Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Thursday, January 22nd, 2004, I will move the following motion: NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Kam Lake, that the rules of the Legislative Assembly be amended by rescinding Rule 85(2) and substituting the following:(2) The Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight shall;

1. a) Review issues which have government-wide implications, including the overview of the budget and fiscal framework;
2. b) Review multi-year business plans, budgets and those of the department of the Executive, including the Executive offices, the Financial Management Board Secretariat, the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs and the Department of Finance;
3. c) Consider the budgets and financial management of any other boards and agencies that are outside the responsibility of any standing committee;
4. d) Examine the reports on the annual financial statements and public accounts of the Government of the Northwest Territories and the report of the Auditor General.

(i) In the event that the Assembly is not in session the Speaker may provide the Auditor General's report and the Minister of Finance may provide public accounts to the committee for review, which may include public hearings in advance of tabling;

1. e) Review government reports on financial and performance results on program and policy evaluations to ensure anticipated outcomes are being achieved and accountability is maximized;
2. f) Review, as necessary or appropriate, the annual and other reports of statutory offices of the Legislative Assembly, including the Commissioner of Official Languages, the Conflict of Interest Commissioner, the Information and Privacy Commissioner, the Equal Pay Commissioner and the Human Rights Commissioner;
3. g) Coordinate House business, scheduling and planning in cooperation with appropriate Cabinet representatives; and,
4. h) Consider any other matters referred by the House.

AND FURTHER that Rule 85(3) be rescinded and the following substituted:

(3) The Standing Committee on Governance and Economic Development shall consider the following matters with respect to the departments of Public Works and Services, Municipal and Community Affairs, Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, and Transportation:

1. a) Review multi-year business plans and budgets, bills, and boards and agencies including the Workers' Compensation Board, the Northwest Territories Power Corporation, the NWT Development Corporation, the Business Credit Corporation and the Public Utilities Board;
2. b) Review departmental performance, including that of boards and agencies; and,
3. c) Consider any other matter referred by the House.

AND FURTHERMORE that Rule 85(5) be rescinded and the following substituted:

1. (5) The Standing Committee on Social Programs shall consider the following matters with respect to the departments of Health and Social Services, Education, Culture and Employment, Justice, and the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation:
2. a) Review multi-year business plans and budgets, bills, boards and agencies, including the Status of Women Council, and programs for Seniors, Youth, and Persons with Disabilities;
3. b) Review departmental performance, including that of boards and agencies; and,
4. c) Consider any other matter referred by the House.

Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time, I will be seeking unanimous consent to deal with this motion today. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to recognize a prominent member of the Akaitcho Territory Government who was up there earlier, I am not sure if he is there now, but Mr. Peter Liske.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to extend my best wishes for the new year to all the Members of this House, my constituents, the people of the NWT and especially my family. Mr. Speaker, as the honourable Member for Weledeh, our Premier indicated earlier that trust is a key component to making this government a productive partner in building a strong working relationship with other northern and aboriginal governments. As this government embarks on developing these new agreements with other governments, I can assure all the Members of this 15th Assembly that I will be at the forefront working to establish this trust and will be supporting this government so that we can all move forward with this new working relationship with the people of the NWT.

Mr. Speaker, I would also like to inform the Members and my constituents that I am committed to continue working on the many issues in health, housing, education and economic development over the next four years, with particular emphasis on issues that can only be resolved if there is a trust between all governments, the Members of this House and the people of the NWT.

Mr. Speaker, in light of our fiscal situation, I realize -- and I'm sure many northerners do too -- that we all have to start working together in order to maximize our potential and to ensure a more efficient, effective and responsible delivery of programs and services for our people. I'm committed, and I trust this government is too, to meeting this challenge with enthusiasm and hard work. We cannot do this alone. This government will not only require the support of all our communities, but also some direction and dedication from all our strong northern leaders so that we can all make a positive change and set the stage for a brighter future for all our children. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would just like to take this moment to recognize a very prominent leader in the Tu Nedhe region, our Chief Archie Catholique from Lutselk'e.

---Applause

Also another very prominent leader from the Tu Nedhe, our Dene National Chief Noeline Villebrun.

---Applause

I just want to say thanks to all the other leaders who couldn't make it here today and the rest of the constituents who were unable to make it here today.

---Applause

Thank you. Again, Mr. Speaker, just to finish off, I just want to wish everybody in the gallery, especially my constituents, the Legislative Assembly Members and staff and the NWT residents a very Merry Christmas and a happy, prosperous New Year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

I seek unanimous consent to finish off my three words.

---Laughter

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to congratulate you, too, on your appointment as the Speaker of the House. I would also like to thank and congratulate the Premier-elect, Mr. Joe Handley and his new Cabinet. I'm sure they will do a good job in the next four years and I'm looking forward to working with them all.

I would like to acknowledge the fine performance of the Detah Drummers and the St. Pat's Choir.

I would like to start off by thanking all my constituents, my campaign team for the good job that they did, and especially my family for instilling the confidence and trust and having faith in me to be the representative for Tu Nedhe in the 15th Legislative Assembly.

During my campaign, I had the opportunity to speak with many of my constituents, listen to their concerns and, more importantly, seek their advice on how to make their lives better and the lives of everybody in the NWT. During the 15th Legislative Assembly, I intend to work hard toward resolving the issues that have been raised by my constituents and by the Members-elect over the past week in working toward improving the lives and the quality of life of all the residents and constituents of the NWT. I realize that in order to accomplish this we all have to work together and take a unified approach in resolving issues that are of common interest to us all. Things like housing, education, health, economic development, not to mention partnerships with aboriginal governments, land claim negotiations and devolution which are all a common interest to all Members of this Legislative Assembly.

Mr. Speaker, I am confident that we, the 15th Legislative Assembly, as diverse and distinct as the regions we all represent, can and will plan, construct and build a vision for the NWT that supports and works toward a prosperous future; a vision that has the support and the consent of all our aboriginal governments, community governments and the federal government. A vision that encourages everyone full participation in the exercise of our independence and wealth, so that at the end of the day we can all be proud of our accomplishments and realizing our commitments to our constituents, to the people of the NWT and Canada.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, again I have to say that I look forward to working with all my colleagues over the next four years. I am optimistic that we are all going to prosper from the vast knowledge and the respect and the privilege that we all share for one another. I also want to wish all my constituents...