Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize the valuable community service provided by fire fighters across the NWT.

The important and difficult work performed by community fire fighters is not always apparent to members of the public. However, people within the fire service are well aware of the hard work and the amount of time away from family and friends that is required by those individuals who are willing to fulfill this responsibility. Therefore, as Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, I am pleased that we have established the Fire Service Awards Program to acknowledge the essential role that fire departments and fire fighters play in our communities.

Mr. Speaker, at the fire merit services awards ceremony held on October 10th, I was honoured to present individual merit awards to the following individuals who were nominated and subsequently selected for regional merit awards:

• • In the Inuvik region -- Mr. Russell Andre of Tsiigehtchic;
• • In the Deh Cho region -- Mr. Kevin McLeod of Fort Providence;
• • In the North Slave region -- Mr. Chuck Dewar of Yellowknife; and
• • In the South Slave region -- Mr. William Reimer of Fort Smith.

In addition, Mr. Reimer of the Fort Smith Fire Department was selected as the first territorial fire service merit award winner.

At the ceremony, I also invited additional nominations for the merit award for community fire departments up until the end of the calendar year. An announcement on the winners of these awards will be made before the end of March 2003. In addition, long service awards will be presented in NWT communities to fire fighters who have shown their personal commitment to fire safety and public service by working or volunteering for two, five, ten, 15 and 20 or more years. The fire service awards are intended to give much deserved recognition to fire fighters and community fire departments that demonstrate outstanding commitment, innovation or success in the fire service. I would like to commend all nominees in the individual fire service awards and look forward to showing our appreciation for community fire departments in March.

I value the strong support shown by Members of the Legislative Assembly for the fire service awards and for all our efforts to recognize fire fighters. My department will continue its work to acknowledge the contribution of fire fighters in protecting our families and our communities from fire.

Mr. Speaker, I am sure I speak for all Northerners when I say we are all very proud of the men and women who make up the fire service in the Northwest Territories and we must ensure they realize their commitment is valued and appreciated. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause