Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to use my Member’s statement today to trumpet the efforts of one individual in our business community, in our Yellowknife private sector, who stepped up to the plate, when government sometimes is uncomfortable, on environmental education for youth.
That person is Yellowknife’s Chris Johnston. He heard last week the lukewarm answers from our Premier about purchasing the documentary film “Water is Life.” He heard — and I quote from the October 7, 2008, page 22, unedited Hansard — that we will be prepared to “try and see what we can do to get this information out to all the students in the Northwest Territories. We ourselves are undertaking a number of issues to get on top of the water situation.”
Mr. Speaker, if someone in the business community hears and uses the phrase “we’ll think about it and maybe get back to you” or even words as veiled or not so veiled — no. Chris Johnston believes that the foundation of our youth is built with the knowledge and understanding of the world and most certainly the importance of the environmental issues in our North and in our community.
So when he said that he would buy all of those videos for all of our northern high schools, I was quite shocked and amazed and certainly excited to hear this. When he contacted me, he felt so strongly about this issue, that the government wasn’t clearly saying yes to help our youth of today, he said he would help our youth of today, because they are leaders of tomorrow and they need to be armed with knowledge and understanding of the issues of today.
He said this without any hesitation and felt it was unacceptable that it wasn’t a clear yes from the Premier; he said he would be willing to do it. Chris Johnston is mindful of the youth. He cares very much about them. He is very strongly committed to his community and his family. He believes strongly in our North and the environment we are living in and where we will be living in the future. That is why he is doing this. He feels that he has to step up as a business, that he needs to be committed to the North, and he feels he wants to demonstrate this.
Mr. Speaker, this is a fine example of where a business is leading on this initiative and shows the North that business cares too. I want to compliment the efforts of this young businessman in Yellowknife, Mr. Chris Johnston, for his community efforts. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Item 4, reports of standing and special committees. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.
