Debates of October 29, 2004 (day 31)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to put out a challenge to the youth in the Mackenzie Delta. Mr. Speaker, as a young leader and a young man 14 years ago, I can recall the elders of the Mackenzie Delta put out a challenge to myself and the other leaders in the Mackenzie Delta to set the example and be sober and be an example to others.

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I took up that challenge some 14 years ago and have been sober since.

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I would like to challenge the youth of our communities to stop drinking, stop the abuse with regards to alcohol and drugs, but also take on the challenge to be our role models in our communities. By challenging your friend, your brother, your sister and set the example for your younger brothers and sisters, you can definitely make a difference like I did to set the example for who we serve. As young individuals, you can make a difference. You can show other people in your communities that it is okay to be sober. It is okay to live a healthy life. It is okay to set the challenges to people around you. You may not be speaking out in a public meeting, but by just taking on this challenge, you can show other people that they can also make a difference. Living in our small communities, we all have to be role models, and we realize that the challenges around us are vast in regards to alcohol, drugs and the abuse that happens in our communities. Again, I would like to put out the challenge to our younger people in our communities to be role models and not for yourself, but for your younger brothers and sisters, so that you can make a difference. Thank you.

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