Colleagues, I'm pleased to welcome you back to the House to resume the second session of the 18th Legislative Assembly. I would like to take this opportunity to wish you and all the residents of the Northwest Territories a very happy new year. This is not only a time to reflect on all that has influenced our shared history but also a time to look forward to what may be.

Through our choices and our actions, we all have the ability to influence our futures. The decisions we make during the session and sitting will impact the future we share as the people of the Northwest Territories. We must choose wisely and work diligently to help create a meaningful and prosperous future for our people and our land.

Colleagues, it is with regret that I inform the House of the passing of a former Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, Mr. William "Binx" Remnant, who passed away January 5th. Mr. Remnant served as a clerk’s assistant from 1963 to 1966 and, from 1966 to 1982, served as the first clerk of our Legislative Assembly. Following his time here, Mr. Remnant went on to serve as the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly for Manitoba for 17 years. For nearly two decades, Mr. Remnant served this institution with professionalism, integrity, and unsurpassed knowledge. His dedication and expertise was foundational in the development of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories as we know it today. So, on behalf of this Assembly, I extend our sincere sympathy to his family and also his friends.

Colleagues, I would like to acknowledge all the pages we will have with us throughout this session, this sitting. We have students from:

● Inualthuyak School in Sachs Harbour;

● East Three Secondary School in Inuvik;

● Chief Julius School in Fort McPherson;

● Alexis Arrowmaker School in Wekweeti;

● Colville Lake School in Colville Lake;

● Deh Gah School in Fort Providence;

● Charles Yohin School in Nahanni Butte;

● P. W. Kaeser High School in Fort Smith;

● K'alemì Dene School in Ndilo;

● Diamond Jenness High School and Ecole Boreale School in Hay River; and

● Ecole Sir John Franklin High School and Ecole St. Patrick High School in Yellowknife.

Welcome and thank you to all the pages that will be with us during this sitting. It is always a pleasure to share this Chamber with the future leaders of our territory.

Colleagues, our calling is not an easy one. Each day we make difficult decisions that will not only impact ourselves but all the people throughout the North. We must work tirelessly to ensure that the decisions we make today build on the foundation for the territory we wish to see tomorrow.

As we turn our minds to the hard work ahead of us, I ask that you conduct yourselves with respect, respect for yourselves and for each other, respect for the House and our unique form of consensus style government, respect for your constituencies and all the people that we serve throughout the Northwest Territories.

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

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

● Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures), 2017-2018;

● Supplementary Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures), No. 2, 2016-2017;

● Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2016-2017;

● Supplementary Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures), No. 1, 2017-2018; and

● Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 1, 2017-2018

during the second session of the 18th Legislative Assembly. Yours truly, Gerald W. Kisoun Deputy Commissioner.

Masi, colleagues. Orders of the day, item 2, Ministers' statements. Honourable Premier.