Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, at 11:00 a.m. this morning, I had the honour of attending the launch of our very own fundraising initiative in the name of breast cancer, Run for Our Lives. Mr. Speaker, Run for Our Lives will replace the Run for the Cure in 2005 and will make it possible to use 100 percent of the funds raised by the people of the NWT in support of national research, programs, services, support and equipment purchases for NWT breast cancer patients and survivors. Mr. Speaker, I have been a supporter of this move, because I believe this is about taking an ownership of this beloved project to make it for the NWT people by the NWT people and of the NWT people.

Mr. Speaker, to symbolize the inclusiveness and the unique northern culture and heritage, the new ribbon designed for this event shows our very unique and very well-known Delta braid, which I see that all the Members are wearing. Mr. Speaker, I can also tell you that all things made and purchased for this event will be by the northerners and from the northern businesses and artists.

Mr. Speaker, when the Run for the Cure first came to Yellowknife in 1996, one of the main incentives for northerners to participate was to raise funds for a new mammography machine for the Stanton Territorial Hospital. At the time, the NWT run was considered a satellite of the national run and, therefore, 75 percent of the funds were eligible to come back to the NWT. Approximately $100,000 was granted to purchase a new mammography unit through this fundraising.

Since 1996, the NWT has raised almost $1.2 million for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation; more than any other region in the country on a per capita basis, but we have only been able to get about $265,000 back to the NWT. In 2002, new guidelines were developed by the national organization that really makes it impossible or very difficult for any of the projects for northern needs and northern research to be approved. Mr. Speaker, the people of the NWT are recognized as being among the most generous, and this new Run for Our Lives will give the owners and sponsors assurance that the money they donate will come back to the NWT. Any research being sponsored will be for the people of the NWT who have direct benefit.

Mr. Speaker, the new run will join forces with the Stanton Territorial Hospital Foundation…Mr. Speaker, may I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement?

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

The Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude her statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. You may conclude your statement, Ms. Lee.

Sandy Lee

Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to just state that the new run will join force with the Stanton Territorial Hospital Foundation which will be able to provide the much needed and important administrative structure and support. I am also happy to see that one of the main corporate sponsors, CIBC, will stay with the run. I have no doubt that when the first Run for Our Lives is held on October 2nd of this year, the northern people will be out in full force as they always have done, especially now knowing that we are doing it all northern communities and literally all of the NWT. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause