Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize a very familiar face around the Legislative Assembly here for Members who have been around for a while. A very good friend of mine and a constituent of mine, Dawna O'Brien. Dawna O'Brien is no stranger to the Legislative Assembly, having worked here for many years in the past.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Delorey. Indeed, welcome back to the Legislative Assembly, Ms. O'Brien. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for North Slave, Mr. Lafferty.

Thank you. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don't think we can name everyone in the gallery, but I would like to recognize all the employees of the Legislative Assembly who are in the gallery. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you. Is this a day off or what?

---Laughter

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Item 7, written questions. Item 8, returns to written questions. Item 9, replies to Opening Address. Item 10, petitions. Item 11, reports of standing and special committees. Item 12, reports of committees on the review of bills. Item 13, tabling of documents. Item 14, notices of motion. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Antoine.

I'll have to waive the rules here. Item 14, notices of motion. The honourable Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Bell.

Item 14, notices of motion. The honourable Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Bell.

Thank you again, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice on Monday, October 6, 2003, I will move the following motion:

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Great Slave that Rule 70 of the rules of the Legislative Assembly be amended upon the dissolution of the 14th Assembly by adding the following after Rule 70(1):

70(1.1) notice of intent to proceed with a bill not recorded in accordance with Rule 70(1) may be given to the House by the sponsor of the bill under the item Ministers' Statements on the Order Paper if it's a government bill, and under Members' Statements if it's a Private Members' Bill; and

70(1.2) on the third sitting day after receipt of a notice of intent, the Speaker shall have the bill placed on the Orders of the Day in Committee of the Whole; and

70(1.3) a standing or special committee may request an extension of the 120-day review period by motion under the item reports of committees on the review of bills.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. Item 14, notices of motion. Item 15, notices of motion for first reading of bills. Item 16, motions. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Antoine. The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent to waive Rule 44 and proceed with his motion. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Mr. Antoine, you may proceed with your motion.

Thank you. May I have some order, please.

---Laughter

We have a motion on the floor. We can save that for later. We have a motion on the floor. The motion is in order. To the motion. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Antoine.

Thank you, Mr. Antoine. To the motion. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I was very pleased to be able to second the motion on this expression of gratitude, and I would like to assure you, Mr. Speaker, that I'm going to speak to the motion but I may need some latitude. It will become more apparent as I go that I am actually speaking to the motion as we go along.

Mr. Speaker, superheroes are able to do many things that us mere mortals cannot do. Things like leaping tall buildings, flying through the air, stopping speeding bullets and so on. Although we may not realize it, superhuman traits have been observed in this House. We have in our midst a superhero who can move at the speed of lightning to stop villainous acts generally, of course, of Cabinet Members...

...or calm an irate MLA. But, Mr. Speaker, like Clark Kent, our Legislative Assembly superhero keeps a low profile. LA Man, as I like to call him, moves with lightning speed to the Speaker's Chair whenever there is question on procedure or protocol in the House. His presence at the Speaker's side is always quiet and calm. But you'll notice if you observe closely, that LA Man always has his hands in his pockets and his cape flowing out behind him, always ready for further trouble that will require him to take flight through the gallery and soar around to save the day.

His lilting Scottish tones have been known to soothe many troubled minds after a particularly rocky session in the House, and some have wondered whether or not he has hypnotic powers, as well.

Mr. Speaker, his table at the foot of your chair appears to be just a regular desk, but I think if we were to look more closely we would see an electronic control centre with devices that rival those that you would find in Canadian military command centres. Actually, I suspect that he may be better equipped than any Canadian military command centre.

Of course, Mr. Speaker, I'm referring to Mr. Hamilton. When I first arrived in the Legislative Assembly in 1991 I was greeted, as Minister Antoine, with many pieces of paper, reports, binders, regulations, rules, procedures, schedules and various other pieces of information. Any of you who've walked by my office will know that they're mostly still sitting on my desk. I needed help to sort through that information and get on my feet as an MLA. That help came from the Clerk's office, specifically most often from Mr. Hamilton.

Mr. Hamilton can take a flurry of paper and the complexities of Beauchesne's Parliamentary Rules and Procedures and make them easy to understand. He can always find a way to get something done within the rules.

Mr. Speaker, I've watched Mr. Hamilton over the years deal with many difficult situations. He's always handled them with skill and professionalism. We're going to miss his expertise and strong presence in this House. Mr. Speaker, with that, I urge all Members to vote in favour of this motion. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Dent. To the motion. The honourable Member for Hay River North, Mr. Delorey.