Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Tomorrow, as you have noted, March 8th, is International Women's Day, a day to recognize the accomplishments of women and to reflect on the challenges that still lie ahead for them. For over 90 years, International Women's Day has been a symbol of women's efforts to shape a better world, Mr. Speaker. In 1977, the United Nations passed a resolution to officially recognize International Women's Day. Unfortunately, there are still far too many challenges ahead for women, with family violence and violence against women among the biggest. I commend Minister Allen for announcing last week his department's commitment to bring forward legislation I have long called for, that of the Family Violence Prevention Act for the June sitting of this Assembly.

In circumstances of family violence, this sort of legislation will more often allow women to stay in their homes, in their home communities, where they have support networks. It will give the police another tool to combat family violence that is long overdue.

In my constituency, Mr. Speaker, there's a women's shelter called Alison McAteer House. In spite of our public declarations in support of zero tolerance for violence, shelters like Alison McAteer House are too busy all the time. They, like the other shelters in the NWT, still turn women and children away because they are full. I would like to give my heartfelt thanks to those frontline workers who deal with victims of violence and who work to support them at shelters like Alison McAteer House.

Mr. Speaker, we have a number of great organizations in the North that work to improve women's lives including the Native Women's Association, the Status of Women Council of the NWT, the Centre for Northern Families, the YWCA, and, as I mentioned, Alison McAteer House and the shelters in outlying communities. They can all be recognized.

Mr. Speaker, I, too, would like to extend my congratulations to the Status of Women Council and the Wise Women Awards program. It is important that we celebrate and recognize those women who have been leaders in their communities and in the North. I would especially like to congratulate the recipients of the Wise Women Awards. It's unfortunate that a former constituent Florencia "Flory" Dacanay passed away this past December before being awarded that recognition. Flory's husband, Angel, was in the Great Hall to accept the award on her behalf. Mr. Speaker, she was a woman devoted and dedicated to improving the lives of those who came into contact with her and she will be missed. Thank you, Mr. Speaker

---Applause