Good afternoon, colleagues. Welcome to the resumption of the Fourth Session of the 15th Legislative Assembly. Although it has been several months since we have met in formal session, I know that each of you has been working diligently in committee, Cabinet and in your constituencies during the extended adjournment. I would like to offer my personal best wishes to each of you and all the residents of the NWT for a happy and healthy new year. On behalf of the Legislative Assembly and all Members, I would also like to extend congratulations to the new Member of Parliament for the Western Arctic, Dennis Bevington.
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As a long-time northerner, Mr. Bevington is aware of the North's most pressing issues, and we look forward to collaborating with him to face the challenges that lay ahead. A special thank you goes to Ethel Blondin-Andrew for her many years of service to northerners as our Member of Parliament.
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Although Ethel has announced that she will not run for Parliament again, we are confident that she will continue to make a positive contribution to the lives of all northerners in the years to come.
It is with regret that I advise the House of the recent passing of Vital Manuel. Vital served this House proudly as a Page for over 10 years and was also a special constituency assistant to former Premier Stephen Kakfwi. His gentle demeanour and warm smile was always a welcome addition to these halls and he will be sorely missed. Our thoughts go out to his family and many friends during this sad and difficult time.
On a happier note, we rang in the New Year here at the Assembly by hosting the 23rd Canadian Presiding Officers' Conference from January 19th to the 22nd. We were fortunate to receive 37 Speakers, Deputy Speakers, committee chairpersons and Clerks from across Canada. Our business sessions, which took place here in this Chamber, were informative and thought provoking. In addition to showing our guests some warm northern hospitality, we were, I believe, able to give them a taste of how our unique system of consensus government operates.
This session marks a significant departure in the way that our Assembly proceedings are broadcast and made available to the public. Effective immediately, sessions will no longer be broadcast on the Aboriginal Peoples' Television Network. Instead, the Assembly is working with local cable television providers, CKLB Radio and other community radio stations to provide longer and more accessible coverage of our proceedings. We have now also begun to broadcast our proceedings in audio and video stream on the Internet. By logging on to www.assembly.gov.nt.ca, you will be able to watch or listen to live and tape-delayed proceeding of this House. We will be working diligently in the sessions to come to improve further on our session broadcast service.
As we prepare to enter this budget session, I would like to acknowledge, on behalf of the Legislative Assembly, the diligent efforts of our standing committees, Cabinet, government and Assembly staff who have contributed to the budget development process. I know the last month-and-a-half has been a very busy one for all of you. I would also like to thank all members of the public who participated in the first round of pre-budget consultations that took place across the North last summer. I am confident that the views and concerns expressed by those who participated will find a place in our upcoming deliberations.
I look forward to a productive session over the next few weeks. I hope to hear lively debate on issues that are important to the people of the Northwest Territories and discussions that lead to positive, informed decision-making. I ask only that you conduct yourselves within the rules that you have set down for this House and continue to respect the dignity of the House and all of its Members.
Now, it is my duty to advise the House that I have received the following message from the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories. It reads:
"Dear Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise that I recommend to the Legislative Assembly the passage of the Appropriation Act, 2006-2007 and the Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 3, 2005-2006, during the Fourth Session of the 15th Legislative Assembly. Yours truly, Anthony W. J. Whitford, Commissioner."
Thank you, colleagues.
Orders of the day, item 2, Ministers' statements.