williams Hospital Foundation, the youth centre, sporting events including the Arctic Winter Games, the DARE Program, the food bank, the soup kitchen, Smart Communities and the development of community initiatives such as the Hay River Golf Club and the track and field facilities.

To those who know him, Cameron is a gentle and unassuming man, which belies the fact that many of us have had to bear the brunt of his combination of amazing wit and public speaking talent.

I am proud that Cameron's tremendous contribution to business in the North has been recognized, and I join in congratulating him for all of his achievements. I am pleased to take this opportunity to thank him for his consistent dedication to Hay River. Thank you.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Are there any more "best for last" statements by Members? Item 4, Members' statements. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery.

Colleagues, before I go to the floor on this, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize a former Member of this Legislative Assembly, representing the Mackenzie Liard riding, and now a respected Metis elder, Mr. Bill Lafferty.

-- Applause

Also, I would like to recognize the Languages Commissioner for the Northwest Territories, Ms. Fibbie Tatti.

-- Applause

The Information and Privacy Commissioner for the Northwest Territories, Ms. Elaine Keenan-Bengts.

-- Applause

Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Lafferty.

Thank you. The honourable Member for Deh Cho, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize several people here today: a familiar face, the deputy minister of RWED, Mr. Bob McLeod, and his wife, Melody, the chair of the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Board. Visiting us for the first time here in the House is my mother, Forestine McLeod. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

It is always nice to welcome the parents of honourable Members. Mrs. McLeod, welcome to the Assembly. Do not be a stranger to us. Come back often. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Thebacha, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would also like to take the opportunity to do something I do not get a chance to do very often, recognize a constituent, Ms. Bea Campbell, the president of the NWT Seniors' Society in Fort Smith, who is here to help kick off this very important week. Welcome and thank you for coming.

-- Applause

Thank you. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Antoine.

Mahsi, Mr. Antoine. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I see so many distinguished guests in the gallery. I am hoping that everyone there will be recognized eventually, but I hope I will be forgiven if I just recognize my family in the gallery, who is here for the first time. Mr. Speaker, my mother moved back from Toronto last summer. This is her first time being here, Taejeong Lee.

-- Applause

And, Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to introduce some family of mine: my cousin, his wife and two kids, and his mother moved from Korea about a month ago. I would just like to put them on record, Jaehoon Lee, Eunmi Lee, Eunseo Lee, Eunho Lee and Okhee Lee.

-- Applause

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There are some visitors from Hay River North, but I will let my colleague, Mr. Delorey, introduce them. I have two constituents here, Ben and Fran Greenfield, who I think have the best market garden and saskatoon orchard in the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

-- Applause

Thank you. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Hay River North, Mr. Delorey.