Good afternoon, colleagues. On behalf of all Members, I’d like to thank Commissioner Tuccaro for opening the Third Session of the 17th Legislative Assembly. I’d also
like to say thank you to Pastor Emmanuel Adam from Glad Tidings Mission from my home in Tuktoyaktuk, and to the Fort Good Hope Drummers and the children’s choir from N.J. Macpherson School here in Yellowknife, for their contributions this afternoon.
Thank you, as well, to Grand Chief Frank Andrew, Sahtu Dene Council; Ms. Ethel Blondin-Andrew, chair of the Sahtu Secretariat Incorporated; Ms. Betty Villebrun, president of the Northwest Territories Metis Nation; and Mayor Gordon Van Tighem, president of the Northwest Territories Association of Communities, for joining Members on the floor of the House this afternoon.
I’d also like to extend appreciation of the House to Chief Superintendent Wade Blake, RCMP “G” Division; and Mr. Tony Whitford, our Honourary Table Officer of the Assembly, for joining us here today.
---Applause
Of course, a warm welcome to all our guests who are here in the gallery.
I’m happy to inform Members that we’ll have Pages from the following schools working with us during this sitting:
• St. Patrick High School out of Yellowknife,
• Range Lake North School in Yellowknife,
• Kalemi Dene School in Ndilo,
• Samuel Hearne Secondary School in Inuvik,
• Diamond Jenness School in Hay River,
• Angik School in Paulauk,
• Alexis Arrowmaker School, and
• Mackenzie Mountain School in Norman Wells.
Welcome to all the Pages.
---Applause
I hope all Pages are as eager to take part in the Assembly’s proceedings as we are to have them here. Welcome on behalf of all our Members.
On a sadder note, colleagues, I’d like take the opportunity to extend condolences to all of those who lost loved ones since we last met across the territory. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families.
In Nunakput, I would like to personally extend condolences to the families of:
• Geddes Wolki Sr., who passed away in Sachs
Harbour. Condolences to his wife, Lena, and the Wolki family;
• Robin Gruben of Tuktoyaktuk, condolences to
his parents, Roger and Winnie Gruben, and family;
• Therese Voudrach of Tuktoyaktuk, condolences
to her daughter Karen and to her family;
• Jessica Jerome from out of Yellowknife.
Condolences to Tootsie Jerome and Chauna Kikoak, who I grew up with in Tuk, who lost her daughter this past week here in Yellowknife. Our thoughts and prayers go out to you.
• Roy Inuktalik of Ulukhaktok, condolences to his
wife, Kate Inuktalik, and family.
Also, we’re going to miss a good friend of all of ours in this House, Mr. Ed Jeske. He will be sadly missed here in the House and for our long conversations and coffees with him. I suggest he’ll be sadly missed. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family on behalf of myself and all Members.
Colleagues, I know that we will all give thoughtful consideration to the important work we have before us over the next weeks ahead during this sitting. I ask you to follow the rules and procedures that we have established to guide the proceedings. As your Speaker, I will assist in any way to make your work here as productive as possible.
Another brief announcement before we begin work here today: please join me in wishing our colleagues Ms. Bisaro and Mr. Beaulieu a very happy birthday here today in the House.
---Applause
What a great day to begin a budget session.
---Laughter
Item 3, Ministers’ statements. The honourable Minister of Finance, Mr. Miltenberger.