Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak today in support of a public awareness campaign that will be launched at noon in the Great Hall tomorrow by the Yellowknife Foster Family Association. Mr. Speaker, as much as it is our fervent desire that every child have a safe and healthy home, sadly this is not the reality in our society, especially so in the North. When there is a child in need of alternative care, often we rely on foster families to step in and fill the need. In an effort to raise awareness and encourage caring individuals to become foster parents, and to encourage leaders to work within their communities to provide support to families in need, Yellowknife Foster Families Association is launching a Foster Doll Awareness Campaign. As long as we need foster families, it is in the best interest of the children that they are placed as close to their own communities as possible. In order to make that possible, we need foster families in as many communities as possible, Mr. Speaker.

Starting tomorrow, until November 2nd, I will be joining a number of other individuals and leaders representing various sectors of our communities, who will each look after a foster doll with widely differing cultural, language and social backgrounds.

Mr. Speaker, I can tell you that my foster doll is a 12-year-old girl named Pat, who is originally from Tuktoyaktuk. She has been in care for four years, and she suffers from FAS effect. She is very shy and polite, but has high energy and is missing her mother very much.

Mr. Speaker, part of my duty in being involved with this project is to take her around to places that I go to. That means that although I cannot bring her to this chamber, she will be going to a lot of meetings with me, including the FASD conference being held this weekend. I will also be writing mini journals to keep a record of her travels and experiences.

In doing so, Mr. Speaker, it is my sincere hope that people will see, and become more aware, of the need to honour the needs of our children in care. I will be able to show my appreciation to the foster parents in our communities who, like my colleague from Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen, who was once a foster parent, opened their homes and hearts to take care of children who really need not only a safe home, but love of a family. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause