Masi. Minister of Transportation.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. At present, the Yellowknife terminal is actually closed for 90 minutes each night, approximately from 2:00 to 3:30 a.m. in the morning, if there are no scheduled flights arriving late or anything departing too early. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The story continues. A stranger who was on the same flight as the Bennetts overheard Mr. Bennett's conversation with his wife, and, out of the blue, he said, "We have an extra bedroom at home. You can come spend the night with us, no problem. You won't be left alone." That helpful stranger was Yellowknife City Councillor Adrian Bell. My second question to the Minister is: what happens with people who want to stay at the airport overnight when it's closed and Councillor Bell isn't around?

I believe it is very rare. It's unfortunate this incident happened, in this particular case, but I think it's very rare that there are people around the airport that late at night. Typically, I believe the department would probably be telling people if it was closing down, and then they would be making arrangements to get to a hotel or make other arrangements. It's an inopportune situation, but at present the airport is closed between 2:00 and 3:30 in the morning.

That is not the only person who I have heard has run into this problem. If you are looking at the middle of December, I mean, what do you do? It's freezing outside; for 90 minutes, that will kill you.

So I just want to ask the Minister: 90 minutes is not a long time. There is probably security; there is probably somebody at the airport. I'd like to ask the Minister: can he commit to keeping the airport open for that extra 90 minutes so it's open 24 hours a day to avoid these kind of problems in the future?

I thank the Member for this question because as the proposed Revolving Fund moving forward this would allow us the opportunity under that to have this type of decision come forward and have the airport open 24 hours.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Hay River North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So I know when there's something on the table; like I said earlier, the government doesn't make a decision until that thing happens. So I'll rephrase the question: will the Minister commit to keeping the airport open 24 hours a day if Bill 7 passes? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the Member knows, moving forward we are going to have an advisory board who would be advising us, along with other stakeholders, and this information will be coming forward and this is something that we can look at doing around that after Bill 7 is approved.

Masi. Oral questions. Item 9, written questions. Member for Inuvik Boot Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to go back to item 6 on Orders of the Day. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Member is seeking unanimous consent to return to item number 6 on orders of the day.

---Unanimous consent granted

Member for Range Lake

Mr. Speaker, I'd like to recognize women in the House from Native Women's Annual General Meeting. These women are role models within their communities and they're here representing Indigenous women of the Northwest Territories. We have Liza Pieper, the president, she's from Detah/Yellowknife area; Annie Goose from Ulukhaktok is the vice-president; Mabel Brown from Inuvik is the Mackenzie Regional Director; Shirley Kisoun the Mackenzie delegate from Inuvik; Jane Weyallon from Behchoko is the Tlicho Regional Director; Jaylene Delorme is the territorial youth representative from Hay River; Natalie Makletzoff is the Native Women's Association training centre instructor from Yellowknife; Marie Speakman is the Native Women's victim service worker; Mishele Lavoie is the Native Women's ASETS worker. I don't see Emma Amundson. Oh, she is here. Dehcho regional director from Fort Simpson, and Angela McKay from Fort Resolution, she is also here and she is the South Slave regional director. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to welcome all the representatives from the Native Women's Association here today, particularly Ms. Shirley Kisoun as well as Ms. Mabel Brown, and a former resident of Inuvik as well, Mishelle Lavoie. Thank you and welcome and I'm glad you can enjoy the proceedings. Mahsi cho.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to also recognize Emma Amundson from Fort Simpson and welcome her. There's not too many times you get to have family in here; I'd like to welcome Shirley Kisoun here as well. Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Hay River North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to welcome Jaylene Delorme back to the Assembly; she was here a couple of weeks ago with Daughters of the Vote, so it's always good to have people from Hay River active in the community. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to recognize Murray Speekin, a constituent of Yellowknife South. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also too would like to welcome all the women from the Native Women's Association, in particular Ms. Annie Goose from Ulukhaktok, who is a constituent, and also Shirley Kisoun from Inuvik. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Welcome.