Please be seated. Mr. Speaker, Premier and Members of the Legislative Assembly, it is my pleasure once again to mark the conclusion of another busy session of your Legislative Assembly.

I would like to take the opportunity in this Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories to send our best wishes to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, Queen of Canada, on behalf of all the residents in the Northwest Territories as she celebrates her Golden Jubilee.

During the past few months the Royal Family has suffered the loss of a very important family member, Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, and as Commissioner on behalf of the people of the Northwest Territories, I have sent our condolences to Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth.

Today I welcome Her Excellency, The Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, Governor General of Canada, and His Excellency, John Ralston Saul, to Yellowknife. They will be sharing in the celebration of National Aboriginal Day with the people of the North.

I would also like to acknowledge the visit of three former Commissioners of the Northwest Territories to Yellowknife, former Commissioner Stuart Hodgson, former Commissioner John Parker, and former Commissioner Dan Norris. Their visit this week has been a reminder of days gone by and the growth of the Northwest Territories.

June 21st is National Aboriginal Day in Canada and for the first time we in the Northwest Territories will recognize this occasion as a statutory holiday. It is both fitting and a source of personal pride that you have chosen to acknowledge the contribution of aboriginal Canadians in this manner.

The June 21st celebrations will provide the opportunity for families to celebrate the values, traditions, languages and cultures of the Inuvialuit, Dene, Metis and people who help define us as a territory.

The NWT is a place that values healthy people and communities, a place where the system of governance reflects the rightful role of aboriginal governments and a place where economic partnerships are flourishing between southern, northern and especially aboriginal companies.

I encourage all people of the Northwest Territories to join in the many cultural events and celebrations that are scheduled to take place across the Northwest Territories.

After many long struggles and sacrifices, the Northwest Territories is now very much in control of its own destiny. As the original residents of the Northwest Territories, we have come full circle. Some of you were a part of the now famous stand against oil and gas development 25 years ago. Today you are ready to embrace this development and the future that it represents for our people.

We look forward to settling our land claims and self-government agreements, to better roads and healthier communities, more diamond mines and a pipeline. At the same time, however, we must not lose touch with our family, traditions, languages and rich cultural heritage. For that reason I hope you will take the time over the summer months to return to your communities and to participate in the many summer assemblies and cultural gatherings that will be held in our various regions.

In particular today, my best wishes are with the people of Norman Wells who will celebrate their first official town reunion, the people of the Beaufort-Delta who will sign their land claim agreement on Saturday, and members of the Salt River First Nation who will sign their final agreement during the Akaitcho Treaty 8 Assembly in Fort Smith this weekend.

I would like to share with Members of this Legislative Assembly my pleasure last week in awarding Mr. Clem Paul with a St. John Ambulance Award for Heroism. Twelve years ago, Mr. Paul risked his life to save that of his friend and hunting partner, Trevor Teed. After pulling his friend from the icy waters of Harding Lake, Mr. Paul carried Trevor to a nearby cabin where he was able to start a fire. I know that Mr. Teed and I share in the opinion that these actions were those of a genuine hero and I was proud and honoured to formally recognize Mr. Paul.

As we adjourn this session, we are all reminded of the difficult choices our decision-makers are faced with when they enter this House. I wish to thank all Members of the Legislative Assembly for their hard work.

As Commissioner of the Northwest Territories I am pleased to assent to the following Bills:

• • Bill 3, An Act to Amend the Public Service Act;
• • Bill 5, An Act to Amend the Adoption Act and Family Law Act;
• • Bill 6, An Act to Amend the Financial Administration Act;
• • Bill 8, An Act to Amend the Nursing Profession Act and the Pharmacy Act;
• • Bill 11, An Act to Amend the Liquor Act;
• • Bill 12, An Act to Amend the Elections Act;
• • Bill 13, An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act, No. 2; and
• • Bill 17, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 1, 2002-2003.

Thank you.