Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to use this opportunity to thank Minister Miltenberger for his fifth budget to lead the territory. Mr. Miltenberger brings forward a steady as she goes budget and that’s typically the way he runs the ship: pretty straightforward, not that fancy. When I hear a strategy about two years of belt tightening and then two years of spending, I liken it more like he’s going to be the Grinch for two years and then, hopefully, be Santa for two more years after that.

The primary concern I heard that I think resonates deeply amongst many Members, of course, is revenue growth is slow. An important strategy needs to be developed here on how we want to change the ship on this measure. We need more made-in-the-NWT philosophies, roll-outs, whether

it’s manufacturing, whether it’s more innovation, or things that further build upon those ideas. We need more homegrown solutions to many of our revenue problems.

What I also saw lacking but not necessarily glaring, I’ll say that, is this committee on our side of the House that is, had great support for midwifery and I feel saddened that it didn’t meet the challenges we tried to put out to you.

Tourism, in the same vein, received significant support, if not buttressed by great enthusiasm from all Members where we wanted way more than what was given here today. The industry has been suffering for many, many years and it needs the further investment to help do the things it needs to do to get new money injected into our territorial economy. Oddly enough, that goes right back to one of my first statements, which is it’s highlighted that revenue growth is slow. How do we do that? We help foster, develop and build small businesses such as our tourism industry.

There were some interesting things highlighted in this budget. I want to thank him for that, although I wish there were more details. He talked about the medical travel costs. Forever that’s always been a target that we never know what we’re really dealing with, whether that budget is high or that budget is low. I do applaud him for highlighting it because it’s one of these quagmire numbers we can’t really get a handle on, but it always seems to be there weighing us down.

Eighteen decentralized positions I have to admit to some degree is news to me. We had some talk about the philosophy of this, but I’d have to say at this point, from a Yellowknife perspective, it is news to me, and I’ll assure you it’s news to many Members here.

That said, I exercise caution as we move forward and I do insist there will be great discussion as the days go forward.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Beaulieu.

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. [English translation not provided.]

Today I send my deepest condolences to the family of the late Yvonne Eva Desjarlais of Lutselk’e. Funeral services were held in her memory on January 9, 2013.

Yvonne was born and raised in Lutselk’e until she went to residential school in Fort Smith. In 1966 she married Napoleon Michel and that same year, unfortunately, her husband passed away, leaving her with two small children. In December 1982 she

remarried. Her second husband was Joseph Desjarlais.

Yvonne provided for her family by doing numerous jobs such as janitor, home care worker, Dene Yati translator, dental receptionist and classroom assistant. Yvonne taught traditional skills to prenatal and postnatal program students and teachers at the Lutselk’e Dene School about life out on the land. She loved reading romance novels, making dry fish, dry meat, bannock, and was very good at those skills.

Yvonne had a very good sense of humour, making people laugh always as she had a kind word to say.

Yvonne passed away on December 30, 2012, at the age of 63, here in Yellowknife. She was predeceased by her parents, Tom and Rose Abel, her brother Germaine, her first husband Napoleon, and her grandson Christian. She is survived by her second husband, Joe Desjarlais, sons Richard, Bernard, Walter, Christopher, and Clifford, the grandson that she raised. Her daughters are Pauline, Marlene, Sharon and Jennifer. Her siblings are Alfred, Raymond, Joe, Harry and Paul Abel. Her sisters are Therese and Mary Louise. She had numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nephews, nieces, cousins and many friends.

My deepest condolences go to Yvonne’s husband, Joe, her children, grandchildren, siblings, nephews, nieces and many friends.

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. The honourable Member for Monfwi, Mr. Lafferty.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] Mr. Speaker, I would like to make an announcement. At seven o’clock there will be an award given to four people here, and they are going to be receiving a Jubilee Award and it’s one of the top honours to receive.

The first one is Mr. Wah-Shee. He has worked for the GNWT. He was also an MLA and a Minister. He is now working with the Tlicho Government and has done lots of work for the Tlicho Government. He also started the Indian Brotherhood in the past, and he has worked on many things in the North. I want to make it known that he is one of the persons that wants to make it known that he has always supported the people in the Tlicho Government and GNWT. Now that we can see all the results that he has worked on, that is one of the reasons he is being recognized.

The other one is Mary Richardson. She is going to be recognized and is being awarded too. She is a foster parent and she is always an advocate for foster children. In the last 30 years, she has been supporting foster children in the community.

Michael Botermans is the other person. He is one of the persons that are always working with youth in the community and he has accomplished lots of things with the children. He is always the one that is leading with the children.

I just wanted to congratulate all those individuals who are going to be awarded this Jubilee Award.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Item 5, reports of standing and special committees. Item 6, returns to oral questions. Item 7, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. McLeod.

Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize Mr. Chuck Tolley and his wife, Mrs. Muriel Tolley, and one of their pride and joys, young James Tolley, who has the hard job of looking after me as my executive assistant. Welcome to the Assembly.

Mr. Ramsay.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize Ms. Jenni Bruce, the chair of the Northwest Territories Tourism, as well as Brian Desjardins, the executive director at NWT Tourism, Mr. Ron Ostrom, the marketing director at NWT Tourism, and former colleague Mr. David Krutko from the Mackenzie Delta, and also a constituent of mine, a board of trustee with YK1, Ms. Mira Hall.

Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s my pleasure today to introduce in the visitors gallery a resident of Hay River South Mr. Brad Mapes, who is a local businessperson in Hay River and also the deputy mayor of Hay River.

Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, wish to acknowledge and recognize both Chuck and Muriel Tolley, and I wish to agree with Mr. Miltenberger that James Tolley does have a tough job working for the Finance Minister. I, as well, wish to acknowledge NWT Tourism as a whole and recognize our good friend Mr. David Krutko, a former Member here.

Ms. Bisaro.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s my pleasure today to recognize a constituent who has already been recognized, Jenni Bruce. Welcome to the House, Jenni. I’d also like to recognize Mira

Hall, trustee for YK Education District No. 1. Mr. Krutko, I cannot forget you, a former colleague. I’d like to also especially give my personal thanks to Mr. Mike Olson, who was a great assistant to me coming home on Sunday night from Edmonton.

Mr. Nadli.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s not very often I rise and recognize individuals from my constituency, but I’d like to recognize a friend, hockey player, husband, and leader Chief Lloyd Chicot of Kakisa, who has been a long-serving leader for the Dehcho First Nation.

Mr. Moses.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to welcome the following constituents to the Legislative Assembly and the House: Lisa and Jozef Carnogurski, welcome. I’d also like to recognize Topsy Cockney and Caroline Blake. Welcome. I did some good work with them over the last little while. I’d also like to make a special recognition of the NWT Tourism crew that did a great job with Spectacular NWT and the NWT Gala for NWT Days.

Mr. Brian Desjardins, Mr. Ron Ostrom, Ms. Jenni Bruce, and I’d also make one special recognition to Ms. Jackie Frederick, who has been working with communities such as Hay River and Inuvik to create tourism packages to bring people from the South up to the North to experience the spectacular NWT. I’d also like to welcome Mr. David Krutko to the House as well.

Mr. Bromley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize Mr. Anthony Whitford, resident and MLA. I’d also like to recognize a previous colleague, David Krutko. Also Mira Hall, a YK1 board trustee. Jenni Bruce and Brian Desjardins, again we’ve mentioned their names from NWT Tourism. Great to see them here.

Mr. Yakeleya.