Asseyez-vous, s’il vous plait. [Translation.] Please be seated. [Translation ends.]
Good afternoon. It seems just like yesterday we were doing this. It was yesterday, wasn’t it?
Monsieur le président, mesdames et messieurs les députés, mesdames et messieurs, et amis.
It is once again a great pleasure and an honour for me to be here in your presence. I am pleased to welcome you to the Third Session of the 16th Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories. I want to welcome the guests there in the public gallery and those who are watching these proceedings on television.
Since we opened the last session, the North has seen the loss of a number of respected and very prominent citizens. I think it’s important that we remember them and acknowledge their
contributions to the development of the North over their long lifetimes.
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The honourable Daniel Norris from the
Beaufort-Delta. Mr. Norris had served this government for many years in the civil service before becoming our 11th Commissioner.
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Mr. Michael Ballantyne was a former mayor of the City of Yellowknife, a Minister in our government, a former Speaker and a retired Member of the Legislative Assembly.
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Mr. Allan Anderson from Fort Simpson was a World War II veteran and a respected businessman in the Deh Cho.
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Recently, Mr. Calvin Mains from Hay River. He was also well known across the North as a former RCMP officer before working for our government for many years and then serving a term as the Deputy Commissioner.
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George Blondin, our most respected author, Dene elder and leader among his people.
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Patricia McMahon, a former mayor of the City of Yellowknife and president of a number of associations of municipalities.
The whole territory grieves the loss of those fine people and many others who have served and have gone before, all of whom were very influential in our lives and in our communities.
Now I would like to offer my congratulations to Mr. Robert C. McLeod on his new position as a Member of the Executive Council.
Applause.