Good afternoon, colleagues. Welcome back to the Chamber, colleagues, as we resume the sixth and next to last sitting of the 16th Legislative Assembly.
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Although this is a short sitting, I know there is a great deal of work that must be done before we adjourn next week and that you are eager to begin. However, I would like to take a few moments to acknowledge some special events in our Legislature since we last met.
I would like to comment on the recall notice which was originally issued on March 30, 2011, to reconvene the Sixth Session of the 16th Legislative
Assembly in early April 2011. I recalled the House, acting on the advice of Cabinet and Regular Members, who had indicated that a Territorial Leadership Committee meeting should be scheduled to fill the seat vacated when the Member for Range Lake, Ms. Lee, resigned on March 26, 2011.
Formal recall of the House would have been necessary to ratify any decision of the Territorial Leadership Committee. At a meeting of full Caucus which took place on April 7, 2011, a decision was made by all Members not to fill the vacant position at this late date in the life of this Assembly. Accordingly, there was no need for the House to meet and I directed that the recall of the House for April 11, 2011, be rescinded.
Colleagues, I had the particular pleasure and pleasant duty last week when I hosted the 11th Youth Parliament of the Northwest Territories. Nineteen high school students from each electoral district in the NWT participated and received a firsthand look at the workings of our unique system of government. I applaud all 19 members of this year’s Youth Parliament for a job very well done. Those of you who were fortunate enough to be able to join me in the gallery last Thursday, or on the floor of the House for those two Members who
served as Pages, will, I am sure, agree with me that the future of the Northwest Territories appears to be in very good hands. The level of debate, the commitment shown by these young people, and the respect the youth parliamentarians demonstrated for each other and the Assembly was impressive and admirable.
Our young leaders debated and voted on five motions and a bill, sitting through to 6:00 p.m., thereby setting a record for the longest sitting of our Youth Parliament. They tackled subjects as diverse and complex as:
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improving the quality of secondary schooling education;
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promotion of sexual health among youth;
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substance abuse programming for youth;
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increased
investment
in youth programs;
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zero tolerance for bullying; and
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making the improper disposal of recyclable
materials a punishable offence.
It is also worth noting that this is the first Youth Parliament without a member that smoked. Please join me in congratulating our youth parliamentarians on a job very well done.
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I would also like to take on this opportunity to pass on the condolences of this House to the families and communities who have lost loved ones since we last met. Please accept our sincere sympathy.
Now, colleagues, to the business before us. I look forward to a very productive session and remind you all of the standards that you have set to guide your deliberations within this House. It is now my duty to advise the House that I have received the following message from the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories and it reads:
Dear Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise that I recommend to the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories the passage of:
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Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 6, 2010-2011;
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Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 1, 2011-2012; and
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Supplementary Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures), No. 1, 2011-2012
during the Sixth Session of the 16th Legislative
Assembly. Yours truly, George Tuccaro, Commissioner.
Thank you, colleagues. Orders of the day. Item 2, Ministers’ statements. The honourable Minister of Finance, the honourable Michael Miltenberger.