Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. (Translation) Today I'd like to send a message to the elders and youth of my riding. I'd also like to mention... (Translation ends)

...to be gathered with my colleagues. It's an honour to be part of the Third Session of the 15th Legislative Assembly.

Today, I would like to take time to reflect on time and change. Sometimes you wonder where time has gone, it can pass by so quickly. With time comes change. When people come and go, things change along the way and these changes can either be joyful or sad.

Since the Second Session of the Legislative Assembly, there have been a few changes within my riding of Nahendeh. Not only were there a few new constituents born, but also a few who passed away. Some did something special to receive recognition and I would like to take this time to acknowledge the ones that I am aware of. I would like to congratulate Lisa Lafferty, Tina Cournellie, Crystal Gaule and Barbara Bertrand on the birth of their new babies. I would also like to remember those that passed on. The elders are: Flora Sibbeston; Moise Antoine; my good friend, Albert Tonka; and, Lucas Saya of Fort Liard.

I would also like to take this opportunity to say a special congratulations to elder Albertine Rodh of Fort Simpson for receiving the 2004 Wise Woman Award.

---Ringing of fire alarm

We'll take a short break at this point for a fire drill. Can I ask the people in the gallery...

Could the members in the gallery please make their way to the side of the building, please, in an orderly fashion.

---SHORT RECESS

Thank you. I'll call the House back to order. At this time I would like to allow Mr. Menicoche to conclude his Member's statement. Mr. Menicoche.

Mahsi Cho, Mr. Speaker. Dene ke ku'e deh koe gehdi. It means set the house on fire.

---Laughter

Just a special recognition to Albertine Rodh for receiving the Wise Woman Award from the Deh Cho and also a constituent from the Nahendeh riding. As well as to Taylor Speed and David Shaw of Fort Simpson who are recipients of the Apprenticeship and Occupation Awards. As well as the participants from Nahendeh who attended the Arctic Winter Games: Jeff Cressman, Alexa Tsetso, Paul Stepdonk, Val Gendron, Leon Hardisty, Morgan LeBlanc, Kerry Ann Loutit, Jessie Loutit, Sarah Simons, Krista Tong, Jennifer Thistle, Jody Thompson, my daughter Deirdra Villeneuve, and Andrew Wright. Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker, for allowing me to take this time to remember and acknowledge my constituents of Nahendeh. Mahsi.

---Applause

Item 4, Members' statements. The Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Villeneuve.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am grateful once again to be here with my fellow MLAs and look forward to the work that we will be carrying out in this Third Session. I would also like to recognize four Grade 8 students from Tu Nedhe who will be working as Pages in the session for the remainder of the week. They are Nakita Enzoe and Jared Marlowe of Lutselk'e, and Robyn Balsille and Tyler Delorme of Deninu K'ue.

I would also like to recognize the following Tu Nedhe students who also attended the 2004 Arctic Winter Games in Fort McMurray. They are Vanessa Sanderson, Glen Collins and Jody Miersch of Deninu K'ue; and, Rocky Catholique and Damien Kailek of Lutselk'e.

Lastly, Mr. Speaker, I would also like to extend my congratulations to Ms. Marilyn Sanderson of Deninu K'ue who received the 2004 Wise Woman Award for the South Slave region. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. I would just like to remind Members that your statement should be on one subject, not three. So just so you know for next time. Item 4, Members' statements. The Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to use my Member's statement today to acknowledge all the hard work of everyone involved in sending Team NWT to the Arctic Winter Games which were held recently in Fort McMurray. The athletes are to be commended for their outstanding sportsmanship, athleticism and dedication to their chosen sports. We can all be very proud of the way our athletes carried themselves. I had the opportunity to attend the games and was overwhelmed by how they were accepted and hosted by the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo. I wanted to thank the organizing committee from Wood Buffalo for doing such a terrific job, especially the mayor of the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, Mr. Doug Faulkner, and Guy Boutilier, the MLA for Fort McMurray.

Sport recreation plays a vital role in the physical, emotional and mental well-being of our people, especially our children. Today I wanted to acknowledge this fact and recognize how important it is to life in the Northwest Territories. In closing I would also like to recognize the hard work put in by our staff, Mr. Ian Legaree, director of sport and recreation with MACA; the Minister, Henry Zoe; and, Mr. Gary Schauerte, the manager of sport and recreation, for all of their hard work in putting this together. I also wanted to thank Sport North, Mr. Bill Othmer, and all of the mission staff for doing a wonderful job in putting all of the pieces together to make the 2004 Arctic Winter Games a successful one for Team NWT.

The NWT will host the 2008 Arctic Winter Games and we should all be very excited at bringing the games back home to the Northwest Territories and showcasing our territory to our friends from around the world. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Item 4, Members' statements. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery.

Colleagues, I would like to direct your attention to the presence of Ms. Jean Storr in the visitors' gallery who is a constituent of mine from Aklavik and she is also the mother of the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, Ms. Glenna Hansen.

---Applause

In the gallery we also have interns visiting from the Ontario Legislative Assembly: director of the program, Dr. Greg Inwood; Michael Acedo; Sarah Baker; Holly Bondy; David Myles; Amanda Mayer; Chris Shantz-Smiley; Melanie Francis; and, Kate Mulligan. Welcome to the Legislative Assembly. I hope you enjoy your stay here and I hope you have a chance to see how our consensus government works, and hopefully you take some good advice and direction for how we proceed in this House. For my colleagues and the rest of the House, welcome to the Northwest Territories, enjoy your stay.

---Applause

Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Ramsay. Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, with your indulgence I would like to recognize in the gallery students from Central Arctic Baptist Academy, all from Yellowknife. Mr. Speaker, we have up there Pastor Frank Siemens, the principal; his wife, Mrs. Jessie Siemens; Melinda Myers, supervisor; Alicia Adair, Grade 7 student; James Adair, Grade 9 student; Alexandra Budgell, Grade 11 student; Albert Castro, Grade 6; Melissa Castro, Grade 7; Kristin Hansen, Grade 11, I believe the daughter of our Commissioner; Felicia Skiffington, Grade 10; and, Justin Skiffington, Grade 9. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it has been a while since I had this opportunity to recognize my family who is down visiting myself here in the city. My wife Shawna; my youngest son beside her, Mitchell; my daughter Courtney; my son Justin; my other son Quincey; and my next son, hockey player Samuel. Thank you.

---Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would just like to recognize my CA that came down from Fort Simpson, Eliza Jane Lafferty. Thank you very much.

---Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have two people I would like to recognize in the gallery. Mr. Ed Jeske is a very respected yet feisty senior here in Yellowknife.

---Applause

The second, I am not sure if she is still up there but Ms. Julie Sorel. She is my constituency assistant, which I want to point out if I look good, the credit is solely due to her, and if I don't look good, obviously I didn't pay attention to her. Thank you.

---Laughter

---Applause

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

Mr. Speaker, once again it is my pleasure to introduce my good constituent, Major Karen Hoeft, a tireless worker on social issues and especially the issue of homelessness. Thank you.

---Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize my wife, Lucille Pokiak, my oldest son Bertram, and my youngest son Darren. Also my CA, Marilyn Cockney and her husband Archie Chicksi. Thank you.

---Applause

Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. At this time I would like to recognize the people that haven't gotten recognized and thank you for being here at the opening of the House. Welcome.

---Applause

Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Allen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my Member's statement I encouraged the Premier to draft a bill of intent that would give rise to the creation of the Northwest Territories to a province. I am now going to ask the Premier if he will produce such a bill of intent within this 15th Legislative Assembly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.