Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, over the years I have sat in this House, but my constituents in Tsiigehtchic look forward to this time of year, not only because it is the time of hunting and fishing, Mr. Speaker, but it is also one of the times during the year that we have a full qualified nurse, during freeze-up.

Mr. Speaker, I can't express enough the relief in the community during this time when we have a nurse in our community. Mr. Speaker, I think we're a little ways off from getting a full-time nurse in Tsiigehtchic, but I think we're making progress with the new unit that's been put in Tsiigehtchic for both nurses and the RCMP. Mr. Speaker, I'll have some questions for the Minister later today. Mahsi.

Masi. Member's statements. Member for Sahtu.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today my statement is on the devolution and the transfer of responsibilities negotiated over many assemblies at a cost. Now that we are faced with the largest oil field industrial reclamation in the North, which also occupies the NWT Power Corporation's power plants and land tenure issues and for other various liabilities that could be viewed as a transfer to this government after the post-devolution of this piece of property is cleaned and transferred.

I will later have questions to the Minister of Lands. It could be also viewed in light of the fact that it's Small Business Week, that this could be a huge contribution to the economic community, the business community. Already we have seen permits being applied for by the occupant and a cost quotation estimated at spending $178 million for the reclamation. I would think that's a sizeable market to track the small business community during this particular week. Later I will have questions, as mentioned, to the Minister of Lands. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Member's statements. Member for Nunakput.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the last sitting I spoke about shoreline erosion in the Community of Tuktoyaktuk. Mr. Speaker, the climate is changing on a global scale with profound effects on local marine, freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems across all continents. Moreover, although most regions of the world will be affected by these global processes, some of the areas of types of ecosystems such as the Arctic will experience effects of climate change more dramatically.

Mr. Speaker, as the Arctic melts the sea level is rising, the loss of our ice is challenging our communities dependent on snow and ice and turn these coastal communities at sea level, the global community shares that we are more common than we are different. In our relationship to the land the challenges we face as our land is changed rapidly and unpredictably, and the best practice is to mitigate these changes and adapt to the challenges. Subsistence-oriented communities have a multi-dimensional relationship with the land, the environment, the animals, and the plants it provides. This relationship is spiritual, physical, economic and cultural. Subsistence-oriented communities including both Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples depend on natural resources for our livelihoods and cultural identity.

Mr. Speaker, we know our land and our Indigenous knowledge of ecological systems can reflect great time depth. Our knowledge can deepen our understanding of the climate change by providing insight into its effects on ecosystems and people. In all regions of the world Indigenous peoples are observing multiple linked environmental changes. For example, as noted above, Arctic coastal communities link changes in sea ice, ice cover and dynamics to coastal erosion and recently the need to relocate some communities, Mr. Speaker. People also recognize that these changes have ramifying consequences such as effects on animal migration patterns. Many of the effects on climate change on communities' lifestyles. Fine-scale environmental changes have enormous consequences for Inuit communities. Mr. Speaker, today I will have questions for the Minister of MACA on the Tuktoyaktuk mitigation planning project. Quyanainni, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh.

Marci cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I recognized the two pages that are here from my riding, but I got one of the schools wrong, so I'm going to do it again. I would like to recognize Bryanna Cheesma from the Kaw Tay Whee School in Detah and Joseph Charlo-Lafferty from the St. Patrick School here in Yellowknife. Also I'd like to recognize some other members from Detah that are here, our interpreter Mary Rose Sundberg of course has become a regular interpreter in the House thanks to you, Mr. Speaker. Also I'd like to recognize Mr. Ernie Abel, Ernie is a father of our hard working administrator Shawn Abel who's in administration here for us. I'd also like to recognize our deputy sergeant-at-arms who's also originally from Detah, Derek Edjericon. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to recognize several Yellowknife South constituents. First of all, Mr. Eric Bilodeau. Mr. Bilodeau is a student studying politics in the North. Welcome to the House. Also two pages from Yellowknife South constituency, Drew Wolfe and Elle Mitchener, and I also recognize all the other pages in the House. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Deh Cho.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It's not often I rise up in the House and recognize people, but I'd like to recognize Ernie Abel, the executive director of Tree of Peace and also at the same time Mr. William Greenland, facilitator of A New Day program. Mahsi.

Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Yellowknife Centre.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it's my pleasure to introduce Jacq Brasseur, she's the driving force behind the new Rainbow Youth Centre in Yellowknife.

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Inuvik Boot Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. At this time I'd like to welcome my cousin, William Greenland to the House and also a well-renowned artist here in the Northwest Territories. Welcome.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd also like to recognize Mr. William Greenland from the New Day program, Ernest Abel, Executive Director from the Tree of Peace. Thank you for all that you do for men in need. I'd also like to recognize Jacq Brasseur for her amazing work with the Rainbow Coalition of Yellowknife. Finally, I'd like to recognize my constituency assistant Garett Cochrane, it's his birthday today, and we're very pleased to have him in the Chamber. Thank you.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I too would like to recognize Jacq Brasseur, providing small community contributions to our small communities and William Greenland, a familiar voice to our small communities providing announcements and emergency messages going to the smaller communities through the airways. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, as well, want to take this opportunity today to recognize a page that works with us that is also a Yellowknife North resident, and that is Rayyan Awan. I want to thank all of our pages for what they do for us. We're, frankly, lost without them, so we appreciate your efforts. I also want to take this opportunity to recognize Jacq Brasseur, who does a lot of work for the community, especially for Rainbow Coalition of Yellowknife as well as her involvement in the United Way. I, as well, want to take this opportunity to recognize a well-known personality, Mr. William Greenland, who I believe is still a resident of the Yellowknife North. Thank you.

Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Anyone in the gallery, welcome to our Chamber. It's always nice to have an audience as part of our proceedings. Item 6, acknowledgements. Member for Hay River North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I want to acknowledge longtime Hay River resident, Alison Kilgour. Earlier this month, Ms. Kilgour received the Long Service Award for her 45 years of service with the GNWT. This is a milestone that only one other GNWT employee has ever achieved. Ms. Kilgour was raised in the North. After attending university, she moved to Hay River, began working at Library Services in the Hay River Centennial Library, and she has been there ever since. Her co-workers describe her as a model employee. It's assured that whatever task she takes on will be completed thoroughly and without compromise. In addition to acknowledging her achievement, I also want to thank Ms. Kilgour for her 45 years of dedicated service. Today is her last day with the GNWT. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Congratulations to her, as well. Acknowledgements. Item 7, oral questions. Member for Nunakput.