Mr. Speaker, investing in the health and well-being of our people and our communities and building prosperity in the Northwest Territories is at the heart of this

Assembly’s priorities, but it is not our priority alone. These goals are shared by many non-governmental organizations in our territory, by our citizens and by our employees.

The United Way NWT is one such organization and I am pleased today to stand as the United Way’s NWT Government of the Northwest Territories Workplace Campaign honourary chair to announce the kick-off of this year’s staff payroll campaign.

Mr. Speaker, the United Way NWT began about 14 years ago as United Way Yellowknife but has expanded to provide support across the territory. Over the past three years, more than $180,000 was allocated to various charities across the Northwest Territories.

Like this Assembly, the United Way NWT is committed to building strong and healthy communities through their three areas of focus: • From poverty to possibility – moving people out

of poverty and meeting basic human needs.

• All that kids can be – improving access to early

childhood and development learning programs, helping kids to do well and complete high school and supporting the healthy transition into adulthood and post-secondary education.

• Healthy people, strong communities – improving

access to social and health-related support services, supporting resident and community engagement and supporting community integration and settlement.

Each year the Government of the Northwest Territories has a month-long United Way Workplace Campaign. During this month, employees and Members of the Legislative Assembly and Ministers can sign up for payroll deductions and hold fundraising events. Payroll deductions are an easy way to support the United Way and other registered non-profit organizations that are based in and focused on the Northwest Territories. A few dollars off each paycheque will go a long way towards supporting non-profits and probably will not even be missed. I challenge all my colleagues here in the Assembly who do not already participate to sign up.

This is the 12th year of the Government of the

Northwest Territories Workplace Campaign. Many Members of this Assembly are donors or volunteers and our Government of the Northwest Territories staff have been generous contributors to the United Way. This year, Mr. Speaker, through the Workplace Campaign, we hope to increase the number of Government of the Northwest Territories staff who currently donate by payroll deduction to 10 percent of our employees. This would be a tremendous boost to the community and territorial organizations that United Way NWT supports.

I have said many times before that Northerners need to work together to create the kind of strong,

prosperous and environmentally sustainable territory that we want. The United Way NWT has taken up that challenge and is an important partner with us in supporting beneficial programs and services across the Northwest Territories. The Government of the Northwest Territories payroll campaign begins today and will end on November 21st .

I understand departmental coordinators are organizing events that will occur throughout the month and that deputy ministers are leading a government-wide interdepartmental challenge that will feature a number of friendly fundraising events.

I want to thank the United Way NWT and its volunteer chair, Tracy St. Denis of Industry, Tourism and Investment, our Government of the Northwest Territories Workplace Campaign departmental coordinators and all the staff that are donating and signing up for payroll deductions. Your efforts make a real difference in the lives of our fellow Northerners, and I am very proud to be your honourary chair. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.