Good afternoon, colleagues. Welcome back to the Chamber. Welcome to all our guests in the Chamber today in the gallery.

Colleagues, on behalf of Members, I would like to congratulate Wendy Bisaro on being named the 2011 winner of the Ann MacLean Award for Outstanding Service by Women in Municipal Politics.

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The NWT Association for Communities nominated Wendy for this prestigious award. We are very pleased to see our friend and colleague honoured for her nearly two decades of outstanding service to her community. And, of course, she continues to serve Yellowknifers at the territorial level.

The Ann MacLean Award is presented annually by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities to recognize women municipal politicians who have shown exemplary service to their community and constituents and to mentoring women who want to run in elected municipal office.

The Ann MacLean Award for Outstanding Service by Women in Municipal Politics was created in April of 2009 and is named in honour of former CFM President Ann MacLean and retired long-time mayor of New Glasgow, Nova Scotia.

Ms. Bisaro was first selected to the board of trustees for Yellowknife Education District No. 1 in 1988. She was re-elected three times and served as a board member for 12 years and also as a board chairperson.

Ms. Bisaro moved to municipal politics in 2000 and was elected to Yellowknife City Council for two consecutive three-year terms. She was chosen to serve as deputy mayor by her fellow council members during her second term.

Ms. Bisaro was elected to the 16th Legislative

Assembly on October 1, 2007, as the Member for Frame Lake in Yellowknife. Congratulations, Ms. Bisaro.

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Item 2, Ministers’ statements. The honourable Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Lafferty.