I appreciate the Minister’s response. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister please elaborate that if mining and exploration does not continue to be supported by our government, what will be the potential impacts and effects on our fiscal situation?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment. As many of us know, mining is the anchor of the NWT's economy. Mineral exploration is at a historic low. All diamond mines are rescheduled to close within 10 years. What is the GNWT doing to encourage mineral exploration and facilitate the development of new mines? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I'd like to give recognition of course to our distinguished and honoured guest here today, Mr. Whitford, who is also a resident of Yellowknife North. Thank you. I want to also recognize our Pages and we'd be lost without them. Our Pages from the riding of Yellowknife North that I'd like to acknowledge today are Niva Stephenson, Aurora Nind, Laila Noksana, Grace Clark, Sophie Clark, Shiri MacPherson, and Ida Fells. Also, I'd like to acknowledge a resident of Yellowknife North previously acknowledged, Ann Little, who also is the mother of our fellow MLA for Yellowknife Centre, Ms. Green. We also have in the gallery today Mr. John Stephenson, a resident of Yellowknife North and the chair for YK1, and all other folks that might be here from Yellowknife North today.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Welcome back, Members. My statement today is in recognition of the Arctic Inspiration Prize. My colleagues and I were fortunate to hear a presentation on the important initiative, yesterday. I know the Premier and some of the MLAs were at a public reception here last evening. The Arctic Inspiration Prize is sometimes known as the Nobel of the North. It awards at least $1 million annually to northern teams with a knowledge-to-action plan in the areas of education, health, social and cultural issues, the environment, or the economy. The Arctic Inspiration Prize was founded in 2012 by philanthropist Arnold Witzig and his partner Sima Sharifi. They have made a gift of their own personal fortune in this unique initiative to benefit northern families and communities. You will recall, last year, the entire $1 million Arctic Inspiration Prize was awarded to the NWT-based group Fostering Open eXpression Among Youth, also known as FOXY. FOXY was founded by Candice Lys, of Fort Smith, and Nancy McNeill, of Yellowknife. FOXY uses drama, music, visual arts, public speaking, and games to help young women learn about sexual health, self-empowerment, positive life choices, and healthy relationships. Since 2012, FOXY workshops, in almost every NWT community, have reached hundreds of young women. Another 80 young women in FOXY's peer leader program develop leadership and networking skills and create community projects that benefit their home, communities, and earn them high school credits. FOXY is currently developing plans to include young men in its program and to reach more communities including in Nunavut and Yukon.

This year, another Northwest Territories group will participate in the Arctic Inspiration Prize. The tri-territorial training project, with NWT Parks and Recreation as one of the partners, was awarded $600,000 for their plan to support northern communities with a specialized community recreation leadership training program in remote communities across the three territories. Knowledge to action, unique and innovative ideas, developed by teams of Northerners to enhance and improve northern life. I would like to recognize and congratulate the members of the tri-territorial training project and wish them the best as they develop their program. I would like to congratulate all the leaders and participants of FOXY for their important work and wish them the best on their expansion. I would like to, of course, recognize and thank Arnold Witzig and Sima Sharifi for their broad vision and selfless contribution to a healthy environment, northern families and communities, through the establishment of the Arctic Inspiration Prize. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to take this opportunity to recognize Elaine Keenan Bengts, the Commissioner of Access to Information and Protection of Privacy and a Yellowknife North resident. I also want to acknowledge Mr. Dave Grundy, Yellowknife North resident and from WSCC. I think it would also be appropriate to recognize Mr. Craig Yeo, who is a Yellowknife North resident from UNW. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, want to thank all the folks in the gallery today for coming. You’re setting the expectations high. The galleries have been rather full the last few days, and as Members, we expect to see your attendance up there over the next four years.

I want to take this opportunity to thank the Clerk’s office and all the staff at the Assembly for treating us so well and making the transition into territorial public life much easier than originally anticipated, so thank you so much.

To the constituents of Yellowknife North, most certainly I thank you for your support and putting your faith in me as your elected representative. I truly look forward to serving you and protecting your interests over the next four years.

I, too, need to thank friends and family and all of those volunteers who supported me during the election period. For all your hard work, I am grateful. I, too, have to acknowledge today the spirit of my mother, who I lost in 2003. I know she has been with me for the last number of years, of course, but she’s been especially with me over the last handful of months and given me the strength and courage to run and be here today. I wanted to take the time to acknowledge that.

Of course, I look forward to working with all of you and the respective Members of this House in making this great territory even greater. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.