Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the week of October 19th to 25th is National Foster Family Week. I would like to take a moment to look ahead to that week to recognize the valuable contribution that foster families make to our communities.

Foster families open their homes to care for children in need. They have a very challenging and demanding role. It is encouraging to see that so many people in our territory have offered to care for children. There are almost 200 foster homes in the NWT that give children a caring, supportive home environment that is vital to their healthy development.

Foster parents share a common passion to protect and nurture children. They offer children a safe home environment while also supporting their interaction with their birth families. They work as members of a team with the social workers in their communities to meet individual educational, medical and developmental needs.

Mr. Speaker, the children in foster care range in age from infants to teenagers. They include children from every part of our territory. Our foster families have welcomed these children into their homes, and should be applauded for the work they do.

Mr. Speaker, I would also like to recognize the Foster Family Coalition of the NWT. This organization has been in place for over a year to strengthen the network of foster families and the services they provide. It is an important resource for foster parents, to help them understand that they are not alone and that there are others who can support them through difficult times.

I would like to take this opportunity to call on families to become foster families, and I ask the Members of this House to join me in applauding the efforts of those who have taken up this service throughout the NWT. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause