Good afternoon, colleagues. Before we begin, I would like to take a moment to remember and honour family and friends who have recently passed on. When our small communities lose a family member, we all feel the loss.

On behalf of this House, I want to express sincere condolences to Marcus Ruben and family on the recent passing of Ida Sarah Ruben. Ida was born in Aklavik on March 20, 1945, to Johnny and Ruth Kayotuk, and grew up with her siblings, Moses, Leland, Eva and Lena. Ida attended school in Aklavik and later Stringer Hall in Inuvik, where she met a lot of people and made a lot of friends.

On May 5, 1960, Ida married Marcus Ruben and they raised 10 children together. Ida dedicated her life to her family and enjoyed spending time out on the land with her husband, where they hunted and prepared food for the year.

Ida was a caring and loving wife, mother, daughter, auntie, sister, friend and nanuk. She touched the lives of many and was known to everyone as Nan. Ida will be missed, but never forgotten.

Roger “Malinik” Kuptana passed away peacefully December 1, 2014. Roger was born to William and Sarah Kuptana in the Mackenzie Delta north of Aklavik in May 1951. As a young boy, Roger learned the culture and traditions of his ancestors, living on the land, hunting and trapping.

At the age of 12 or 13, Roger attended school for the first time and quickly recognized the opportunities he saw before him. He continued his high school education in Fort Smith and then pursued military training in Ontario, where he began a three-year apprenticeship to become an aircraft engineer. Roger returned to the North and continued his apprenticeship with Reindeer Air Services Limited in Inuvik. Later he moved to Yellowknife to work with Wardair where, in 1976, he became the first Inuvialuit in the territory to become a licenced aircraft engineer.

In 1977 Roger moved to Sachs Harbour, where he married his wife, Jackie, and adopted two children,

Jeff and Catherine. In Sachs Harbour, Roger returned to a more traditional way of life and spent a great deal of time teaching others about his culture. Roger also became involved in sport hunting and in 1991 opened a bed and breakfast, which is now known as the PolarGrizz Lodge.

Roger knew the best of both worlds. He was successful in business and strong in his culture. Roger was generous and known for his sense of humour. Above all else, Roger valued his family. He will always be loved and remembered by all who knew him. On behalf of this House, I send condolences to Jackie Kuptana and all of the Kuptana family on their loss.

On behalf of the House, I also want to extend condolences to Bessie Ann Tedjuk and Ronald “Inung Senior” Felix and family on the passing of Ronald Norman “Inung Junior” Felix Tedjuk.

Ronald Junior was born in Inuvik on September 2, 1992. Growing up, Ronald loved hunting and fishing with his father and spending time with his brothers, family and friends. Ronald always had a smile for everyone and would always help out if somebody was in need. He loved spending time with friends, drinking coffee, playing poker and just being together. Ronald will be remembered fondly by all who knew him.

Finally, I want to extend the condolences of the House and my Nunakput constituents to Eunice Nasogaluak and family on the passing of William Nasogaluak on January 12, 2015.

William Nasogaluak was born on May 31, 1938, at Bailey Island, to Big Joe and Susie Nasogaluak. The third of 11 children, William knew the importance of family and took great pride and honour in his parents, siblings and children. Family was what mattered most in his life.

In everything he did, William worked hard to do his best, from operating heavy equipment in Alberta as a young man to working on the DEW Line sites and later, as a businessman, tending to his reindeer herd.

Despite his hard work, William found time to be an entertainer, playing guitar and bass for countless dances. He was even known to play the fiddle. William was also an Inuvialuit drummer. He took

great pride in the old songs and helped revive the drum dance group in Tuk.

William dedicated a great deal of his time to his community, from driving the school bus when he was a young man, to serving on the advisory council prior to the community becoming a hamlet, and later to serving as mayor and deputy mayor for many years. William wanted to see his community prosper and worked hard to see this through. His positive impacts on the community are just one of his legacies.

May God bless each of you who have lost a loved one. Thank you, colleagues.

Orders of the day. Item 2, Ministers’ statements. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Abernethy.