Please be seated. Good afternoon
Colleagues, welcome back to the House. It is great to be here.

I'd like to thank interpreters Sarah Cleary and Mary Jane Cazon for opening this session with a wonderful song performance in Dene Zhatie and opening blessing in Dene Kede. Thank you very much.

I'm also pleased to welcome our pages and our interpreters back to the chamber.
We are grateful for their hard work and dedication; we couldn't do this without them. Colleagues, remember to speak slowly and clearly so our interpreters can do their jobs.

Although we have not sat together in this chamber since March, I know you have all been busy with the ongoing work of committees, government and representing your constituents. Our work goes on when we are not sitting.

From April 29th to May 1st, we hosted our 21st Youth Parliament. Folks, it was a great time. I was impressed with our young MLAs and proud of the work they did during their short time here. These youth from across our territory came together in the Assembly for three days to learn about consensus government and debate in this very chamber issues important to them, their peers and their communities. Colleagues, please join me in thanking and congratulating our young MLAs for a job well done.

Thank you to the staff involved in our 21st Youth Parliament. A lot of work goes into planning and delivering this event, and they should be recognized for their efforts. Please join me in thanking our staff for planning and delivering this program for our youth.

Finally, thank you for making our Youth Parliament program a success. Many of you volunteered as pages for the model session and met with your youth representatives during the program. It means a lot to the youth and the program. Thank you.

Colleagues, earlier this month on May 5th, we marked the 80th Anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands by Canadian forces. The domes of this Legislative Assembly building were lit orange to recognize this important milestone.

In 1945, Canadian forces played a crucial role in freeing the Dutch people from Nazi occupation, enduring harsh conditions and fierce combat to push back German forces. More than 7,600 Canadian soldiers lost their lives during this campaign, a solemn reminder of the high cost of freedom.
This anniversary serves as a powerful opportunity to honour the courage and dedication of those who served and to reflect on Canada's legacy as a defender of peace and justice on the world stage.

As a symbol and reminder of the sacrifice of Northwest Territories residents during the Second World War, the Metis sash of Private Edward Powder, an Indigenous veteran of the Second World War and father of our former sergeant-at-arms, Floyd Powder, will sit in the chamber as a gift from the Powder family. I thank them very much for this honour.
At the appropriate time today, I will table a list of the deceased veterans of the Second World War from or with connection to the Northwest Territories.

Colleagues, I have received the following correspondence from the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, the Honourable Gerald W. Kisoun. It states: Dear Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise that I recommend to the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories, the passage of the Supplementary Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditures and Borrowing Authorization), No. 1, 2025-2026; and, Supplementary Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 1, 2025-2026 during the May sitting of the first session of the 20th Legislative Assembly. Yours Truly, Gerald W. Kisoun.

Colleagues, let's get back down to business. Ministers' statements. Mr. Premier.