Mr. Villeneuve, your time for your Member's statement has expired.

I seek unanimous consent from the Members to continue my statement.

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

Thank you. ...so that these positive changes can be realized at the grassroots where many residents have become too complacent about what the role and responsibilities are of this government and why the system of program delivery has grown quite cumbersome and confusing in some areas, resulting in a loss of trust by residents in our system of government.

Mr. Speaker, I hope I and my colleagues will make this a priority during this 15th Legislative Assembly; to make these and other positive changes happen so that we can all benefit in the long term. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. The Chair will recognize the honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, since becoming a Member of the 15th Legislative Assembly, we have led very busy lives and have had to make some very difficult decisions. This summer, I had to make a difficult decision as well, a personal one that included my family, in a sense that we have decided or, as my children would look at it, I had decided that it was best that my family be close to me. So we made the journey this summer leaving Inuvik via truck driving the Dempster Highway and relocating here in Yellowknife. I am here in Yellowknife for the purpose of the work that I have been given, the responsibilities I am here to fulfill.

I just want to let the constituents of Inuvik and Inuvik Boot Lake know that even though I am here in physical form and body, my heart is still back in Inuvik and my commitment is still to the people of Inuvik Boot Lake, and the work I have done on behalf of them I will continue to do. But I have to accept, and my family as well, that it is important that our families remain close. I felt that it was best that my children got to see more of their father on a daily basis rather than hearing them over the phone or watching them on the television. One thing I learned from my father is that you need daily input and guidance to turn out to be a productive and healthy person of our community. So just to the people of Inuvik and Inuvik Boot Lake, I have relocated. Many people I have been talking to I informed them of my plans to do that. The move went well. My children are in school and still missing home, as we call it. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Roland. The Chair recognizes the honourable Member for North Slave, Mr. Zoe.

Thank you, Mr. Zoe. Item 3, Members' statements. Before I leave Members' statements, I would just like to draw attention to the Members of the rules governing Members' statements. They are to be two-and-one-half minutes in length. When requesting unanimous consent to conclude, we would appreciate that Members use that time to conclude their statement, rather than going into a lengthy Members' statement from then on.

Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Braden.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize Ms. Barb Hood, the executive director of the NWT Seniors' Society, a frequent visitor to the gallery. I would like to welcome her again. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Braden. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize Senator Nick Sibbeston. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It gives me great pleasure to recognize in the gallery my father, David Roland, the man I look to for guidance and direction, and thank him for all of his training.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Roland. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you. I would like to recognize my neighbour and fellow Hay River North resident, Mr. Gordon Norberg.

---Applause

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I have a couple of people to recognize. First, one of my most feisty seniors in Yellowknife Centre, I could call him the honourable Ed Jeske.

---Applause

I also would like to recognize two others: Lydia Bardak and Nancy Galway. Nancy is the coordinator of the programs for the John Howard Society. She is leaving the North to return to Labrador as a social worker. Ms. Bardak is taking over part of the transition of the John Howard Society. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Pokiak.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize my wonderful wife, Lucille Pokiak. She came down to support me. Thanks a lot. It is good to see David Roland. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. Mr. Ramsay.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is always a pleasure to recognize Mr. Tony Whitford, former Speaker of this House and a constituent of mine. Welcome.

---Applause

Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am proud to have with me today in the gallery my three children, Keone, Diedra, and Candace. I would also like to recognize two former residents of Fort Simpson: Terry and Anita Villeneuve. Mahsi cho.

---Applause