Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate Ms. Simone Gessler, Principal of Weledeh Catholic School in Yellowknife, on being recognized as one of Canada’s Outstanding Principals for 2014.

The Learning Partnership recently announced Ms. Gessler as one of 40 exceptional educators from across Canada. Through her leadership at Weledeh Catholic School since 2010, literacy rates have improved substantially, with 100% of students now demonstrating significant improvements in reading, sense of confidence and self-efficacy, and 70% are reading at or above grade level.

Mr. Speaker, having healthy, vibrant and safe communities is a key priority for the Government of the Northwest Territories. This is why over the past year, we have worked with communities as they developed wellness plans, to set priorities and guide how wellness funding should be directed.

Mr. Speaker, tourism in the Northwest Territories plays a vital role in our economy. Each year, the industry contributes over 100 million dollars in visitor revenue and attracts upwards of 70,000 visitors from across the world. Tourism is also one of the few industries capable of creating economic opportunities in every region.

Mr. Speaker, during December's power outage in the City of Yellowknife it became apparent that communications from the Northwest Territories Power Corporation did not meet its customers’ expectations or its own standards. It is our goal to keep power outages to a minimum. The Corporation has taken steps necessary to improve communication during both planned and unplanned power outages in the territory, and will continue to do so.

Mr. Speaker, the new Highway 4 realignment opened to traffic on January 31^st. Residents now bypass the remediation work underway at the former Giant Mine site and travel on a safer highway with better turns and sight lines. It is an important infrastructure investment toward ensuring responsible stewardship and providing jobs and business opportunities to dozens of Northerners.

Mr. Speaker, thousands of our residents and visitors enjoy the parks and campgrounds across the territory. In particular, the beaches located within the territorial parks contribute enormously to the quality of life for many families on hot summer days.

The 2014 parks season formally opens on May 15 and the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment is making important changes to beaches in Fred Henne Territorial Park and Hay River Territorial Park that I want to share with you. These changes will help to ensure everyone enjoys the beaches in a fun, safe way.

YELLOWKNIFE (February 6, 2014) – Today, Finance Minister J. Michael Miltenberger presented the territorial government’s 2014-15 Budget in the Legislative Assembly.

Mr. Speaker. I would like to welcome Members back to the continuation of the Fifth Session of the 17^th Legislative Assembly.

This is our final sitting before the transfer of responsibility for public land, water and resources from the Government of Canada on April 1, 2014. The next time we meet, the Legislative Assembly and its Members will have substantial new powers to make decisions on behalf of the people who elected us.

Good afternoon, I’d like to welcome you all to today’s devolution information session on behalf of the Government of the Northwest Territories. With me today are Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment David Ramsay and Minister of Environment and Natural Resources Michael Miltenberger. We are all pleased at the interest the Northwest Territories is receiving and are glad that you could join us here today.

You, probably better than most, know what kind of potential the Northwest Territories has.

YELLOWKNIFE (January 27, 2014) – Devolution is an opportunity not to be missed, Premier Bob McLeod told the parliamentary committee reviewing federal Bill C-15, the Northwest Territories Devolution Act.