Mr. Speaker, June 15^th to 21^th is National Public Service Week. This year’s theme is “Proudly Serving Canadians”. National Public Service Week provides an opportunity for us to celebrate the contribution and accomplishments of public service employees across Canada, and especially here in the Northwest Territories.

A strong territory needs a strong society. All residents of the NWT should have the chance to enjoy the benefits of living in a prosperous, well-governed territory and to participate fully in a healthy, just society. The GNWT is committed to helping our residents achieve their aspirations for themselves, their families and their communities by providing the right support, programs and services and we rely on a dedicated and engaged public service to deliver those programs and services.

Providing quality programs and services to our residents requires an engaged public service. Employees who are engaged not only in their daily work, but also in communities of interest that help make the public service the best place to work. Our employees are interested in the environment, diversity, Aboriginal relations, health and safety; and work together to offer solutions to improve programs and services for residents and employees. Our employees are involved in charitable and social activities which contribute to community well-being where they work and live. These actions tell us our public service employees are engaged in contributing to the quality of life here in our territory.

Mr. Speaker, earlier today, the Premier recognized employees and individuals who contribute through their efforts and actions to the success of the public service in helping residents achieve their aspirations. The 2014 Premier’s Awards recipients are:

• Award for Excellence Individuals – Tom Wasylyshyn with the Department of Justice in Fort Smith
• Award for Excellence Employee Teams – the Devolution Implementation Team; the Accountability Framework Development Team; and the ‘NWT Days’ Team
• Award for Collaboration – the Aboriginal Cultural Awareness Training group; the Northern Sustainable Housing Project Design Team; and the Wildlife Act Working Group
• Dave Ramsden Career Excellence Award – Warren St. Germaine with the Department of Finance

I invite you to join me in congratulating the recipients of the 2014 Premier’s Awards, presented this morning.

Mr. Speaker, it is an exciting time for the NWT. Our new authority and responsibility for public lands, water and resources bring significant changes. Northerners are now making decisions about the things that matter most to them: about our economy, about our environment and about the kind of society we want to be. On April 1^st, in addition to the devolution of new authority and responsibilities, we were very pleased to welcome 131 former federal public servants into the GNWT who bring experience, expertise and enthusiasm for these new responsibilities.

Under our NWT Public Service Strategic Plan, work continues so we can enhance the capacity and effectiveness of our public service. We continue to build and maintain a representative workforce. We reaffirm learning and development as an ongoing priority in the GNWT public service. We work to ensure occupational health and safety. We build understanding and awareness of diversity, particularly an appreciation of the rich cultures upon which our territory is founded and which inform our programs and services.

Mr. Speaker, in April the Government of the Northwest Territories was honoured to be acknowledged as one of Canada’s Top Employers of Young People for 2014. This national award recognizes our employment culture and career management initiatives as being some of the best across the country in supporting younger workers to advance in their careers.

The 2014 internship and summer student programs are under way, providing young northerners with unique work experience. I am pleased to advise that as of May 29, 228 summer students have been hired with approximately 49.5 percent being Indigenous Aboriginal and 48.2 percent being Indigenous Non-Aboriginal. Summer student orientation sessions started earlier this week providing these youth information on their opportunities and responsibilities as GNWT employees, as well as information on diversity, cultural awareness and occupational health and safety.

Mr. Speaker, the public service has accomplished a lot in support of Believing in People and Building on the Strengths of Northerners. They have proudly served NWT residents. I invite Members to join me in thanking public service employees for a job well done. There is still more to accomplish in our term, and I know that, with our engaged public service, we will be successful.

Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker.