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

Elders, leaders, colleagues, ladies and gentleman, thank you for joining us here today. I would  like to recognize and welcome  Chief Harry Deneron of the Acho Dene Koe First Nation, President Ernie McLeod of the Fort Liard Metis Local #67, Chief Frieda Martselos of the Salt River First Nation and Sub-Chief Robert Sayine of the Deninu Kue First Nation. I would also like to recognize my colleagues Ministers Lafferty, Miltenberger, Beaulieu and Ramsay and MLAs…

YELLOWKNIFE (May 26, 2014) – The Acho Dene Koe First Nation (ADK), Fort Liard Métis Local #67, Deninu K’ue First Nation (DKFN) and the Salt River First Nation (SRFN) are becoming parties to the Northwest Territories Devolution Agreement.

YELLOWKNIFE (May 15, 2014) – Premier Bob McLeod welcomed the introduction of Bill S-5 yesterday, which will formally establish the Nááts’ihch’oh National Park Reserve in the Northwest Territories’ Sahtu Region.

The new national park reserve is the result of almost a decade of planning between the Government of the Northwest Territories, the Sahtu Dene and Métis and the governments of Canada and Yukon. It is an area of spiritual and cultural significance to the people of the Tulita district and an important calving ground for mountain caribou.

Commitment to duty and service to others are important values for Northerners. We have always understood that strong people contributing to their communities is what makes this a strong territory and a strong country.

Today we join Canadians from coast to coast to coast in honouring the contributions and sacrifices made by the men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces during their mission in Afghanistan. It is through their actions – and the actions of men and women just like them – that Canada is helping to build a better more peaceful world for all of us.

Thank you, President Gargan.  I am pleased to be here today to welcome you to the 48^th Annual General Meeting of the NWT Association of Communities on behalf of the Government of the Northwest Territories, Minister McLeod and myself. My congratulations to the Association, and to Mayor Roland and the Town of Inuvik, for the great work you have done in organizing this event.

Good morning, I am, pleased to be here to speak to you today. I was wondering what kind of turnout we’d get this morning, as we’ve been to Inuvik several times lately, most notably for the signing of the final Devolution Agreement last June. I was also here last January with the Prime Minister to mark the beginning of construction for the Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk Highway. It’s nice to see that you still want to hear me speak.

Thank you, I am pleased to join with members of the Inuvik Legion in marking the National Day of Honour recognizing Canada’s military mission in Afghanistan.

Veterans know something that civilians often forget – freedom and democracy have to be defended, sometimes at great personal cost to the men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces and their families.

April 10, 2014 – Thank you, I’m pleased to be here this evening. Before I begin, I’d like to recognize the new board and congratulate them on their election earlier today. Your members have chosen an excellent group of leaders to help promote and encourage business across the North.

I won’t speak too long tonight. I am looking forward to the one-on-one conversation with John Curran shortly. I think it is an interesting format that will give us the chance to explore many of the issues you want to hear about.

INUVIK (April 10, 2014) – The GNWT has concluded government-to-government meetings with the Beaufort-Delta Regional Council (BDRC). GNWT Cabinet ministers and BDRC leaders discussed their joint commitment to the transition to self-government and to establishing an intergovernmental agreement on programs and services.