Good afternoon, colleagues. On behalf of all the Members, I’d like to thank Commissioner Tuccaro for opening the Second Session of the 17th Legislative Assembly.
Also on behalf of all Members, I’d like to thank Mr. Matthew Smith for his beautiful version of O Canada, and Pastor Frank Siemens for leading us in prayer today.
I would like to welcome everyone in the gallery who has joined us here today. Welcome.
I’d like to welcome my colleagues to our first sitting of the New Year. I may be a little bit late, but I still want to wish you and all the residents of the Northwest Territories a safe and happy New Year.
Members and guests, along with the rest of Canada we are celebrating the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. We began yesterday with the flag-raising ceremony with the Queen’s Canadian flag, which was flown here from sunrise to sunset to mark this special anniversary. We also have the Queen’s Jubilee flags here in our Chamber today and they will remain here for the duration of the Jubilee Year. At the close of our proceedings today, a public reception will be held in the Great Hall. I would invite everyone in the gallery to join us as we honour our recipients of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal.
We are very lucky to have our Pages helping us during this sitting from the Deh Gah School in Fort Providence, Moose Kerr School in Aklavik, Ecole Boreale School in Hay River, and Louie Norwegian School in Jean Marie River. The Page Program is a great way for our young people to meet students from across the territory and find out firsthand just how our government works. To all of our Pages, a warm welcome.
Colleagues, I’d like to take this opportunity to extend my condolences to the families back in my community in my riding of Nunakput. Roy Inuktalik passed away; Agnes Felix and family; Tommy Thrasher; Ms. Jenny Pingo; Mr. Benjamin Goose; Georgina Cockney; Roy Smith; and Diamond Klengenberg.
I’d like to extend the condolences of all the House to those who have lost loved ones since we last met. Our communities are small and close knit, and we share your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with all the families and friends who have passed on across the territory.
Members, I know that we have been working very hard to prepare for the challenges ahead and I am confident that you can work together for the good of all the Northwest Territories. I just want to remind you that we are here for our constituents. The reason we’re here and all the decisions that we make affect them directly. We must all remember that as we go about our work here today, that we’re working for the people of the Northwest Territories as a whole.