This is page numbers 1 - 14 of the Hansard for the 15th Assembly, 1st Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was assembly.

Appreciation To Constituents Of Tu Nedhe
Item 4: Members' Statements

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The Speaker

The Speaker David Krutko

Item 4, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.

Appreciation To Constituents Of Sahtu
Item 4: Members' Statements

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Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don't know how long I've waited to say these few words.

---Laughter

I would like to congratulate you, Mr. Speaker, and also the Premier-elect and the Ministers. Congratulations to my fellow honourable MLAs in this Assembly.

I rise as a rookie MLA for my home region and the Sahtu constituency. However, I'm a veteran in northern politics. I am honoured to be here today. I thank my supporters in my campaign, the elders who gave me advice, my family and the residents of the Sahtu who voted for me to be their elected representative. I would also like to thank Stephen Kakfwi on behalf of the Sahtu people, for his many years of service to them as their MLA. I look forward to working with all the residents of the Sahtu and keeping an open-door policy.

Mr. Speaker, I will be presenting the Sahtu vision that was outlined to me by my constituents. We have been facing some challenges that have not been addressed by past governments. This is a good group of people in this Assembly here. I believe that over the next four years we will give the attention to these issues that they deserve.

We in the Sahtu are fortunate that our region is wealthy in culture, resources and languages. However, I am concerned about the wellness and the welfare of my constituents. My communities have concerns about health care, education improvement, affordable housing and a lack of elders' assistance. I'm looking forward to working with my region to address and to resolve these issues that continue to linger. We are going to work on a comprehensive regional wellness strategy that includes the people at the community level. The last government did not address the support for victims, witnesses and their families who are going through a current criminal trial of sexual abuse in Inuvik. One of my goals in coming here is to raise the profile of the residential school issues in the Northwest Territories, because the majority of my region has been involved in those trials and through the alternative dispute resolution experience.

Mr. Speaker, the proposed pipeline route runs through the Sahtu. We have gone through the experience of the Norman Wells expansion project, an experience we do not want to repeat again. This time, the first ones to benefit will be our people.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask for unanimous consent to finish off my statement.

Appreciation To Constituents Of Sahtu
Item 4: Members' Statements

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The Speaker

The Speaker David Krutko

The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. You may conclude your statement.

Appreciation To Constituents Of Sahtu
Item 4: Members' Statements

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Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

Thank you, honourable Members. This time, the first ones to benefit will be our people. We will not stand by and watch the benefits pass us by like the last time a pipeline passed through our land. We need to plan for these types of development such as the pipeline, hydro and upgrading our road systems.

I support the self-government initiatives that will be going on in our region and that people are striving for. We are just beginning to build the foundation of the Sahtu region that will see self-sufficiency through the efforts and the cooperation of claimants and community organizations.

Mr. Speaker, I ask for the support of the Legislative Assembly and the government to assist me to move my constituency towards positive goals and objectives. Many of my colleagues from around the NWT have shared that they have heard similar concerns from their people, so I think we will have many common goals. As I said earlier, this is a good group of people here, and I look forward to working with you.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank some of the people who didn't make it to this Christmas; young people in my region and older people in my region who didn't make it to this Christmas. I want to say prayers for the people. I want to wish people in the Northwest Territories, the old people, a happy Christmas holiday and a prosperous New Year. God bless you wherever you be. Mahsi.

---Applause

Appreciation To Constituents Of Sahtu
Item 4: Members' Statements

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The Speaker

The Speaker David Krutko

Item 4, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.

Appreciation To Constituents Of Yellowknife Centre
Item 4: Members' Statements

December 10th, 2003

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Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As this is my first statement, I may appear nervous. In my political history whenever I saw a crowd this large it always made me nervous, so I'm very nervous today. I must say that upfront.

Mr. Speaker, may I congratulate you, as well as our new Premier-elect, on your positions as well as your acclamations to your positions. You are both going to be our shepherds into our new future. It's going to be a unique journey, and we will be looking to you both to teach us and carry us forward.

To Mr. Handley -- Premier Handley, I should say -- I would like to bring echoes of trust and support from the Yellowknife Centre constituency. Your leadership role is something our community is looking forward to, and we know and trust that you will lead us well in the next Assembly. Mr. Handley, I do want to say that it will be an honour serving in the Handley Government, this 15th Legislative Assembly.

Mr. Speaker, it's with a great deal of pride and honour that I thank all of the constituents of Yellowknife Centre for their trust and confidence. I did promise them that I will work hard and I promise that I would make sure that this mandate would be a source of pride for all of them to remember.

Mr. Speaker, I have to tell you that my victory in the Yellowknife Centre riding was not an easy one. I will tell you clearly today, sir, that each one of those candidates was a winner, regardless of the outcome. I believe there were some good fights fought and they worked hard. Sorry, my apologies for being nervous.

Mr. Speaker, even on my coldest days I have to tell you most honestly that there were many warm faces and many warm hearts that kept us going. Mr. Speaker, it's important to note that I wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for the special support of my wife Susan, and my son McKinley Man-Lung. If it wasn't for their support to allow me to follow my dreams, I can't say where I would be today.

I also would like to follow up with recognizing some of the special members from my team. There was Larry Pineda, Cito Domingo, Tina Rivera, my parents Kim and Terry Hawkins. I also have to pass out a special thanks to my chief engineer Winnebago driver Daryl Dolynny and my campaign strategist Paul Bachand.

Mr. Speaker, my heart tells me that the burden of success will be an element for all of us to participate wholly together in as a team in this next Assembly. I believe we all have a vested interest in its success if we work together.

Mr. Speaker, may I continue my statement?

The Speaker

The Speaker David Krutko

The Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. You have unanimous consent to conclude your statement.

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

May I thank all of my colleagues. Mr. Speaker, I believe we can all work together in this success and build a great North that we can all be proud of.

Mr. Speaker, I grew up in Fort Simpson. I've danced in the friendship circle. I came to high school here in Yellowknife and I lived at Akaitcho Hall. I've been a Yellowknife city councillor and now I have a great source of pride being able to say I'm a father, a husband and now an MLA for Yellowknife Centre. My dreams are coming true and I believe I have many years of my journey still to continue, but I thank the many people who have helped me and brought me this far.

Mr. Speaker, I have a lot of life experience and I believe in community and family values and I hope that will be a significant asset in this leadership circle with all our friends here today.

Mr. Speaker, before I close my statement I just want to especially recognize once more, I'll start off first by saying I'd like to say adieu to the former Member of Yellowknife Centre, Jake Ootes. I don't see him here today. I did look. I want to thank him for his many years of service. Once again, I want to thank my constituents of Yellowknife Centre for the privilege of being here and, again I want to stress, many thanks to my wife Susan, and my son McKinley, who I love very much. Thank you.

---Applause

The Speaker

The Speaker David Krutko

Members' statements. The Member for Great Slave, Mr. Bill Braden.

Appreciation To Constituents Of Great Slave
Item 4: Members' Statements

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Bill Braden

Bill Braden Great Slave

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I, too, would like to add my congratulations and express my faith and trust in you and our Premier-elect and the Members of the Cabinet-elect, whom we will be affirming later on in this 15th Assembly.

I am honoured to have the privilege to serve for a second term as the Member for the riding of Great Slave. Mr. Speaker, I'm here to help build on the foundations of our young territory. I want to help build even better ways of delivering government to our people and strengthen the links of our consensus system among the First Nations, among the communities and among every voter across the NWT.

Later on today, Mr. Speaker, we're going to be affirming the choices we made yesterday and today, and I think Members will agree with me that we're all very grateful that this whole period of elections is just about over, and that there will be very progressive and positive times ahead, Mr. Speaker. We have a great opportunity to show innovation and show confidence in the remarkable future that's before us and I want to state my pledge to continue to work to the very best of my ability on behalf of this legislature and the people of Great Slave. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Appreciation To Constituents Of Great Slave
Item 4: Members' Statements

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The Speaker

The Speaker David Krutko

Item 4, Members' statements. The Member for Thebacha, Mr. Miltenberger.

Appreciation To Constituents Of Thebacha
Item 4: Members' Statements

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Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this Legislative Assembly is that my best and rather exclusive body and I would like to congratulate all of my colleagues who have been sent here by their constituents to represent their interests over the next four years. The last four days have shown me that I believe we're off to a very good start and we have the makings of a very productive Assembly.

I would like, as well, to congratulate, Mr. Speaker, yourself, Premier Handley, Cabinet colleagues and all those who have been put into positions of trust and responsibility as committee Chairs, Caucus Chairs and such.

This is my third opportunity to stand here at the start of a Legislative Assembly and this time I would once again like to thank my constituents. I would like to thank my family, my friends and my loved ones who have stuck by me through many difficult times. I'm here and I committed in my campaign to be a voice for everybody. I commit to do that not only for my constituents, but for all the people of the Northwest Territories.

As we are in the midst of the Yule Tide season and we'll all soon be going back to our homes, I would like to take this opportunity to wish all the people of the Northwest Territories who have assembled here today and across the land, a very happy, safe Christmas and a very prosperous New Year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Appreciation To Constituents Of Thebacha
Item 4: Members' Statements

Page 6

The Speaker

The Speaker David Krutko

Item 4, Members' statements. The Member for Weledeh, Mr. Handley.

Appreciation To Constituents Of Weledeh
Item 4: Members' Statements

Page 6

Joe Handley

Joe Handley Weledeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I, too, want to congratulate you on your election as Speaker. The words that you spoke today, the directions that you've given us will be taken very seriously and we certainly look forward to working under your guidance. I'd also like to welcome all the returning Members and a special welcome and congratulations to the new Members of this House.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank all the people of Weledeh for their unanimous support for me to represent them for another four years, at least. I want to have a special thank you to my campaign committee and all of the workers and volunteers and advisors who were all geared up for a good campaign. I appreciate the work that you have done and now we have to figure out what to do with all those buttons. I will not disappoint you, my constituents in Weledeh.

I also want to say thank you to all of the people from all parts of the Territories who have given me words of support as I considered the responsibilities of Premier. Again, I want to say mahsi cho, migwich (sic), thank you. I will do everything in my power to make sure that all of our lives are a little bit better as a result of the 15th Assembly.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, to my wife Theresa, my family, my friends, what can I say except thank you for your great support. Thank you.

---Applause

Appreciation To Constituents Of Weledeh
Item 4: Members' Statements

Page 7

The Speaker

The Speaker David Krutko

Item 4, Members' statements. The Member for Nunakput, Mr. Calvin Pokiak.

Appreciation To Constituents Of Nunakput
Item 4: Members' Statements

Page 7

Calvin Pokiak

Calvin Pokiak Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Congratulations on your election as Speaker and to Premier Handley on his election as Premier. First of all, Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my wife Lucille, and my sons, Bertram and Darren -- you'll have to excuse me, I'm getting emotional right now -- and my daughter Letitia. Without their full support and commitment over the next four years I would not have considered running in this election. Thank you to them very much. I would like to thank the constituents of Holman, Sachs Harbour, Paulatuk and Tuktoyaktuk for electing me to represent them as their MLA for Nunakput.

The constituents of Nunakput are the true winners because my voice is their voice in this legislature. I will be back home pretty soon visiting them to talk to them again and raise the concerns and issues that they told me to bring up in the legislature in the new year.

Thanks also to my brother, Charles Pokiak -- he was my campaign manager and official agent -- and the 15 individuals who signed the nomination form for me to run in this election. It showed that they had the confidence in me to represent the people of Nunakput.

I also would like to say thank you to Vince Steen for running a good campaign and challenge. I wish Vince Steen and his family all the best in the future.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, congratulations to all the elected and acclaimed MLAs in the House today. Together we can make a difference for our constituents and for the NWT. To my constituents, as I was campaigning, remember: Cal is your pal. Mahsi, kuyananni, thank you.

---Applause

Appreciation To Constituents Of Nunakput
Item 4: Members' Statements

Page 7

The Speaker

The Speaker David Krutko

Item 4, Members' statements. The Member for Hay River North, Mr. Delorey.

Paul Delorey

Paul Delorey Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to start out by saying how extremely pleased I am to be back here in this wonderful Chamber with yourself and all of my colleagues. I want to congratulate you on your successful campaign for Speaker. I know that you will do a good job over the next four years. I also want to congratulate Mr. Handley and the rest of the Cabinet Ministers on their successful election and I look forward to the swearing-in ceremony later on this afternoon.

It has been said many times, Mr. Speaker, that when you look at the big picture, very few of us are fortunate enough to make it here to represent the people of the Northwest Territories. I want to let everybody know that I certainly feel very privileged to be here and I do not take these responsibilities lightly.

I would like to recognize some very special people in my life that have helped me make it here and that continue to support me every day. I want to especially thank my wife Davida, and my entire family: my daughters, Michelle, Monique and Katrina, and my son Darcy, and also my brother Francis, and his wife Maryanne in Hay River. They continuously support me and without them it would be very hard to do this job. I also want to thank my official agent, Andy Taylor, and my campaign manager, Dawna O'Brien, and all the volunteers that were prepared to put up a hard fight this time around to get me elected again. Unfortunately, I guess in a way, we were not able to carry on a full campaign because I was acclaimed, but I want to thank all of my constituents for acclaiming me to this, the 15th Legislative Assembly. I want to assure my constituents that although they had a vision for me that may have been a little bit bigger and better things in this Assembly, I want to assure each and every one of them that I am here for them, that I will continue to address their issues with the same vigour and determination that I demonstrated over the last four years. I want to continue to do that over the next four years.

Mr. Speaker, while we are here planning our political agendas life goes on in our communities. I want to take a moment to recognize a few very special constituents of mine, a very dear friend of mine and a person who follows politics very closely. I was in the hospital in Yellowknife here visiting him; Mr. Red McBryan. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

The Speaker

The Speaker David Krutko

The Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? No nays. You have unanimous consent to conclude your statement.

Paul Delorey

Paul Delorey Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I've said, I was visiting a very dear friend of mine and a very well-known northerner, Mr. Red McBryan, who is recovering from a slight heart attack in the hospital here in Yellowknife. I want to wish him a speedy recovery and I look forward to seeing him back in Hay River.

I also want to pass my condolences on to another very dear friend of mine, Ms. Marianne Carriere, who passed away on November 29th in Hay River. I want to pass my sincere condolences to her husband John, and their entire family. I look forward to being back in Hay River on Saturday to spend some time with them.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, I would just like to pass some good wishes to a couple of senior curling teams who are heading up to Whitehorse today to represent the Northwest Territories in the NWT/Yukon playdowns. I want to wish them all the best in Whitehorse and a safe journey and I want to wish everybody in Hay River and all the folks in the gallery a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

The Speaker

The Speaker David Krutko

Item 4, Members' statement. The Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Bell.

Brendan Bell

Brendan Bell Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Congratulations again on your election as Speaker. I'd like to first start off by congratulating all of my colleagues in this House on their respective elections. As Mrs. Groenewegen pointed out, indeed, the average age is getting younger in the House. I think it's a good thing. I'm certainly impressed with the new Members. There's a lot of talent and dedication in this room. It's been a nice start in the last few days and I know the public will certainly be impressed with this new group. I think they're going to do great things, we're going to do great things and it's going to be a good Assembly.

I'd like to thank the constituents of Yellowknife South for having the confidence to send me back here. The acclamation, as I've said before, was a surprise, but certainly an honour. I want to let you know that with my election to Cabinet, my constituency work will absolutely not diminish. I give you my assurance on that.

Let me also thank all the people who worked on my campaign, my campaign team. I can't point everybody out, but I wanted to send a special thanks to MaryAnne Woytuik, Betty Anne Windsor, to all the staff at the Genesis Group, the Simpson family and let me also thank my family for their continued love and support: my wife Jill, my daughter Emily -- who can't talk about support, but I'm sure it's there -- my brother and sister, my parents, all of whom still live in the Northwest Territories. That's something that I'm very proud of.

I'd also like to thank my colleagues for having the confidence to elect me to Cabinet. I assure you that I take very seriously this idea, this concept, this new era of consensus government and will be very proud to help you on behalf of your constituents in this regard.

Lastly, I don't know if I'm letting the cat out of the bag, but to our two new Caucus Chairs, Mr. Menicoche and Mr. Yakeleya, I'm certainly very proud that you were elected. I know that you believe in partnerships and I know that means that this Caucus will certainly have a great future.

To all the residents of the Northwest Territories, Merry Christmas.

---Applause

The Speaker

The Speaker David Krutko

Item 4, Members' statements. The Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee.

Appreciation To Constituents Of Range Lake
Item 4: Members' Statements

Page 8

Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd also like to express my sincere congratulations to you, the Premier and the new Cabinet on being elected to your offices. I look forward to working with you. I would also like to congratulate all the new and returning Members.

Mr. Speaker, I'd like to use this, my very first statement of this Assembly, to also thank the constituents of Range Lake for sending me back here the second time around. I'm sure I speak for all Members, Mr. Speaker, in this House when I say what a singular honour and privilege it is to be elected by the public at large and to be given the mandate to serve them in this honourable place. As I walk through the halls of this great place of meeting, I continue to hear the voices of my constituents which have guided me before and I'm sure will guide me throughout the days and months to come.

Mr. Speaker, there are so many voices out there that we need to hear -- voices of small and large business owners, voices of women and men, elders and youth, aboriginal and non-aboriginal, the weak and the sick -- whose voices we must hear and act upon. I understand my mandate, Mr. Speaker, for the next four years is to bring life to these voices and to work with my colleagues in and out of this Chamber to develop solutions to their concerns. I also appreciate that behind you, Mr. Speaker, and the 18 Members of this House sit some 43,000 other voices of our territory which also must come to life and be acted upon.

As I begin this task once again in earnest today, it is with the firm belief that it is our collective task to set the course and path for our future toward unity and prosperity, not necessarily because we have a common interest in all issues, but because it is in our common interest to work together for solutions.

The last thing, Mr. Speaker, I would like to also acknowledge a lot of people who gave me support to bring me back here and I also would like to thank my family, including my mother, for their support always. Thank you very much.

---Applause

Appreciation To Constituents Of Range Lake
Item 4: Members' Statements

Page 8

The Speaker

The Speaker David Krutko

Item 4, Members' statements. The Member for Frame Lake, Mr. Dent.