Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to make some comment in the area of education and its value to the Northwest Territories, specifically a couple of things that are going on or have gone here in this Legislature. I would like to refer to the week of February 3rd to 8th when we conducted and supported the NWT Legislative Assembly Youth Parliament, Mr. Speaker.
You, along with your staff, did a remarkable job of coaching and working with representatives from across the NWT that took our places here. Based on my experience with this program for the term that I have been here in this Assembly, I am particularly optimistic about our youth and am very committed to the program that the Legislature has had with the Youth Parliament. This year, sitting as the Member for Great Slave was a constituent, Liselle Cook, a grade 11 student from St. Pat's. She has lived in Fort Good Hope and now Yellowknife. She speaks North Slavey and English, and she has also participated in the Western Leadership Program. She is certainly an example of the leadership involvement and development on behalf of the youth of our Territory.
As a young resident, Miss Cook presents an ideal role model through the Youth Parliament Program. The statement and questions she asked on health care illustrated a good understanding of the concerns on behalf of her constituents and mine, Mr. Speaker. I do not believe we acknowledge sufficiently the successes of some of our resident role models. Young people are much more receptive to absorbing the message from their peers and acknowledged role models. This government should provide greater support to those people who actively support healthy living and active lifestyles. If we can encourage our young people to be more health conscious and take on leadership roles in the communities and participate in sports, this will certainly pay long-term dividends in the future of our health care costs.
In closing, I wish to offer my congratulations to Miss Cook and indeed, all Youth Parliament Members, and again, Mr. Speaker, to you and the staff of this Assembly who make this such a success. Thank you.
-- Applause