Thank you, Mr. Dent. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I cannot agree more with what my colleagues here have had to say, but I would like to take this opportunity to recognize a very talented member of our community with us in the gallery today, an excellent ambassador of our Territory and a wonderful person.

Clara Tutcho is a Special Olympian who is a member of the Yellowknife Figure Skating Club and also of Team NWT. She competed in the provincial championships in Calgary four years ago and then went on to compete in the Canadian National Special Olympic Winter Games 2000 in Ottawa. From this competition, she was selected to be a Member of Team Canada to compete in the Special Olympic World Winter Games in Anchorage, Alaska this past winter.

On April 24th, Clara was recognized in the House of Commons for her contribution to sport. At this year's Sport North awards banquet, Clara was awarded the first Mary Beth Miller Memorial Award for the top senior female athlete in the Northwest Territories for excelling in figure skating and for her commitment to other sport training. To be chosen for this award is an honour indeed, and well deserved, for Clara demonstrates so many of the attributes that characterize Mary Beth, hard work, perseverance, sportsmanship, fair play and respect for others.

Clara represents sportsmanship at all levels. She is what athletes in all organizations strive to be. She shows good conduct to everyone. She never complains about training and is a devoted and focused athlete. She has trained and improved constantly, never giving up and never stopping. She just smiles and keeps on going.

Mr. Speaker, I can tell you that it is not just in figure skating that Clara excels in. She is also a great bowler. She has recently come back from a competition in Calgary and was a member of the gold-winning team. This will provide the possibility for her to be a candidate for the Canadian National Summer Special Olympic Games in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan next year.

Clara is a role model to all athletes in the Territory and the country, and I am glad she is here with us today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Indeed, she is a remarkable person. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Steen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on May 15, 2001, the residents of Paulatuk held graduation ceremonies in Angik School in Paulatuk. Although there was only one grade 12 graduate, what was significant about this graduation ceremony was the fact it was the first ever in Paulatuk since the high school programs were moved to the communities from the larger centres such as Inuvik. My congratulations to Justin Ruben, the graduate, his parents, James and Elizabeth Ruben, and the principal and staff of Angik School for their determination and perseverance in achieving this accomplishment.

Mr. Speaker, I know this community is looking forward to many more graduates in future years. I encourage Mr. Justin Ruben to continue with his education and wish him luck in whatever field he chooses as a career. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Steen. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday was a very significant day, Mr. Speaker. It marked the anniversary, June 6th, of D-Day 57 years ago. Today was the day that a beachhead was established and eventually lead to the liberation by the Allies of Europe.

I want to mention, Mr. Speaker, that my family and I will always be very, very grateful to the Canadians who served in Europe. They are very much admired in my home country of Holland. Today, of course, I am very proud to be a Canadian, but I think yesterday and today are very significant days for many people. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would just like to take this opportunity to briefly thank my colleagues who accompanied me to Hay River last night for the opening ceremonies of the 11th Annual Track and Field Championships. There were 1152 athletes present and they each marched in under the flags of their schools.

Before the students and athletes proceeded in, I had the honour of entering the arena with my colleague from Hay River North. We carried a flag with a polar bear on it and we all had polar bear jackets on. Accompanying us were the Honourable Roger Allen, the Honourable Vince Steen, Mr. Krutko, Mr. Lafferty, Mr. McLeod and Mr. Nitah. I know that the students appreciated it very much. I also thank my colleagues for joining us. Thank you.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Good luck to all of the athletes. Item 3, Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize three constituents in the gallery today, Christine Tanner, along with her sons Michael and Mark Simpson. I would like to welcome them today.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Dent, and welcome to the Legislative Assembly. It is nice to see younger members of our community visiting us. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Thebacha, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it gives me pleasure today to recognize a fine constituent, local craftsman and trapper of some renown, and his very fine daughter, Mr. Karl Hoffmann and Ingrid Hoffmann. Thank you.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Ootes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I would like to take a moment to introduce a Yellowknife businessman, Mr. Jerome Babyn. He is manager of Northland Utilities here in the city.

-- Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it is not often that I can stand in this House and recognize a relative of mine. I would like to recognize Jean Marc Arsenault. He is a cadet paging here this week in the Legislative Assembly. I would like to welcome all of the cadets. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

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

Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize you. In my Member's statement, I failed to mention that the Honourable Tony Whitford was with us. I am sorry. I would like to recognize Tony today.

-- Applause

I would almost be moved to move that out of order, because we are supposed to recognize visitors in the gallery. I hope that I can remain in this chair for a considerable length of time before returning to the gallery. Thank you. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank my colleagues for taking the time I needed to have my guests get back into the gallery so I can introduce them. Clara Tutcho is sitting in the gallery, the Special Olympian, and the president of NWT Special Olympics Association, Kim Holter.

-- Applause

Any my assistant, Stephen Dunbar. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. I would like to say to all the visitors who have come here, welcome. It is always nice to see members of the public watching the events. I would like to take a little bit of Speaker's licence as well to recognize my uncle. He was in Normandy in 1943 when the Allies landed there. Today is sort of a special day for recognition of the Canadians who went to Europe and never returned, but my uncle is in Fort Smith and is probably watching on television as we speak, Mr. Eugene Mercredi.

-- Applause

Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Braden.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I mentioned in my Member's statement earlier today, I have concerns about the affordability and stability of the cost of energy for Northerners. For example, many of our residents and businesses will not be able to afford the cost of electricity without the Power Support Program that has been in place for a number of years.

My question is for the Premier. I would like to know if the Premier could inform this Assembly whether this government accepts the principle that it should assist residents and businesses in subsidizing their access to affordable energy. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. The honourable Premier, Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I believe this government has continued the practice and it has continued to commit to providing a subsidy so that power and fuel is available and provided to citizens as economically as possible. Beyond the principle, there are actual programs that support that principle. Thank you.