Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, most of us do not give a second thought to starting a vehicle, running up a set of stairs or picking up a few groceries. These tasks, along with many others, are part of our everyday life, but that is not the case for 13 percent of NWT residents who are living with a disability. People living with a disability may often feel a loss of independence. However, proper programs, supports and services can help meet the challenges of daily life.

Mr. Speaker, June 8th to 14th is NWT Disability Awareness Week. This week's theme is Access Benefits Everyone. We know people with disabilities have a right to access the same services and facilities as non-disabled individuals. To ensure this is being done, I ask Members of this Assembly and NWT residents to consider what they can do to enhance the lives of the disabled in their community.

The Government of the Northwest Territories is also taking action to address the needs of persons living with disabilities. The Disability Steering Partnership was created in 2001 to develop a draft NWT disability framework and companion action plan. This partnership is made up of representatives from the departments of Health and Social Services, Education, Culture and Employment, the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation and Municipal and Community Affairs, as well as representatives from non-government agencies including the NWT Council of Persons with Disabilities, Yellowknife Association for Community Living and the YWCA of Yellowknife.

The partners prioritized key areas to guide the development of effective programs and services for persons with disabilities in the NWT. Those five building blocks are: education; employment; income; disability supports; and, housing.

The draft framework was released in November 2002 and subsequent focus groups were held in Yellowknife and Inuvik in December to review the framework and action plan. The feedback has been positive and the working group has been lauded by non-government agencies and steering committees as a model of a successful partnership.

Mr. Speaker, the framework and action plan will be ready for final approval this fall. These two documents will be our guide to ensure people living with disabilities in the NWT enjoy greater independence in our communities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause