Congratulations to you all and thank you for the invitation to join you today.  It is a pleasure to be here in Hay River and to have a role in this event.  

Today we celebrate the opening of a new, federally-certified egg-grading station for the Northwest Territories. The GNWT, through its Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment here in Hay River is proud to have played a part in this project providing support and contributions totalling $100,000 under the Commercial Harvesting, Processing and Marketing of Fish and Meat Strategic Initiative.

Thank you for the invitation to join you again  and for this opportunity to say a few words.  It is something I am always happy and honoured  to do.

Greetings, also, on behalf of Premier Bob McLeod and my colleagues on the Executive Council.

Mr. Speaker, today is National Be a Fan Day, and you will note many of the Members wearing red laces in support of Special Olympics NWT.

National Be a Fan Day raises awareness of the Special Olympics and their dedication to providing communities with sporting opportunities for individuals with an intellectual disability. In addition, National Be a Fan Day highlights the role of volunteers and the Law Enforcement Torch Run.

Mr. Speaker, the traditional economy is an important source of income for many Northwest Territories residents and one of the sectors that this government supports as part of our goal of a diversified economy.  Today I would like to share some good news about our Genuine Mackenzie Valley Furs Program.  

Mr. Speaker, smoking rates in the NWT are double the national average.  In 2009, 36% of NWT residents 15 and older smoked, compared to 17% nationally. Smoking contributes to chronic diseases affecting the heart and lungs, and also causes cancer.

Mr. Speaker, effective human resource management of the NWT public service relies on partnerships between the Department of Human Resources and other Government departments, boards, and agencies.

Mr. Speaker, our mining, oil and gas industries rely on modern, accessible geoscience information to make investment and land use decisions.  The Northwest Territories Geoscience Office provides governments, industry, Aboriginal organizations and many other stakeholders with up-to-date, easily accessible geoscience information.  This information is key to encouraging investment in mineral and petroleum exploration.

Mr. Speaker, languages are about identity – who we are and how we understand and interact with each other. Promoting our languages harmonizes with a connection to cultural values, and provides a sense of identity and belonging.

Mr. Speaker, the 2012 forest fire season is officially over. 

This year a total of 298,000 hectares of land were affected by 279 wildfires. The majority of these fires, 241 were lightning caused, 25 were person caused, four were caused by industry, two arose from a coal seam near Tulita and the cause of seven fires were unknown.  

There were also eight fires in the NWT section of Wood Buffalo National Park, eight fires in Nahanni National Park and a fire at the Great Bear Lake National Historic Site.