Jackie Jacobson

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am pleased to present the 2014-2015 estimates for the Legislative Assembly. I would like to thank the Members of the Board of Management for their assistance and input into this budget. The Assembly is seeking an operations expenditure appropriation of $18.989 million. This represents an increase of $750,000 from the 2013-2014 estimates.

As you know, this past November the Assembly celebrated the 20th anniversary of this building. We made the final mortgage payment and assumed full ownership of this magnificent building.

Due to the careful management of the Legislative...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I’d just like to thank my staff, the Clerk’s staff and the staff here at the Legislative Assembly who keep doing the good work that we’re doing on your behalf to make sure that the lives of the Members are made easier while we’re sitting down here for such a long time. Thank you to the staff and to the staff up in my office. Thank you very much.

Good afternoon, colleagues. Before we get start today, I’d like to wish R.C. McLeod a happy birthday today.

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Good afternoon, colleagues. I would like to welcome Mr. Tony Whitford, who has held every position here in our Assembly at one time or another.

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Welcome. Good to see you, Tony.

Can I have the report of Committee of the Whole, Mr. Bouchard.

Good afternoon, colleagues. Orders of the day. Item 2, Ministers’ statements. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Abernethy.

Good afternoon, colleagues. As this is the first time in 2014 that we have met in this Chamber, I would like to offer my belated but most sincere wishes to you and to all the residents of the Northwest Territories for a happy and healthy New Year.

Two thousand fourteen is a special year in many ways for our Assembly. Last August the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission approved a joint submission from the Legislative Assemblies of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, requesting mandatory distribution of Assembly proceedings. Today marks the first time that our...

Good afternoon, colleagues.

Before we start today, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize the achievements of my aunty in Alaska, Mrs. Sally Smith.

Sally Smith received the Shirley Demientieff Award on October 24, 2013, at the Alaska Federation of Natives Convention in Fairbanks.

The award, presented each year at AFN, was given by Governor Sean Parnell for advocacy on behalf of native women and children in Alaska.

A Yu’pik from Dillingham, Sally Smith has served as a health care advocate and leader for 45 years. Smith has worked tirelessly in Alaska and across the world to improve the...

Good afternoon, colleagues. Members, I understand the will of the House is to stand down select orders of the day and to proceed to Committee of the Whole at an early opportunity. Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you to Pastor Kirk Tastad from the Yellowknife Lutheran Church for leading us in prayer this afternoon and to Jesse Casey for the beautiful version of O Canada.