Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Priorities set by the Members of the 17

th Legislative

Assembly include increased employment opportunities where they are most needed. One facet of that priority is supporting child care programs to help parents become or stay employed. In the No Place for Poverty report drafted in 2010, the number two recommendation is child care, that any effort to adjust poverty must include quality, accessible, affordable and reliable child care and early childhood development.

Research has proven that children who have access to early childhood development programs have a high success rate further in life. This would address some of our social issues that we are facing today in the North. More importantly, recently the Town of Inuvik has contributed $2.3 million to an early childhood development centre in Inuvik. That goes above and beyond the mandate of the town council and shows that they have a vested interest in the community of Inuvik and the members of their riding as well.

Also, there is a group of dedicated volunteers, the Children First Society, who have worked endless hours to fundraise $1.5 million over the past couple of years for the same cause. The current facility, the Inuvik Child Development Centre, has 46 licensed spots. With the new school being built and ready for move in in the fall of 2012, these spots, this facility is not going to be available anymore for future use.

The proposed new child care facility is said to have 120 spots available for people and children of Inuvik. This would allow single parents to get back into the workforce and would give families an opportunity to become a double-income household. More importantly, it would give the children of Inuvik

an early start into living a successful, healthy and educated life. The people of Inuvik have invested time, energy and money for the future of the community, the region and, more importantly, the future of the children.

Currently, the Children First Society is seeking an additional $1.5 million to complete the centre.

I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

WHEREAS the Legislative Assembly is required to appoint members to the Board of Management in accordance with Subsection 36(3) of the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act;

AND WHEREAS appointments to the Board of Management are required to be made during the First Session of each Legislature.

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Sahtu, that the following Members be appointed to the Board of Management of this Assembly:

the Honourable Jackie Jacobson, Member for Nunakput;

Mr. Frederick Blake Jr., Member for Mackenzie Delta;

Mr. Robert Bouchard, Member for Hay River North;

the Honourable Jackson Lafferty, Member for Monfwi; and

the Honourable Dave Ramsay, Member

for

Kam Lake;

AND FURTHER, that the following Members be appointed to the Board of Management as alternate Members:

Ms. Wendy Bisaro, Member for Frame Lake;

Mr. Daryl Dolynny, Member for Range Lake;

the Honourable Glen Abernethy, Member for Great Slave; and

the Honourable Tom Beaulieu, Member for Tu Nedhe.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker I seek unanimous consent to deal with the Board of Management appointments motion I gave notice of yesterday.

---Unanimous consent granted.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the Premier and the Executive Council members on officially being sworn in on October 27, 2011.

I would also like to congratulate you, Mr. Speaker, on being elected as the first-ever Inuvialuit Speaker in the Legislative Assembly.

I would like to take this time to thank the Honourable Mr. Miltenberger and Deputy Speaker Mrs. Groenewegen on being elected to their fifth terms in the Legislative Assembly. Their wisdom, knowledge and leadership will be a benefit to us new Members, coined the Fab-Five, over the next four years.

I would also like to congratulate the Honourable Mr. Tom Beaulieu on his Cabinet position and becoming the first-ever acclaimed MLA for Tu Nedhe.

In the brief time that I’ve been an MLA and being here in the Legislative Assembly, I have witnessed a lot of history and some change within the 17th Legislative Assembly. Proof is with the meeting that we had with the Aboriginal governments prior to the selection of the Territorial Leadership Committee.

I am confident that the Members of the Legislative Assembly, the Executive Council, with support and direction from our Premier, will continue to make history and make change that will benefit the people of the Northwest Territories.

I would also like to give a special thank you to all the staff of the Legislative Assembly, who have committed long hours and endless support to make the transition for us new Members a comfortable one and with our new jobs and our new roles. As stated yesterday, I look forward to working with all Members and staff to carry out our jobs in the best interests of people in the Northwest Territories. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

WHEREAS Section 46(1) of the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act requires that the Legislative Assembly shall elect a Deputy Speaker;

AND WHEREAS the Legislative Assembly wishes to appoint a Deputy Speaker;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Sahtu, that the honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen, be appointed as Deputy Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to deal with the motion I gave notice of earlier today.

---Unanimous consent granted.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Monday, October 31, 2011, I will move the following motion: Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Sahtu, that the following Members be appointed to the Board of Management of this Assembly:

the Honourable Jackie Jacobson, Member for Nunakput;

Mr. Frederick Blake Jr., Member for Mackenzie Delta;

Mr. Robert Bouchard, Member for Hay River North;

the Honourable Jackson Lafferty, Member for Monfwi; and

the Honourable David Ramsay, Member for Kam Lake;

And further, that the following Members be appointed to the Board of Management as alternate members:

Ms. Wendy Bisaro, Member for Frame Lake;

Mr. Daryl Dolynny, Member for Range Lake;

the Honourable Glen Abernethy, Member for Great Slave; and

the Honourable Tom Beaulieu, Member for Tu Nedhe.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Monday, October 31, 2011, I will move the following motion: Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Sahtu, that the honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen, be appointed as Deputy Speaker.

At the appropriate time I will be seeking unanimous consent to deal with this motion today.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to welcome all Inuvik members here to the gallery here today. The Inuvik Drummers and Dancers, of course, who are going to put on a great performance later on for us.

I’d also like to recognize William Greenland, a relative, and also I’d like to recognize Dave Reid, president of the NWT Teachers’ Association, and elder Sarah Tingmiak, who has done a lot for our community.