Masi. Our condolences also to the family and community members. Masi. Member’s statement. Member for Deh Cho.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wanted to take the time to say a few words in my language about the late Daniel Sonfrere of the Katl'odeeche Reserve, who passed away August 24ththth, a week shy of his 98th birthday.

[English translation not provided]

There was a feast and honour of the late Daniel Sonfrere's funeral and many people travelled to Hay River to attend his funeral. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Members' statements. Returns to oral questions. Minister of Finance.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have a Return to Oral Question asked by Ms. Green on June 29, 2016, regarding Reporting of the Government Fiscal Responsibility Policy. The Fiscal Responsibility Policy is focused on committing the GNWT to prudent borrowing to ensure long-term fiscal sustainability. If the GNWT does not achieve sufficient cash from operating surpluses to finance 50 per cent of infrastructure investments in a fiscal year, the GNWT would be required to adopt a fiscal strategy to ensure sufficient operating surpluses were achieved over the subsequent two fiscal periods to bring the GNWT back into compliance. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

MR. SPEAKER: Masi. Returns to oral questions. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it's my pleasure to welcome Brenda Sayers to our Chamber today. She is the Hupacasath First Nation member who led the fight against the Canada/China Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Act. She served on the council of her Hupacasath First Nation and a director of the tribal council as well. She's here in Yellowknife this week to speak and teach about the trans-pacific trade partnership. I would like you to join me in welcoming her to our Chamber. Further, Mr. Speaker, in the gallery today are several hard-working EDs of non-profits including Kim Doyle, the executive director of Yellowknife Seniors, Steven Jackson, the CEO of Avens, and Lydia Bardak, the executive director of the John Howard Society. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Recognition of visitors in gallery. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It gives me great pleasure to recognize my wife, Judy, who's had to put up with me for 37 years so you all know that she's extremely strong. I would also like to recognize a constituent from Inuvik and my official agent, Mr. Denny Rodgers, and seated next to him is Jiri Raska, I think, with Inuvialuit Development Corporation or Regional Corporation. Welcome to the gallery. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Kam Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to recognize Alexander Lambrecht. He's the president of the Northern Territories Federation of Labour. It's good to have you here with us today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Recognition of visitors in gallery. Member for Yellowknife North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to take the opportunity to recognize Yellowknife North constituent Lois Little. She is also the chair of the Council for Canadians. I want to also take this opportunity to recognize a familiar face but that doesn't often come and sit in the gallery, and that is Yellowknife North resident and constituent assistant to Kevin O'Reilly and Julie Green, Craig Yeo. I also want to take this opportunity to recognize fellow former City Councillor and of course executive director of the John Howard Society, Lydia Bardak. Also on a rare occasion but a familiar face, my own constituent assistant for the riding of Yellowknife North, Mr. Keith MacNeill. Thank you all for coming.

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Yellowknife South.

I am pleased to recognize a constituent from Yellowknife South, Mr. Lona Hegeman, who is accompanied by Mr. Amir Kassab. Mr. Kassab is originally from Paris, France, and is in the Northwest Territories on a two-year work visa. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and welcome.

Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Great Slave.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to recognize some students from the Tree of Peace Adult Education program. This program has been operating since 1974 and it has assisted hundreds of Aboriginal people, both access and achieve their academic goals. The students with us today are William Buggins, Annie Harry, Justin Donovan, Ernest Okian, and Marie Louise Abel. I'd like to welcome them to the gallery. I'd also like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and welcome Steven Jackson, the executive director of Avens, and Kimberly Doyle, the executive director of the YK Seniors' Society. Welcome everybody to the Chamber today. Thank you.

Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Frame Lake.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to recognize Kimberly Doyle. I can't see her, but she's a constituent. She helped me set up a constituency meeting last week. Also Lois Little, who is the chair of the local chapter of the Council of Canadians and is doing some important work on public education around the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement, and Mr. Craig Yeo who is my constituency assistant, does a lot of work behind the scenes and doesn't often get the recognition he deserves. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Range Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to take a moment to recognize the students from Range Lake. It's always an honour when we have youth attending the Legislative Assembly. They will be our future leaders and it's really great to see them taking part in our meetings here.

I also want to take a moment to recognize Anne Harry. Annie is a personal friend of mine. I really appreciate her, and I also want to recognize her daughter, who isn't here but who will be the coordinator of the Housing First project. So I just want to take a moment to recognize and say how much I really appreciate all that they've done. Thank you.

Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Hay River North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize my father, Rocky Simpson. It's always nice to have family in the gallery, so I'd like to thank him for coming. Thank you.

Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Nunakput.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would just like to recognize some folks from the Beaufort-Delta. Jiri Raska from IDC, Denny Rodgers from IDC as well, and Ms. Judy McLeod and also Mr. Rocky Simpson. Welcome to them and everyone else in the gallery. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. I believe the Member for Yellowknife Centre missed an important person, so I'll allow that opportunity.