Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as the MLA for Nahendeh, I rise today to speak about one of the six communities that I represent in my constituency. I would like to talk about and say a few things about Fort Liard today. As you know, Mr. Speaker, and people in the North know that the chief and council has been, over the last five or six years, been very involved in resource development and the gas exploration, and they have taken the forefront and a leadership role in that endeavour. They had some success as well.

As the MLA, when we represent these communities, we work closely with the chief and council. I just wanted to mention that as of last May, there was a chief and council election in Fort Liard. They have had a new chief and council for the last four-and-a-half months. I would like to congratulate and acknowledge Chief Floyd Bertrand in the four-and-a-half months of his tenure so far, as well as the six councillors. I just wanted to congratulate and encourage them to keep working for the people; Joanne Deneron, Julie Capablank, Eva Hope, Floyd Diamond'c, Joe Bertrand, Stanley Bertrand, along with two youth councillors that they have elected to the council; Francine Kotchea, as well as Dion Bertrand.

Mr. Speaker, as MLAs, we tour around our communities and we work very closely with the community leadership. They work very hard for their own people in their own communities and they know what is required in their communities. It is a pleasure in the past to have worked with the previous chief, Ms. Judy Kotchea. I would like to acknowledge the hard work that she's put in for the people. As a former chief of the Acho Dene First Nation, Ms. Kotchea has taken a position as a school counsellor at the Acho Dene School in Fort Liard, so I am sure that she will do a fine job there as well.

The honourary chief, Harry Deneron, from Fort Liard has always played a key role in his community. It is a pleasure working with all of these people. Mahsi. Thank you.

-- Applause