Tony Whitford

Asseyez-vous, s’il vous plaît. Please be seated.

Monsieur le président, les députés, mesdames et messieurs, it’s certainly a pleasure for me to be back here today to assent to the bill, and I shall get right to it.

Mr. Speaker, Members of the Legislative Assembly, as Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, I am pleased to assent to the following bill:

Bill 8, Appropriation Act, 2008–2009.

Thank you.

Monsieur le président, monsieur le premier ministre, messieurs et mesdames les députés, mesdames et messieurs et mes amis.

Once again it is my privilege and my pleasure to be back among you again.

I would like to join the Speaker, the honourable Members of this House and the staff of the Legislative Assembly, past and present, and the Department of the Executive in extending my personal best wishes to Myles Moreside on the occasion of his retirement from the public service.

I have known Myles for many years in my terms as a Member of this House and as your Speaker. I wish to extend best wishes to...

Please be seated.

Monsieur le président, messieurs et mesdames les députés, mesdames et messieurs, et amis. It is once again a pleasure and honour for me to welcome you to the second session of the 16th Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories. I do hope it is not too late to wish you all a Happy New Year and the very best wishes for the month ahead.

In the past few months the North has seen the passing of several of its residents — far, far too many. We are saddened and offer the families and friends our deepest sympathies and sincere condolences. The deaths of our youths are always...

Monsieur le president, monsieur le premier ministre, messieurs et Mesdames les deputes, Mesdames et messieurs, et amis.

It is once again a pleasure and honour for me to be here and to prorogue this First Session of the 16th Legislative Assembly.

Using this time for a few personal comments before I begin my formal duties, I would like to extend my deepest sympathies to the families and loved ones of the people we have lost over the past few months.

I particularly want to mention Willie Laserich, owner, operator and chief pilot of Adlair Aviation, who passed away on November 12th. Many northerners...

Please be seated. Thank you for that wonderful rendition of our National Anthem.

Monsieur le president, messieurs et Mesdames les deputes, Mesdames et messieurs, et amis.

It is once again a pleasure and honour for me to be in your presence and I am pleased to welcome you to the First Session of the 16th Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories.

Before I begin, I would like to take a moment to offer sincere condolences to the family and friends of RCMP Constable Christopher Worden on behalf of all people of the Northwest Territories.

There is a special bond between the people of the NWT...

What a wonderful feeling to be back in this chair, colleagues, but it’s a feeling.

---Laughter

Monsieur le president, monsieur le premier minister, messieurs et Mesdames les deputes, mesdames et messieurs, et amis.

It is once again a pleasure and honour for me to be in your presence and to close this Assembly. It seems not that long ago I was here doing the same thing, but from your side of the House, in 2003.

Using this time for a few personal comments before I begin my formal duties, I want to say what a pleasure it has been to watch the important work of our government coming together through...

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Premier, Members of the Legislative Assembly, it is my privilege and my pleasure to be back here among you today. I know that you have all been busy in session this past week as we will see by the number of bills passed and the lively debate recorded.

With the onset of the high school graduations, I look forward to joining you at some of those at assemblies and other community events this summer as the invitations and time allows.

In the first week of May past, I have watched and participated in the Youth Parliament and must say how impressed I was with the calibre of our...

Please be seated. I see the rules of the House have changed a bit here.

---Laughter

I wonder what item on the agenda that would have been. Thank you very much. It’s certainly an honour to become a senior on Sunday. I shall be officially a senior.

---Applause

And now back to work. Monsieur le president, madams et monsieurs les deputes, madams et monsieur, et amis.

Even though it’s a short time since I last met with you, many notable things have happened. I welcomed royalty to Canada on your behalf and I am looking forward to a very special guest visiting us here in the North.

This past weekend, I...

Please be seated. Monsieur le président, mesdames et messieurs les deputes, mesdames et messieurs, et amis. It is a great pleasure to be here again today.

Since we last met, your Commissioner has had a busy and successful time. I have had the pleasure of travelling to Sachs Harbour, Enterprise and Fort Resolution, bringing the total number of communities I have visited to 15. It is always a delight to meet old friends and participate in local celebrations and events in our communities. It remains my goal to visit each and every Northwest Territories community before the end of my term of...

Please be seated. Monsieur le président, mesdames et messieurs les deputes, mesdames et messieurs, et amis. It is a great pleasure to be here again today.

Since we last met, your Commissioner has had a busy and successful time. I have had the pleasure of travelling to Sachs Harbour, Enterprise and Fort Resolution, bringing the total number of communities I have visited to 15. It is always a delight to meet old friends and participate in local celebrations and events in our communities. It remains my goal to visit each and every Northwest Territories community before the end of my term of...