Debates of December 12, 2003 (day 2)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Monday, December 15, 2003, I will move the following motion: Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Kam Lake, that the following Members be appointed to the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight: Mr. Roger Allen, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes; Mr. Bill Braden, Member for Great Slave; Mr. Paul Delorey, Member for Hay River North; Mr. Robert Hawkins, Member for Yellowknife Centre; Mrs. Jane Groenewegen, Member for Hay River South; Ms. Sandy Lee, Member for Range Lake; Mr. Kevin Menicoche, Member for Nahendeh; Mr. Calvin Pokiak, Member for Nunakput; Mr. David Ramsay, Member for Kam Lake; Mr. Robert Villeneuve, Member for Tu Nedhe; Mr. Norman Yakeleya, Member for Sahtu.

Mr. Speaker at the appropriate time, I will be seeking unanimous consent to deal with this motion today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

WHEREAS Rule 85 requires that Members be appointed to the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Kam Lake, that the following Members be appointed to the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight: Mr. Roger Allen, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes; Mr. Bill Braden, Member for Great Slave; Mr. Paul Delorey, Member for Hay River North; Mr. Robert Hawkins, Member for Yellowknife Centre; Mrs. Jane Groenewegen, Member for Hay River South; Ms. Sandy Lee, Member for Range Lake; Mr. Kevin Menicoche, Member for Nahendeh; Mr. Calvin Pokiak, Member for Nunakput; Mr. David Ramsay, Member for Kam Lake; Mr. Robert Villeneuve, Member for Tu Nedhe; Mr. Norman Yakeleya, Member for Sahtu.

The motion is in order. To the motion.

Question.

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Item 15, motions. Item 16, first reading of bills. Item 17, second reading of bills. Item 18, consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters. Item 19, report of Committee of the Whole. Item 20, third reading of bills.

At this time, I would just like to acknowledge that we will be leaving the House and going back to our communities and our constituents and families. Christmas is around the corner. I think it’s important that we all take the time to enjoy our families and friends over the Christmas season. Enjoy every moment of it because you aren’t going to have many moments after that. It will be pretty hectic around here. It’s important that you take advantage of spending some real quality time with your families and friends, especially your constituents. It’s important that the time that you do have at home, you have to make every moment count. Like I said yesterday, there is some balance that you have to strike between yourselves as Members in this House and your families. Sometimes we lose sight of that because we get so wrapped up with what we do in this House and on committees that we don’t realize how important our families are. During the festive Christmas season, we have to look at what is happening around us, but take the time to relax and enjoy yourselves because it will be hectic in the upcoming weeks and months.

There is a tight timeline between now and trying to get the budget into the House and you realize you aren't going to be doing much walking. Most of the time, you are going to be running between committee meetings and running in and out of session to try to deal with your constituency issues. Having that time to spend with your families is going to be so valuable since you will be spending a lot of time away from home and away from your families. For those of you who have children, I remember Mr. Roland stating that he used to go home and his kids used to come to the airport to greet him and after awhile, they came to the airport and asked him what he had for them. They weren’t really seeing much of their dad and there was a point in time they weren’t coming to the airport anymore because he would come and he would be gone again. Those events really tell us a lot. Spend the special moments because the time you have with your family is going to be key.

I would also at this time recognize the Pages. They are from William McDonald Junior High School.

---Applause

As you can see, I am trying to burn up the clock here. I won’t have much opportunity to speak over the next days and months ahead, so I am taking this opportunity before we prorogue the House for the Christmas break.

Again, I would really like you to seriously consider what I have stated because it is crucial that you spend moments with your families and with your constituents and really relax. You have to energize those batteries because you will be like the Duracell commercial. You will be going and going and going and there will be days when you wonder if this process ever slows down. So take that time.

I would like to wish you all the best for Christmas and the New Year. Take the time that you are going to need for yourselves and your families and your children. With that, I would like to take a short break and we will come back in 15 minutes.

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