Masi, colleagues. It is my pleasure, colleagues, to welcome you back to the Chamber to resume our second session of the 18th Legislative Assembly. I know that your spring has been taken up with business plan reviews, numerous constituency tours, and also visiting and ongoing work of this government, but I hope that you have had an opportunity to connect on the land as well. Spring is one of the most beautiful seasons in the North, and I trust that you are energized and prepared for the work ahead of us. Members, on a sadder note, I join many other Northerners and offer the condolences of this House to the family of the late James Arvaluk. Mr. Arvaluk was a former Member of the Northwest Territories 12^th Assembly, and following division, a Member of the Nunavut Legislative Assembly. Our sincere sympathy is extended to his family, and also his friends and communities.

I would also like to acknowledge the Pages that we will have with us throughout this session. We have students from various communities throughout the North: Mackenzie Mountain School in Norman Wells; P.W. Kaeser School in Fort Smith; East Three Secondary School in Inuvik; Kakisa Secondary School in Kakisa; Moose Kerr School in Aklavik; Ecole Boreale in Hay River; and Ecole William McDonald School in Yellowknife. Welcome to all of you and thank you for your contribution. It's always a pleasure to share this Chamber with the youth of our territory.

I know that you are eager to turn your attention to the work at hand, colleagues, and I will close with the following request: I ask that you follow the rules and procedures that you have established to guide the proceedings. I ask that you work together to conduct your proceedings with dignity and also with respect for each other, for the institution we serve, and for our constituents. As your Speaker, I commit to assisting you in any way that I can to make your work as productive as possible.

Now I wish to advise the House that I received the following message from the Deputy Commissioner of the Northwest Territories. It reads:

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

• Interim Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures), 2016-2017; and
• Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 1, 2015-2016

during the second session of the 18th Assembly.

Yours truly, Gerald W. Kisoun, Deputy Commissioner.

I would like to say masi, colleagues. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Honourable Premier.