Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The world, including we in the NWT, has come to a fork in the road. We must all choose. The choice will affect what kind of world we live in and leave for our children and grandchildren. We can choose to ignore the science telling us that continued fossil fuel extraction beyond 20 percent of known conventional reserves must stay in the ground. We can ignore the respected voices telling us that economies based on fossil fuels are not sustainable morally, financially or ecologically from Pope Francis to Mark Carney to the Rockefellers. We can ignore the mounting evidence of damage caused by fracking and other fossil fuel extraction leading to adverse health impacts and disastrous climate change, contaminated lakes and rivers, poisoned aquifers and earthquakes, or we can choose a path less travelled. One million dollars invested in renewable energy creates three to four times as many jobs as does oil and gas.

Renewable energy production is hitting its stride worldwide. Denmark broke a world record for wind production by getting almost 40 percent of its overall electricity from wind in 2014, breaking UK's record of 25 percent of total production. On a day in December 2014, Germany reached 50 percent of energy demand from solar and wind.

The Globe and Mail reported in December that Canada's green energy sector had grown so quickly and is so vital to the economy that it now employs more people than the tar sands; good, sustainable jobs immune to the cycles of boom and bust associated with fossil fuel extraction. Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia have seen their capacity to produce pollution-free electricity increase by eight gigawatts in the past five years, allowing one more Canadian household a minute to be powered by 100 percent renewable energy.

In that same period, investors have moved $25 billion into the sectors, spurring a 37 percent employment increase in renewable energy industries. Wind, solar, river and biomass capacity nearly doubled. This is momentum.

An economy based on renewable energy focuses benefits locally, as opposed to giving them to shareholders from afar. It provides equitable benefits, as opposed to a few big winners and many losers. A renewable energy approach creates self-sufficiency, addresses the cost of living, improves our health and engages families and their communities and their land.

I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement. Mahsi.

---Unanimous consent granted

In the words of an economist, “The solution to both climate and economy is worldwide conversion from fossil fuels to renewables.” This massive conversion program will lead to powerful economic growth, less economic drag from energy costs, higher revenue for treasuries and strong employment drivers.

So, here we are at the fork in the road, choosing between a path that continues to destroy our planet and offers only a few local boom and bust jobs in return, and a renewable energy future that holds a promise of healthy, lasting jobs and a sustainable economy. Which do we choose? Our people, our children, our communities await our decision with bated breath.

I will have questions for the Premier. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Blake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As spring is in the air, our communities in the Beaufort-Delta are preparing for the annual spring jamborees. On March 27^th Inuvik will be hosting their jamboree, followed by Aklavik on April 3^rd, Fort McPherson on April 10^th, Tuk on April 17^th and then Tsiigehtchic on the 24^th of April.

This is a time when everyone in the delta gathers in each community, touring around the communities of the Beaufort-Delta. Good times, dancing, activities - people are active and enjoying the spring weather. I encourage everyone in the Legislative Assembly to come and join us this spring. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Blake. Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a tradition of putting my final Member's statement of the budget session to song. I know my colleagues look forward to it every year with great anticipation, as you do too, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, early in this session, the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment announced the traditional names for the great Mackenzie River that flows north majestically through our beautiful land. We're all familiar with the South Slavey name for the river, Deh Cho. In my language, the North Slavey language, the name is a little different. The great Harry Bellafonte paid homage to the ancient one's way in my language. Here it goes, Mr. Speaker.

Deh! Me say day-ay-ay-o.

Deh cho go north to my Sahtu home.

Deh! Me say day-ay-ay-o.

Springtime come and me wanna go home.

Got to get home before the springtime come.

There's usually a choir but we can't do it, Mr. Speaker, so...

Springtime come and me wanna go home.

Six weeks of session and my brain is done!

Springtime come and me wanna go home.

Come, Mr. Speakerman, speak to me adjournment.

Springtime come and me wanna go home.

Work all day and not one change to the budget, man.

Springtime come and me wanna go home.

Deh! Me say day-ay-ay-o.

In one month's time we'll be back to isolation.

Springtime come and no way to get home.

I guess all-weather road is now a transition item.

Winter road melt and me gotta fly home.

Me say Deh! Me say deh. Me say day-ay-ay-o.

Me say Deh!

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Happy Easter to all.

---Applause

I think we're going to make a CD of all your songs, Norman. Good job. Member for Thebacha, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd just like to take a few moments of the House's time to thank two Pages, Krizzia Concepcion and Kezia McDonald, and their chaperon and mother to Krizzia, and thank all the Pages for their work. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Member for Monfwi, Mr. Lafferty.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] Mr. Speaker, this weekend there's going to be hand games in Behchoko. This is going to be an annual game. There are going to be 19 communities in the hand games: Behchoko, Whati, Gameti, Detah, Ndilo, Lutselk'e, Deline, Tulita, Fort Good Hope, Colville Lake, Norman Wells, Hay River Reserve, Fort Smith, Wrigley, Fort Simpson, Bushie River, Alberta; Chateh, Alberta; Meander, Alberta; Ross River, Yukon. Those are the teams that are going to be competing in the hand games in Behchoko tomorrow.

I know there are other teams that still have to register, but there is still time for them to register. There might be a few more teams that are still going to be registering.

Each year we have hand games at this time of the year. At that time they all compete for top prizes, a top prize of $50,000. Six to eight teams are to walk away with a cash prize.

Everybody is welcome to attend and enjoy the games. There are always beautiful arts and crafts available for sale. We have a lot of beautiful arts and crafts that are going to be available.

When there is an event like this, there are always raffle tickets. Maybe there will be a vehicle to raffle off.

So, that starts tomorrow. On Saturday night there will be a huge drum dance that everyone can participate in. That's what we do every year and we call it the Dene Boogie.

I want to wish safe travels to all those coming in from afar, to enjoy the games with us and to travel home safely.

I would also like to say good luck to all the teams that will be competing this weekend, and safe travels home.

Finally, I would also like to say thank you to all the organizers who work hard for this annual event. I hope that everyone has a fun and safe time in Behchoko this weekend. I know there will be a lot of people, so good luck to all the teams. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Item 4, reports of standing and special committees. Item 5, returns to oral questions. Item 6, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Premier, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm pleased to recognize today some members involved with the United Way. Tracy St-Denis is the chair; David Connelly, the past chair; Deb Ross, board member and GNWT campaign coordinator; and Craig Yeo, board member representing labour on the United Way NWT Campaign. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Bouchard.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would also like to recognize Rick Groenewegen, one of my constituents and a hardworking businessman in Hay River. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Bouchard. Mr. Bromley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd also like to recognize people from the United Way board and thank them for all their considerable efforts, very successful efforts, as we heard earlier today from the Premier. The Weledeh constituents, of course, Tracy St-Denis, Mr. David Connelly and Craig Yeo. I know my colleagues will recognize Craig Yeo, a hardworking CA for four years in the building here. Welcome to them and all the other board members and people working on the United Way campaign.

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Today I'd like to welcome my two Pages here from Nunakput, all the way from Paulatuk, Mr. James Wolki and Ms. Gloria Ruben. Also, I'd like to welcome Mr. Cam Innes and Tyler Pitzer who are some of my good friends who I worked up in Tuk with before coming here. Welcome to the House.

Mr. Ramsay.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to recognize all the visitors that we have in the gallery today. Specifically, I'd like to recognize a constituent of mine, Ms. Deborah Ross, and all of her hard work she puts into the United Way, as well as Mr. David Connelly, Mr. Craig Yeo, and the chairperson, Ms. Tracy St-Denis. Welcome to the House and thank you very much for, again, all the hard work you put into the United Way. I also want to recognize the gentleman from the Reach Group. Welcome to the House, also, to my friend Rick Groenewegen from Hay River.

I'd like to welcome all the visitors here in the public gallery. Thank you for taking an interest in our proceedings here today.

Item 7, acknowledgements. Item 8, oral questions. Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of ITI. It has been noted that the Sahtu received, to date, $13 million from the royalties from the diamond mines here. There are mining opportunities in this area here and I want to look at opportunities for jobs, especially outside the Yellowknife region.

I want to ask the Minister, what ways are you helping to ensure Sahtu residents are prepared for opportunities in the mining sector, either in this area here or in the Sahtu region?

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Mr. Ramsay.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to thank the Member for the question. We have had some success in holding the Mining 101 course. We've had a number of these meetings in the Sahtu. Specifically, we've been in Fort Good Hope, Deline, Colville Lake, Tulita. We've also been to the community of Nahanni Butte and also into Norman Wells. We have to continue to promote mining as a means to economic success here in the Northwest Territories. In the Member's riding we've had some success recently with Selwyn Chihong on the border with the Yukon. We've had discussions with those folks recently. That ore body does extend into the Northwest Territories and there is hope that that will be mined in the near future. We also have had some really good results from a stream sedimentary sampling program also on the border with the Yukon and the Northwest Territories, a high incidence of tungsten and gold. There are some real possibilities in the Member's riding for mining. Our hope is that we get that education component in the communities started right now so that people can look to mining as a career choice.