Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Deh Cho is the gateway to the NWT with its communities of Enterprise, Kakisa, the Hay River Reserve from Fort Providence and situated along the highway.

Mr. Speaker, these communities have been very busy over the last year. A stand-up crew of 12 led by Fire Chief Blair Porter brought the Enterprise volunteer fire department back to life. The hamlet also welcomed the wood pellet start-up, Aurora Pellets Limited, clearly enterprises on arise. Further down the road, Kakisa opened its brand new long-awaited community hall with a wonderful feast. Kakisa also received national attention during the morel mushroom harvest that Northerners have always admired their strong community spirit.

On the Hay River Reserve, the K'atlodeeche First Nations signed an intergovernmental memorandum of understanding with the GNWT. The chief and Council are ready to meet the GNWT, government to government. The community also took on initiatives on various projects including cultural camps for youth, restoration work at St. Ann's Roman Catholic Church, and a program that sells products in the Ehdah Cho grocery store in South Slavey.

Last but not least, the Town of Fort Providence. Tired of watching others suffer, residents took a stand against homelessness with the Community Advancement Partnership Society, or CAPS. While Deh Gah school congratulated seven new graduates. The school's principal, Ms. Lois Phillip, won a national Indspire leadership award. But even a beautiful and sunny Deh Cho, Mr. Speaker, all is not sweetness and light.

In 2014, the Deh Cho hosted a labour force of 422 people, yet only 280 of those were employed, while the percentage of those with a high school diploma or greater education had actually gone down since 2011.

When it comes to infrastructure projects, the Deh Cho riding also sees the lowest capital expenditures of spending despite needs identified in the community, such as the school in Enterprise, the delay at Hay River Reserve Arena, and a water treatment facility in Kakisa. I also raise again in the House, the continuing need for support for highway rescue services.

Mr. Speaker, constituents have also come to me with concerns about the implementation of JK and its impact on Aboriginal historic programming. My colleagues and I have heard many such concerns, and I will speak more on these matters in the days to come.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to complete my statement. Mahsi.

---Unanimous consent granted