I would like to extend very best wishes, and I am very confident that the people of the Northwest Territories will be well served by you, sir, in your new roles.

I would like to offer my congratulations to the high school, college and university students from across the Northwest Territories who have graduated from their programs this past spring and summer. I had the opportunity to attend and to speak at several

convocation ceremonies in many communities across the North and elsewhere.

Recently I was invited to be the guest of honour at Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt on Vancouver Island, where 14 young people from across Canada, including two from Fort Providence, were successful in completing the three week Aboriginal Entry Program Pre-Recruit Training Course.

Some of these young people will now have the opportunity to join the Canadian Armed Forces, where they will train and prepare for their choice of careers while serving with the Armed Forces in Canada as well as overseas.

It is such a pleasure to witness the graduation ceremonies of our young people as they complete various steps in their education, from high school through to postsecondary programs of study. We in the North look forward to the contribution that all of our graduates will make to our communities and to the Northwest Territories as a whole in the years to come.

To see our young people find success in school and for them to have a choice in the many careers as they decide to work or to continue on with more education is a very special honour for me to witness. It is among the nicest things of the work that I do as Commissioner and one that I enjoy very much.

As well, 2008 seemed to have been the year of 50th anniversaries for many events, including the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Sir John Franklin School, and then the Inuvik half century celebrations this summer, both of which I attended.

Now, as the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories I am very pleased to declare open the Third Session of the 16th Legislative Assembly of

the Northwest Territories.

As you depart for your homes, I want to wish you safe travels and that you have an opportunity to reacquaint yourselves with your communities and your families and enjoy the seasons to come.

With that, thank you, merci beaucoup, quanami, mahsi cho.