Please be seated. Mr. Speaker, Premier Handley, Members of the 15th Legislative Assembly, it is a privilege once again to address you in this House as you prepare to begin the deliberations of this government.
It was my pleasure to see many of you two weeks ago at the Arctic Winter Games in Fort McMurray, Alberta. What an honour it was to represent the people of the Northwest Territories and to cheer on the over 350 members of this year's Team NWT.
To all of the athletes, coaches, volunteers, staff and cultural performers who represented our territory so well, I extend my most sincere congratulations.
I would like to thank the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Henry Zoe, for providing the invitation and opportunity for me to attend these games, and also Sharon Firth -- a former four-time Olympic competitor in her own right -- who accompanied me at this most memorable event.
Unfortunately, it was during my time in Fort McMurray that I, like many of you, was shocked and saddened by the passing of Chief Eddie Paul Rabesca. Chief Eddie Paul's leadership will most certainly be missed, both by the people and by this territory. His legacy will, however, live on in the many initiatives and institutions that he worked so hard to establish.
I would also like to pay tribute to the late John Bayly who passed away February 17th in Yellowknife. John's dedication and genuine love for the North and its people was evident to all who had the opportunity to meet or work with him and to share in his gentle but firm and humour-filled approach to life.
My thoughts and prayers extend to the families and friends of these two respected northerners, and to all who have recently suffered the loss of loved ones.
In January, it was my honour, as Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, to award recognitions of long service and bravery to members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police "G" Division. These men and women are present-day models of the long-standing tradition of service and dedication by the RCMP to our territory and I would like to thank each and every one of them.
In the past few months, it has also been my pleasure to visit and meet with many residents of the Northwest Territories. I can honestly say that I am always inspired and enlightened to meet and shake hands with these people who build and define our communities.
It is in this spirit that I would like to take the time to recognize five women chosen by the NWT Status of Women as this year's recipients of the annual Wise Women Awards. This honour is awarded in recognition of the dedication and service that each of these outstanding women have given to the communities in which they live.
Mary Teya for the Beaufort-Delta, Albertine Rodh for the Deh Cho, Beverly Masuzumi for the Sahtu, Besha Blondin for the North Slave, and Marilyn Sanderson for the South Slave.
Mr. Speaker, during this session, the Government of the Northwest Territories will be introducing a bill entitled, Appropriation Act, 2004-2005 and a bill entitled, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 3, 2003-2004. Mr. Speaker, your government considers these bills essential to the good conduct of government and I recommend their passage.
As Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, I now declare open the Third Session of the 15th Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories. Thank you.
---Applause