Thank you. Good afternoon, colleagues. Today is the first time this House has met since the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Before we begin, I ask you to join me in a moment of silence for our late Queen.
Thank you, colleagues. Please be seated.
Members, I also want to take a moment to reflect on the passing of Elizabeth Harnum and Elaine Keenan-Bengts. Ms. Harnum was the Northwest Territories' first Languages Commissioner and was an advocate for the revitalization of our Indigenous languages. Ms. Keenan-Bengts was the Northwest Territories' first Information and Privacy Commissioner and was a strong champion for the protection of people's personal information.
Since we last met, we have also lost a former Member of this Assembly, Alfred Moses. A Member of the 17th and 18th Legislative Assemblies, Alfred served as a regular Member, committee chair and Minister. Alfred and I worked together for eight years here at the Legislative Assembly. I am grateful to have become friends with him during that time. Alfred was a champion of our youth and healthier communities. His passing was a great loss for the town of Inuvik, the Beaufort-Delta and the Northwest Territories.
As a territory, we are a better place because of the service, dedication, and passion of Ms. Harnum, Ms. Keenan-Bengts and Mr. Moses. On behalf of this House, I offer our deepest condolences and gratitude to their families.
Many of our communities throughout the Northwest Territories are dealing with the loss of loved ones. It is, especially gratifying to see how our communities come together at times of tragedy. Continued prayers for all those throughout the Northwest Territories as we come together and show we care and help out as much as we can.
Colleagues, please join me in thanking the Aklavik drummers for joining us today.
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It was my pleasure to welcome them to this Chamber, and I feel blessed to be able to share their talents with you and everybody who is joining us in the gallery or following our proceedings on television or online. It is an honour to be able to see and hear our culture in this House.
I would also like to take a moment to advise Members that we will be providing interpretation into the following languages during this sitting: Chipewyan, Inuvialuktun, North Slavey, South Slavey, Tlicho, and French. Please join me in thanking our interpreters for the work they do; they make it possible for us to use and honour our languages. Mahsi.
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Members, I would now like to welcome you back. We last met in this Chamber on June 2nd. I know that each of us were busy with the ongoing business of government and committees; however, I hope that you also found time to connect with family and friends and recharge your batteries. Our jobs are not easy, and to effectively represent our constituents we need to take care of ourselves. It is an honour for us to be here on behalf of our constituents and all residents of the Northwest Territories.
Members, I would like to remind you to conduct yourselves in keeping with the rules of this Assembly. Show respect for one another, for this institution, and, most importantly, for the people we represent in this Chamber. We won't always see eye to eye with each other. That is not possible. But we can and must treat each other with dignity and respect. We are here to serve as representatives for the people that elected us and put their trust in us. Take pride in that work.
Now, colleagues, it is my duty to advise the House that I have received the following message from the Deputy Commissioner of the Northwest Territories.
It reads: Dear Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise that I recommend to the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories, the passage of Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), 2023-2024; Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 2, 2022; Supplementary Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures), No. 2, 2022-2023 during the Second Session of the 19th Legislative Assembly. Yours Truly, Leonard Kenny, Deputy Commissioner.
Thank you, colleagues. Ministers' statements. Minister responsible for Education, Culture, and Employment.