I will allow closing debate to the Member who moved the motion. Mr. Menicoche.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
Indeed, for me, it is a great honour for this House to direct our interest in telling Canada that yes, we as the political body of the Northwest Territories are representing the majority of the population of aboriginals and the majority of the population that suffered in the residential school system that indeed a public apology accompanying that should be on the forefront of the national agenda. I know that federally they are waiting for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to finish their report, but some time it’s coming. I believe this apology can start the healing a lot sooner than that. There’s talk of a federal election now that further delays cause inaction on this file.
Once again, the file is about destroying a once proud people through government-instituted policies and indeed, an apology should be forthcoming and not be relegated to a bureaucratic jungle. This should be something that, to me, strikes when the iron is hot. I believe the federal government can take this opportunity to tell all Canadians that yes, we erred as well. We did it to the Chinese and the Japanese, but we did it to our aboriginal people first and for the longest, too. I don’t know why they’re waffling and waiting, but it’s something they’ve already recognized and they’re already doing, so I believe an apology should happen sooner than later.
Just to further reiterate the pain and suffering that happened, my honourable colleague from Mackenzie Delta speaks about being five years old. That’s a very small child to be taken away from families and put into institutions. That indeed is a sad chapter, as well as what that had created, especially if they are there for seven and, in some cases, twelve years in the system.
You’ve taken them away from home, family and cultural values, and you’ve created a whole cultural gap, as well as the age gap that happens because you’re away from home for so long. Your normal interactions with your grandparents, the elders in your community, all that is gone. Any knowledge lost from our elders about our way of life is a huge, huge loss. Today we look to the elders to learn from them because we missed out a big gap in our life.
With that, Mr. Speaker, once again I urge all my colleagues to vote in favour of this motion, and to Mr. Premier, to take our direction seriously and speak with the Prime Minister at the earliest opportunity and convey the desire of this House.
I would like to request we go to a recorded vote. Mahsi.
The Member is asking for a recorded vote on the motion. All those in favour of the motion, please stand.
Mr. Menicoche, Mr. Ramsay, Mrs. Groenewegen, Mr. R. McLeod, Mr. Hawkins, Mr. Jacobson, Mr. Beaulieu, Ms. Bisaro, Mr. Krutko, Mr. Bromley, Mr. Abernethy.
All those opposed to the motion, please stand. All those abstaining from the motion, please stand.
Mr. Lafferty, Ms. Lee, Mr. Miltenberger, Mr. Roland, Mr. M. McLeod, Mr. Yakeleya, Mr. B. McLeod.
Results of the vote: 11 for, zero against, seven abstaining.
Motion carried.
Applause.
Item 18, first reading of bills. Item 19, second reading of bills. Item 20, consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters. Item 21, report of Committee of the Whole. Item 22, third reading of bills.
Colleagues, before the Commissioner enters the Chamber to assent to bills, I would like to draw the attention of all Members to the presence of Mr. Myles Moreside in the Visitors’ Gallery. He’s easy to spot up there.
Applause.
He is surrounded by his many friends and colleagues here in the Assembly. I understand there are also some exchange students in the gallery as well.
As Members know, Mr. Moreside will retire from public service at the end of this month after 25 years of loyal and dedicated service. Today marks the last sitting day of his long and distinguished career. I think it is appropriate that we take just a moment, for the record, to express our gratitude to Mr. Moreside.
I should begin by saying that I have a vested interest in interrupting the House proceedings today for this important occasion. I’ve heard that Mr. Moreside intends to write a book about his many unique experiences within the halls of this institution.
I hope that any kind words I have for him today will be met with similar kindness to me as he puts pen to paper in the weeks and months ahead.
Laughter.
Myles joined the public service of the Northwest Territories in 1983 as a revenue and taxation analyst with the Department of Finance. He finally saw the light and accepted a position with the Legislative Assembly in 1987. Back in those days, the House staff was much smaller than it is now, and they were located in the Yellowknife Inn. Myles’s first job title with the House was Chief of Finance and Administration. That title didn’t last long, as some of the aboriginal Members took offence to having to refer to a member of their staff as “Chief.”
Laughter.
I have had the good fortune to know Myles since my election as a Member in 1999, and the even better fortune to have had him as my Director of Corporate Services during my two terms as Speaker and Chair of the Board of Management.
As Members know, the board often has to fit its meetings around the busy schedules of the House and its committees. Often our meetings take place at the rise of the House and run through the dinner hour. For years I have been curious as to why Myles never ate a meal with the rest of the board and the staff when we were working. It wasn’t until a few days ago that I learned the reason why.
Years ago, while appearing before a committee, a Member asked a question that was, let’s say, not overly intelligent. Myles was just about to swallow a mouthful of food when the question was asked, and it caused him to nearly choke in the middle of the meeting. Ever since he has refrained from eating at meetings, just in case a similar intelligent question was asked.
Laughter.
Colleagues, in all seriousness, it is a great privilege for me to express the gratitude of all Members and, indeed, this entire institution for Mr. Moreside’s many years of dedicated and fine service. I know that many of you have known Myles and worked with him for far longer than I have.
It is interesting to note that he has selected February 29 as his last day of work here. This is indeed a leap year, and we don’t often get to enjoy an additional day in February. However, just as leap years are rare occasions, so are employees with the dedication and commitment of Mr. Myles Moreside.
Myles, on behalf of the Members and staff of the Legislative Assembly and, indeed, the people of the Northwest Territories, I thank you for your service and wish you and Kim and your children and grandson all the enjoyment you deserve in the next exciting stage of your life.
Applause.
I would like to ask all Members and staff to join me in the Members’ Lounge for an informal reception to celebrate both the completion of this sitting and the celebration of an outstanding career.
Myles, just in case you’re thinking about not attending, just remember who signs your record of employment.
Laughter.
Mr. Clerk, would you ascertain if the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, the Hon. Anthony J. Whitford, is prepared to enter the House to assent to bills?
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 Myles and his wife, Kim, for a very happy and long retirement together. I would add that I had received a couple of phone calls from persons in the Okanagan wishing Myles the best in his retirement from his former staff.
With the return to Yellowknife of the Arctic Winter Games in March, I look forward to joining many of you at some of the competitions and those special events that have been set out. As many of you know, Stuart Hodgson, the ninth Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, will be attending the opening ceremonies of the Games, along with his son and grandson. It will be a personal honour to welcome Mr. Hodgson back to the Northwest Territories for what I am sure is to be a most enjoyable week.
A personal honour, because when I graduated from the University of Calgary in 1977, Mr. Hodgson was there giving the keynote speech. And in his address he said to the Northern students, “Now that you’ve completed your education here, I hope that some of you will come back to the Northwest Territories and help develop what is the future of Canada and the future of the North.” And some of us did.
Before we go to Orders of the Day, colleagues, I’d just like to acknowledge the pages who have been working in the House this week. We have had two pages from Tu Nedhe, two from Frame Lake, two from Nahendeh, one from Kam Lake, and one from Weledeh. I want to thank all the pages who have been here this week. We appreciate the work you do for us.
Applause.
Orders of the Day for Thursday, May 22, 2008, at 1:30 p.m.:
Prayer
Budget Address
Ministers’ Statements
Members’ Statements
Reports of Standing and Special Committees
Returns to Oral Questions
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Acknowledgements
Oral Questions
Written Questions
Returns to Written Questions
Replies to Opening Address
Replies to Budget Address (Day 1 of 7)
Petitions
Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills
Tabling of Documents
Notices of Motion
Notices of Motion for First Reading of Bills
Motions
First Reading of Bills
Second Reading of Bills
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
Report of Committee of the Whole
Third Reading of Bills
Orders of the Day
Accordingly, this House stands adjourned until Thursday, May 22, 2008, at 1:30 p.m.
The House adjourned at 4:03 p.m.
