Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. To the motion. Mr. Nadli.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I stand in support of the motion and I would like to thank my colleagues, Mr. Bromley and Ms. Bisaro, for putting this motion forward. A couple of years back I had the opportunity and the honour to work with some elders. The elders were talking in their language, and this must have been about 20 or so ago. They were talking about phenomena that will happen in the natural environment when the sun floods, and today the motion speaks to those natural phenomena that have impacted several of our communities. Somehow those disasters that we face, fortunately, there weren’t any human fatalities, but there was a cost to infrastructure. You know, the governments, at some point, have to try to assist communities, and this puts the government in that position to seek the federal government to look at perhaps an increase in the operational budget of the governments so communities that face disasters will be assisted somehow. So that motion perhaps would set an opportunity in stage for that to happen. With that, I’ll be supporting this motion. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Nadli. To the motion.

Question has been called. Mr. Bromley, do you have closing remarks on it?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Very briefly, I want to thank all my colleagues who spoke today and I recognize that this is symbolic more than anything but sometimes symbols can be very important, as we all know. I appreciated the comment about elders and Mr. Yakeleya’s comment. We all can have different perspectives, I think. The more we learn about this issue, I think the more we will all speak with one voice, and our elders are one source of knowledge. They are very important on this issue. I want to recognize that Mr. Miltenberger has been a champion for the entire eight years that I’ve been in office, of policy and actions to deal with environmental issues such as this and his comments are relevant again today. I guess I’ll leave it at that and thank my colleagues for speaking and considering this motion. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The Member is asking for a recorded vote. All those in favour, please stand.

All those opposed, please stand. All those abstaining, please stand.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. All those in favour, nine; all those opposed, zero; abstentions, eight. Motion is carried.

---Carried

Item 17, first reading of bills. Mr. Bromley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to return to item 5 on our Order Paper, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mahsi.

---Unanimous consent granted

Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize Madam France Benoit in the gallery today, the widow of the late Doug Ritchie and a major crusader on doing things better for our people and for the land. I think it’s very appropriate that she’s in the gallery today as we discuss this last item. I’ve certainly had Doug in mind as I’ve been doing a lot of my work and I know that a lot of my colleagues have too. Thank you very much.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Item 18, second reading of bills. Item 19, consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters: Bill 54, An Act to Amend the Forest Management Act; and Minister’s Statement 221-17(5), Sessional Statement, with Mr. Bouchard in the Chair.

Members, I’ll call Committee of the Whole to order. What is the wish of the committee? Ms. Bisaro.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that we report progress.

---Carried

I will now rise and report progress.

Item 20, report of committee of the whole. Mr. Bouchard.

Thank you, Mr. Bouchard. Do we have a seconder? Mr. Bromley.

----Applause

Item 21, third reading of bills. Mr. Abernethy.

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Thebacha, that Bill 55, Mental Health Act, be read for the third time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. Motion is in order. To the motion.

Question has been called. Motion is carried.

---Carried

Bill 55 has had third reading.

---Applause