Clerk Of The House Mr. Tim Mercer

The Member for Yellowknife South, the Member for Sahtu, the Member for Range Lake, the Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, the Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, the Member for Hay River North, the Member for Hay River South, the member for Nunakput, the Member for Kam Lake, the Member for Yellowknife North, the Member for Monfwi, the Member for Nahendeh.

Clerk Of The House Mr. Tim Mercer

The Member for Yellowknife Centre, the Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh, the Member for Frame Lake.

Clerk Of The House Mr. Tim Mercer

The Member for Yellowknife South, the Member for Sahtu, the Member for Range Lake, the Member for Boot Lake, the Member for Hay River North, the Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, the Member for Yellowknife Centre, the Member for Hay River South, the Member for Nunakput, the Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh, the Member for Frame Lake, the Member for Kam Lake, the Member for Yellowknife North, the Member for Monfwi, the Member for Nahendeh.

Commissioner Of The Northwest Territories Hon. Margaret Thom

Please be seated. Good afternoon, Mr. Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly. [Translation] Thank you. Glad to see you here again. I am glad that I am very grateful that I am going to talk to you. It is going to be for your work. I honour you. [Translation ends]

I am honoured to be in this great House to address our government.

As you are aware by now, we are saddened by the news that former Commissioner of the NWT, John Parker, passed away on March 9^th. He served as the Deputy Commissioner of the NWT from 1967 until 1979, when he became Commissioner of the NWT and served in this position until he retired in 1989.

Mr. Parker played a huge role in the shaping of our political arena in the Northwest Territories. He worked diligently with only the best interests of, and for the betterment of, all northern residents. His hard work has allowed us to make decisions for ourselves as a distinct northern territory, and this helped to change how the world perceived us. Most importantly, John Parker gave us the power to govern ourselves. We honour that legacy he left us, and it is our responsibility to carry on this journey in a respectful way.

We send our sincere condolences to his wife, Helen, and his family, and to all Northerners who crossed paths with John and became lifelong friends. May his journey to the spirit world be a peaceful one.

We find ourselves in a worldwide crisis with the coronavirus. Although there are no confirmed cases in the Northwest Territories and our neighbouring territories of Nunavut and Yukon, it does not mean we are immune to this very serious virus. We need to continue to be extremely diligent in taking all precautions to ensure the safety of our health, the health of our families, and of our friends and neighbours across our territory. We must be aware and accepting and vigilant about how serious this pandemic is, and of its very severe and dangerous potential consequences to our people and to our economy.

I want to thank our government departments, in particular the Departments of Health and Social Services and Municipal and Community Affairs, for all the research, preparation, and updated information they are providing to keep us all informed so that we will make sound decisions regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. Mahsi cho.

In closing, I wish you all the guidance, prayers, and Godspeed as you continue your deliberations in establishing and preparing an action plan to deal with COVID-19 in the NWT. We need to lead by example by taking all the necessary precautions to keep us all safe and healthy. It is so important that we all work together collectively in the spirit of cooperation, remembering that we are a resilient territory and nation.

Commissioner Of The Northwest Territories Hon. Margaret Thom

As Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, I am pleased to assent to the following Bills:

• Bill 4, Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 1, 2020-2021
• Bill 5, Interim Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures), 2020-2021

Mahsi cho, thank you, quyanainni, merci beaucoup, koana.

Clerk Of The House Mr. Tim Mercer

Orders of the day for Tuesday, May 26, 2020, at 1:30 p.m.:

1. Prayer
2. Ministers' Statements
3. Members' Statements
4. Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
5. Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills
6. Reports of Standing and Special Committees
7. Returns to Oral Questions
8. Acknowledgements
9. Oral Questions
10. Written Questions
11. Returns to Written Questions
12. Replies to Commissioner's Address
13. Petitions
14. Tabling of Documents
15. Notices of Motion
16. Motions
17. Notices of Motion for First Reading of Bills
18. First Reading of Bills
19. Second Reading of Bills
20. Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

• Tabled Document 30-19(2), Main Estimates 2020-2021

1. Report of Committee of the Whole
2. Third Reading of Bills
3. Orders of the Day