Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Hay River Territorial Park beach is a great draw for both residents and tourists, and I am pleased to see the strides that ITI is making to increase its level of safety. I would like to share some of these safety developments with you today.

A number of safety recommendations were made by the Lifesaving Society of Alberta and the Northwest Territories in the safety audit that it conducted for ITI in July of 2013. ITI will be implementing all of the water safety recommendations at both Hay River and the Fred Henne beaches this summer. Permanent lifejacket loaner stations will be in place this summer. These stations will be available at both beaches for swimmers who are not equipped with a personal floatation device. ITI has also developed new signage with simple messaging to promote public awareness and education. Signage includes information regarding beach rules, a map of the beach, safety equipment and facility locations, as well as hazard identification and emergency contact information. An emergency phone will be installed this summer season as well as beach safety equipment such as throw bags and ring floats. The swim area will be identified with markers this summer, something that hasn’t been in place for many years.

While not a recommendation of the audits, ITI is also ensuring that there will be supervision at both beaches this summer. Trained beach attendants will be on the beaches starting mid-June and remain there until Labour Day weekend. There will be two beach attendants in Hay River Territorial Park beach on duty seven days a week. These attendants will be trained in water rescue in up to 1.2 metres, aquatic emergency assistance, First Aid and CPR. The Lifesaving Society will provide training and is developing guidelines and procedures. Beach attendants will educate beach goers on safety behaviour on the beach as well as monitor the designated swimming area to ensure that children aged seven and younger are within the arm’s reach of a guardian 16 years of age or older.

ITI is working in conjunction with the GNWT Drowning Prevention Group to promote public education throughout the NWT related to water safety. These initiatives, led by the Department of Health and Social Services, are not specific to territorial parks, but rather, broader-based water safety. They include public education, building community capacity, social marketing and community-based research. As an example, during Water Safety Week there will be a news release promoting water safety awareness.

We are dedicated, as a government, to creating sustainable, vibrant, safe communities, which is the goal of the 17th Legislative Assembly, and the steps we are taking now will help us reach that goal.

I would like to seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

I have made reference to the Fred Henne Park, and I have made reference to the Hay River beach, and as we know, most NWT communities are located on a river or a lake. I would like to also encourage the government to further expand this initiative to promote water safety to these communities, because summer is finally here and you can be sure that kids are going to be jumping in the rivers and lakes on those hot summer days. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Mr. Lafferty.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to oral question asked by Ms. Bisaro on March 13, 2014, regarding junior kindergarten.

Ms. Bisaro asked about the endorsement of Aboriginal Head Start programs and use of such programs as Junior Kindergarten in the eight Northwest Territories communities where such programs operate.

I must applaud the Western Arctic Head Start Council for providing quality early childhood programming for the past 17 years in the Northwest Territories and for their contributions they have made to help children, families and communities.

The eight Aboriginal Head Start programs that operate in the NWT are funded by the Government of Canada, which is why they are able to offer free half-day programming in their communities.

In addition to federal funding, all the NWT Aboriginal Head Start programs are eligible to receive funding from the GNWT’s early childhood programming. The implementation of junior kindergarten will not affect either the federal or the territorial funding that the NWT Aboriginal Head Start programs receive. They will still be able to offer the same quality, no cost half-day programming to three- and four-year-old children. Junior kindergarten is not meant to compete with Aboriginal Head Start; rather, it offers parents across the NWT another consistent choice regardless of where they live or what their economic situation is.

Although there are eight NWT Aboriginal Head Start programs operating, the fact remains that 25 communities in the Northwest Territories do not have Aboriginal Head Start. Ten communities have no licenced child care or early learning options at all. The majority of all other licenced preschool programs, daycares and family day homes are fee-based. It’s difficult to find safe, affordable space for licenced early childhood programs within many of our communities.

It is the mandate of the Department of Education, Culture and Employment to offer consistent programming in every community. It would not be fair to offer a free full-day program in one community but not in another.

We know the benefits of early childhood education are profound. The implementation of junior kindergarten has the potential to reach children and families across the NWT and in communities where no early childhood programming has been available thus far. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Colleagues, before we start, I’d like to draw your attention to the presence in the gallery of Ms. Corin Robertson, the United Kingdom Deputy High Commissioner to Canada, from their embassy in Ottawa. Welcome to the House.

---Applause

Travelling with her today is Mr. Rupert Potter, British Consul General from Vancouver. Welcome to the Northwest Territories.

---Applause

Honourable Premier, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m pleased to recognize two visitors from Scotland, Pat and Jim Thom, and also I’d be remiss if I didn’t recognize that Pat grew up in Yellowknife at Giant Mine townsite and some of you long-time Yellowknifers may remember her as Pat Spence. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Mr. Beaulieu.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As you know, Rocher River is still part of my riding of Tu Nedhe, so I’d like to recognize my auntie Vivian Kelly, who originated from Rocher River, and also her daughter, my cousin, Linda Wood. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Mr. Ramsay.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize two constituents with me today here in the House, Ms. Linda Wood and also Vivian Kelly. Welcome. Also, I’d like to welcome the UK Deputy High Commissioner in Ottawa, Ms. Corin Robertson and, as well, Mr. Rupert Potter based in Vancouver. He’s the Consul General with the British government in Vancouver. Welcome, folks, and enjoy the rest of your visit here. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As always, it gives me great pleasure to acknowledge and welcome NWT’s favorite son – and we all know who that is – Mr. Anthony W.J. Whitford. There he is. He attends hearings quite often.

Mr. Speaker, I also want to acknowledge Ms. Lydia Bardak. She’s the executive director of the John Howard Society. As I understand it, right on the side here we have Hannah Allen. She’s a Page for this session and she’s from Yellowknife Centre.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, the last person I’d like to acknowledge in the gallery here today is Zoe Ignacio-Pacunayen. She’s my constituency assistant for the summer. She’s in her second year of dental hygiene down south, but I hope she makes sure she will return to the Territories to work full time. Please give her a warm welcome.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Dolynny.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to introduce, to you and through you, one of the residents from Range Lake. She probably doesn’t need any introduction, but Ms. Carmen Moore who is from the office of protocol and she’s one of our best ambassadors that I think we have in the North and, of course, our special guest. Thank you for joining us today. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize the leadership from the Sahtu, specifically the Tulita leadership delegation. I’d like to recognize the grand chief and Chief Frank Andrew; president Clarence Campbell from Tulita Land and Financial Corporation; vice-president Jimmy Mendo; Sally Horassi, board member; Leon Andrew, board member; and from the Fort Norman Metis Land Corporation, Rocky Norwegian, board member; and Valerie Yakeleya, board member. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Bromley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First of all I’d like to recognize, of course, Tony Whitford, resident of Weledeh. Welcome, Tony. I recognize other residents up there. I know Sheila Bassi-Kellett, I think I saw her up there with our special guests; Lydia; and I’d also like to recognize our distinguished visitors from Britain and also I’d like to offer a wee welcome to our Irish visitors, Pat and Jim Thom. I know Pat has a strong affiliation with Giant, which is, of course, in the Weledeh riding. Welcome.

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. I’d like to welcome everybody here in the public gallery today. Thank you for taking an interest in our proceedings. Item 6, acknowledgements. Mr. Blake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mrs. Mary Kendi, a well-respected elder from Aklavik, passed away in Inuvik on Monday, May 26, 2014. Mary just recently celebrated her 99th birthday.

Born on the Pokiak Channel in 1915, Mary Vittrekwa spent her early years in Aklavik, Fort McPherson and Nagwichoo Tshik, mouth of the Peel. She married Alfred Kendi in 1932 and together raised 10 children. She sewed for her family, always making sure her children had slippers and fancy footwear and they were dressed warm in winter months. Later on, taking care of her grandchildren sewing traditional parkys, mukluks, mitts, Mary took great pride in dressing her family with her sewing. Many of her works are now treasured keepsakes in the homes throughout the Delta.

She always had a home-cooked meal ready for anyone when they visited her, a sure sign that she often had people in her home or was expecting people to stop by. Mary contributed effortlessly to the Anglican Church in Aklavik; she was a member of the Women’s Auxiliary and Women’s Institute. Mary was one of the founding members of the Gwich’in Social and Cultural Institute, one of the first women in the NWT to receive the Wise Women Award. She received numerous awards throughout her lifetime, special tributes at events and gatherings. She is honoured for her many years of dedication and commitment to her community. Mary spoke strongly about the importance of young people being well educated both in today’s world and the ancestors’. It was important for Mary to pass on cultural survival skills and traditional knowledge. She made our community a better place to live by being a positive role model to everyone. Mary Kendi will be forever remembered and deeply missed. Condolences to the family. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Blake. Condolences to the Kendi family on behalf of all of us at the Assembly.

Item 7, oral questions. Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. Beaulieu.

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. The fuel prices include the cost of the actual product being purchased, the transportation cost to get the product to the community, there’s a sales commission for the sales within the community and the O and M expenses, evaporation loss and taxes. Thank you.