Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Northwest Territories Association of Communities, or NWTAC as it is commonly referred to, was established in 1966 when municipal leaders from Yellowknife, Fort Smith, Hay River, and lnuvik formed an association to represent community governments in the Northwest Territories. Since its beginning, the NWTAC has grown to represent all 33 communities of the Northwest Territories' incorporated communities. It is registered as a not-for-profit society and is governed in accordance with its own by-laws. Acting on its own democratically adopted resolutions, the association advocates for the interests of its member communities to the federal government and the GNWT, and through the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.
The NWTAC provides support to community governments in a number of ways. As the municipal operating environment becomes even more complex, the NWTAC provides advisory services to its member communities in the areas of legal support services, human resources, and procedural and governance advice. The NWTAC provides insurance services to the member community governments through the Northern Communities Insurance Program. It also provides discounts on supplies needed by municipal governments through its NWTAC purchasing program.
Through its advocacy efforts, the NWTAC takes action on issues that are important to municipalities in the Northwest Territories, such as devolution, community funding, climate change adaptation, and emergency planning. As well, the NWTAC provides professional development and training opportunities for municipal staff and elected officials. Mr. Speaker, the NWTAC does invaluable work that is especially important in smaller communities, where the capacity is always an issue. The association held its most recent annual general meeting in Inuvik from May 11 to 14, 2017. At this meeting, Mr. Speaker, two of my constituents were voted in as members of the board of directors, Councillor Ryan Yakeleya from the Hamlet of Tuktoyaktuk, and Ray Ruben, the mayor of Paulatuk, is the vice president. I want to congratulate both men on their appointments, and I also want to congratulate the NWTAC on another successful annual general meeting. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.