Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, February 6th marked the 50th anniversary of Her Majesty The Queen's accession to the Throne. The Northwest Territories is pleased to join other provinces and territories across Canada in marking this Golden Jubilee year.
To celebrate this anniversary, and in keeping with our priorities and a desire to focus on youth and literacy, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment will be supporting a book project to stimulate children's imaginations and creative writing skills. Students from grades 1 to 12 will be invited to write a story they wish to share with Her Majesty. The best stories will be selected and published in a book that will be given as a gift to the Queen.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to add that a book of congratulations and a pictorial display, along with memorabilia of past royal visits, have been set up in the Great Hall for public viewing. On behalf of the Department of Canadian Heritage, we will be distributing 300 portraits of the Queen to public agencies and organizations across the Northwest Territories.
Later today, Mr. Speaker, I will be moving a motion of congratulations to Queen Elizabeth.
Lastly, Mr. Speaker, I invite Members of this House to join us and Commissioner Hansen at our break this afternoon to launch these initiatives marking the Queen's Jubilee. During this break, Commissioner Hansen will announce an additional initiative by her office to commemorate the Jubilee. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
-- Applause