Please be seated. Good afternoon, colleagues. Colleagues, welcome to the fall session. After a summer of work for and in your constituencies. I trust that the next few weeks will be a busy and productive time for all of us.
On behalf of all Members, as Speaker I would like to acknowledge the passing of a former Member of the Legislative Assembly, Mr. Mark Evaloarjuk in July of this year. Mr. Evaloarjuk was a three-term Member of this House from 1975 to 1993 and 1995 and 1999. He was also involved in land claims negotiations in Nunavut, a member of the Inuit Taparisat of Canada, vice president of the Qikiqtani Inuit Association and a businessperson in his home community of Igloolik. On behalf of all the Members, I would like to extend condolences to the family of the late Mark Evaloarjuk and to the people of Nunavut on their loss.
We were also saddened yesterday to hear of the passing of Mrs. Agnes Semmler of Inuvik. Mrs. Semmler served as Deputy Commissioner of the Northwest Territories from 1984 to 1987. She was also the first aboriginal woman to hold that position. She also was the first president of the Committee for Original Peoples Entitlement and the first aboriginal woman to serve as a northern justice of the peace. These are just a few of the many accomplishments of this distinguished lady.
Myself as a young welder, I first met Mrs. Semmler in 1960 in East 3, which is now Inuvik, where she and her husband Slim ran her first store in that community. On behalf of all the Members of this Assembly, our sincere condolences go out to the family and the many, many friends of Mrs. Semmler.
Colleagues, I wish to advise the House that I have received the following message from the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories:
Dear Mr. Speaker,
I wish to advise that I recommend to the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories the passage of Supplementary Appropriations Act, No. 4, 2001-2002 and the Supplementary Appropriations Act, No. 2, 2002-2003 during the Fifth Session of the 14th Legislative Assembly.
Signed,
Glenna F. HansenCommissioner
Thank you. Item 2, Ministers' statements. The honourable Minister responsible for Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Antoine.