Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery January 20th, 2004

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to note one of our most notable seniors in Yellowknife, Mr. Ed Jeske. I believe he is up there, he was waving to me when I came in. Thank you.

---Applause

Dealing Positively With Families January 20th, 2004

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I'm here to talk to you about family. This past weekend, I happened to have the pleasure of attending a special surprise birthday party for a couple of constituents of mine, Larry and Hermie Pineda. They're 75 years and 74 years of age respectively, and they've been married almost 54 years. I think that's an incredible feat to recognize and it's with an amazing amount of respect you have to look towards folks like this. They don't just build a family; they build a community, folks like this.

On that note, sometimes you can look around and there are sad stories out there that don't necessarily have happy endings and we have to pray extra hard. So at this moment, I want to recognize the teamwork of the Department of Health and Social Services over the Christmas season.

As we all know, Christmas is a stressful time. A constituent of mine came to me with a concern that truly was a life-and-death circumstance; it wasn't blown out of proportion. It was reality. I have to stress that the staff of the Department of Health and Social Services recognized the compassion needed to deal with the issue. They took a realistic approach with a willingness to find a solution. The staff did find a solution by taking reasonable steps and they worked within the policy and found a way to make this happen to unite a family.

So with that being said, I just want to take a moment to recognize them and say that though sometimes happy stories get overlooked about departments, I want to bring this forward today.

I'm going to close my statement by pointing out that I'm going to put this government on notice of my high expectation of a good working relationship between Cabinet Ministers and Regular Members. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Motion 6-15(1): Appointments To The Board Of Management, Carried December 12th, 2003

Thank you again, Mr. Speaker.

WHEREAS this Legislative Assembly is required to appoint Members to the Board of Management in accordance with section 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 North Slave, that the following Members be appointed to the Board of Management of this Assembly: Honourable David Krutko, Member for Mackenzie Delta; the Honourable Brendan Bell, Member for Yellowknife South; Mr. David Ramsay, Member for Kam Lake; Mr. Kevin Menicoche, Member for Nahendeh; and, Mr. Calvin Pokiak, Member for Nunakput;

AND FURTHER that the following Members be appointed to the Board of Management as alternative Members: Honourable Charles Dent, Member for Frame Lake; Ms. Sandy Lee, Member for Range Lake; Mr. Robert Villeneuve, Member for Tu Nedhe.

Bill 1: Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 3, 2003-2004 December 12th, 2003

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

Motion 6-15(1): Appointments To The Board Of Management December 12th, 2003

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Monday, December 15, 2003, I will move the following motion: Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for North Slave, that the following Members be appointed to the Board of Management of this Assembly: The Honourable David Krutko, Member for Mackenzie Delta; the Honourable Brendan Bell, Member for Yellowknife South; Mr. David Ramsay, Member for Kam Lake; Mr. Kevin Menicoche, Member for Nahendeh; and, Mr. Calvin Pokiak, Member for Nunakput;

And further, that the following Members be appointed to the Board of Management as alternative Members: the Honourable Charles Dent, Member for Frame Lake; Ms. Sandy Lee, Member for Range Lake; Mr. Robert Villeneuve, Member for Tu Nedhe.

Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time, I will seek unanimous consent to deal to this motion today.

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery December 11th, 2003

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Although some of them have been recognized, I am still going to mention them again. Bishop Sperry, a constituent of mine who was here earlier. I am not sure if he is up there. Commissioner Glenna Hansen; chief superintendent and his wife; soon to be former constituent, former Clerk David Hamilton. I would like to recognize Reverend Flumerfelt -- I just saw him earlier -- Didier Bourgois, my neighbour; Esther Braden, a constituent. She snuck off there I believe. Dr. Judith Knapp, Jennifer Marchant and Audrey Zoe and my eyes aren't so good, so I am sorry if I missed anyone.

---Applause

Appreciation To Constituents Of Yellowknife Centre December 11th, 2003

May I thank all of my colleagues. Mr. Speaker, I believe we can all work together in this success and build a great North that we can all be proud of.

Mr. Speaker, I grew up in Fort Simpson. I've danced in the friendship circle. I came to high school here in Yellowknife and I lived at Akaitcho Hall. I've been a Yellowknife city councillor and now I have a great source of pride being able to say I'm a father, a husband and now an MLA for Yellowknife Centre. My dreams are coming true and I believe I have many years of my journey still to continue, but I thank the many people who have helped me and brought me this far.

Mr. Speaker, I have a lot of life experience and I believe in community and family values and I hope that will be a significant asset in this leadership circle with all our friends here today.

Mr. Speaker, before I close my statement I just want to especially recognize once more, I'll start off first by saying I'd like to say adieu to the former Member of Yellowknife Centre, Jake Ootes. I don't see him here today. I did look. I want to thank him for his many years of service. Once again, I want to thank my constituents of Yellowknife Centre for the privilege of being here and, again I want to stress, many thanks to my wife Susan, and my son McKinley, who I love very much. Thank you.

---Applause

Appreciation To Constituents Of Yellowknife Centre December 11th, 2003

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As this is my first statement, I may appear nervous. In my political history whenever I saw a crowd this large it always made me nervous, so I'm very nervous today. I must say that upfront.

Mr. Speaker, may I congratulate you, as well as our new Premier-elect, on your positions as well as your acclamations to your positions. You are both going to be our shepherds into our new future. It's going to be a unique journey, and we will be looking to you both to teach us and carry us forward.

To Mr. Handley -- Premier Handley, I should say -- I would like to bring echoes of trust and support from the Yellowknife Centre constituency. Your leadership role is something our community is looking forward to, and we know and trust that you will lead us well in the next Assembly. Mr. Handley, I do want to say that it will be an honour serving in the Handley Government, this 15th Legislative Assembly.

Mr. Speaker, it's with a great deal of pride and honour that I thank all of the constituents of Yellowknife Centre for their trust and confidence. I did promise them that I will work hard and I promise that I would make sure that this mandate would be a source of pride for all of them to remember.

Mr. Speaker, I have to tell you that my victory in the Yellowknife Centre riding was not an easy one. I will tell you clearly today, sir, that each one of those candidates was a winner, regardless of the outcome. I believe there were some good fights fought and they worked hard. Sorry, my apologies for being nervous.

Mr. Speaker, even on my coldest days I have to tell you most honestly that there were many warm faces and many warm hearts that kept us going. Mr. Speaker, it's important to note that I wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for the special support of my wife Susan, and my son McKinley Man-Lung. If it wasn't for their support to allow me to follow my dreams, I can't say where I would be today.

I also would like to follow up with recognizing some of the special members from my team. There was Larry Pineda, Cito Domingo, Tina Rivera, my parents Kim and Terry Hawkins. I also have to pass out a special thanks to my chief engineer Winnebago driver Daryl Dolynny and my campaign strategist Paul Bachand.

Mr. Speaker, my heart tells me that the burden of success will be an element for all of us to participate wholly together in as a team in this next Assembly. I believe we all have a vested interest in its success if we work together.

Mr. Speaker, may I continue my statement?