Pursuant to Section 35(a), (b) and (c) of the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act, I wish to table the Annual Report Respecting Members’ Indemnities and Allowances for the Fiscal Year Ending March 31, 2011.

Item 15, notices of motion. Item 16, notices of motion for first reading of bills. Item 17, motions. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.

I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Thebacha, that, notwithstanding Rule 4, when this House adjourns on Thursday, May 19, 2011, it shall be adjourned until Wednesday, August 17, 2011;

AND FURTHER, that any time prior to August 17, 2011, if the Speaker is satisfied, after consultation with the Executive Council and Members of the Legislative Assembly, that the public interest requires that the House should meet at an earlier time during the adjournment, the Speaker may give notice and thereupon the House shall meet at the time stated in such notice and shall transact its business as it has been duly adjourned to that time.

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. A motion is on the floor. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Question has been called.

---Carried

Item 18, first reading of bills. Item 19, second reading of bills. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Monfwi, that Bill 20, Vital Statistics Act, be read for the second time.

Mr. Speaker, this bill replaces the existing Vital Statistics Act that provides a comprehensive framework for the registration of birth, adoptions, stillbirth, marriages and deaths in the Northwest Territories.

Transitional matters are provided for, and the Children’s Law Act and the Marriage Act are consequentially amended. Thank you.

Bill 20 has had second reading.

---Carried

The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Abernethy.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Weledeh, that Bill 21, An Act to Amend the Employment Standards Act, be read for the second time.

Mr. Speaker, Bill 21 provides members of the reserve force with an entitlement of unpaid leave from their employment if they are required to be absent for work for the purpose of service with the force. This bill also prohibits an employer from terminating an employee or changing the conditions of his or her employment because an employee is a member of the reserve force. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Bill 21 has had second reading.

---Carried

Item 20, consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters. Item 21, report of Committee of the Whole. Item 22, third reading of bills. Mr. Clerk, would you ascertain whether the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, the Honourable George L. Tuccaro, is prepared to enter the Chamber to assent to bills.

Colleagues, this has been one of the shortest sittings of the Assembly, but it has been nevertheless very productive. As we leave today, I know many of you are getting ready to travel to the communities, will be reviewing bills at public meetings throughout the territory, Ministers will continue to guide the government of the Northwest Territories, and as a Caucus we will be meeting and begin planning for the transition to the 17

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Legislative Assembly.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Pages who have been assisting us the last two weeks.

---Applause

We have had students from Deline, Gameti and Yellowknife. Thank you all for your excellent work you have done in this House.

Colleagues, I am looking forward to one of my favourite duties as your Speaker. I will be travelling with our Mace to the Sahtu at the end of May. We will be in Norman Wells at the Mackenzie Mountain School and at the Chief T’Selehye School in Fort Good Hope to deliver the Speaker’s Outreach Program. I invite all the residents of these

communities, young and old, to join us for a viewing of our spectacular Mace and to learn more about the role of the Legislative Assembly and the duties of our elected officials.

There are several other special and important events which will take place during our adjournment which I would like to mention today. By formal motion of the House, this Assembly agreed to formally observe May 26

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as the National Day of

Healing and Reconciliation. This day has been set aside to support our communities, families and individuals who endured, and continue to endure, the impacts of the residential school system. I urge all Members and all residents of the NWT to take some time on May 26

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to celebrate a positive

collective healing and reconciliation process with your families, your friends and your communities. Acknowledging the healing and reconciliation process will help to move the Northwest Territories towards a stronger and healthier future.

Members, I also encourage you to take some time during the next few months to spend time with family and friends enjoying the upcoming Victoria Day holiday and taking part in the festivities surrounding National Aboriginal Day on June 21

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and, of course, Canada Day on July 1

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.

A great honour for our territory this summer is the expected visit of their Royal Highnesses, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. I would like to take this opportunity to extend the congratulations of this House to the royal couple on their recent marriage. We are looking forward to extending our northern hospitality and sharing a small piece of our beautiful northern summer with the royal couple during their visit.

In closing, colleagues, I wish you safe travels and good judgment as you continue your work. I look forward to meeting you in this Chamber for our last sitting of the 16

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Legislative Assembly in August.

Thank you, colleagues.

Mr. Clerk, orders of the day.