Welcome back, colleagues. It is my pleasure to reconvene the Fifth Session of the 17th Legislative Assembly.

I know that all Members have been busy since we last met here in March. Committees and departments have been travelling to many of our communities to hear the views of our residents of the Northwest Territories. Many of us also had the opportunity to spend time in our communities working with our constituents. The connection with our constituents is what makes our work so meaningful.

Colleagues, I was very happy to welcome back the 2015 Youth Parliamentarians as they gathered here for a week earlier this month. I had the pleasure of meeting with all 19 Members, and as usual, I am very proud of the young people involved.

I say that after every Youth Parliament, colleagues, but if our youth are any indication, the Northwest Territories has a very bright future. We heard our young people speak with poise and confidence about the issues that affect them, their families and friends. They bravely tackled issues we wrestle with all the time in this Chamber.

I extend my congratulations to the young people, the parents and teachers who support them, to those Members who made the time to meet and encourage the participants, and to our staff who made such a meaningful forum.

Speaking of young people, please join me in welcoming the Pages for this sitting of the Assembly. It’s always a pleasure to have them in the House. We have students from Boot Lake, Deh Cho and Yellowknife joining us during the next two weeks.

Colleagues, it is now my duty to advise the House that I have received the following message from the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories. It reads:

Dear Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise that I recommend to the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories, the passage of

•

Supplementary Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures), No. 4, 2014-2015

•

Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 2, 2015-2016

•

Supplementary Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures), No. 1, 2015-2016

during the Fifth Session of the 17th Legislative

Assembly. Yours truly, George L. Tuccaro, Commissioner.

Thank you, colleagues. Orders of the day. Item 2, Ministers’ statements. Premier McLeod.