Robert Hawkins

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my riding of Yellowknife Centre has come forward to express that they have many concerns with the swiftness of access to justice through the legal aid system, whereby access to this justice seems to wear lead shoes. Mr. Speaker, reading past Hansards shows many questions have been put to the government, yet it also shows very few real responses.

Mr. Speaker, later today I will be bringing some of the concerns forward of the people of my riding. Mr. Speaker, I don’t believe we’re truly taking care of our people and later, during question period, I will be...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I’m here to talk to you about family. This past weekend, I happened to have the pleasure of attending a special surprise birthday party for a couple of constituents of mine, Larry and Hermie Pineda. They’re 75 years and 74 years of age respectively, and they’ve been married almost 54 years. I think that’s an incredible feat to recognize and it’s with an amazing amount of respect you have to look towards folks like this. They don’t just build a family; they build a community, folks like this.

On that note, sometimes you can look around and there are sad stories...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to note one of our most notable seniors in Yellowknife, Mr. Ed Jeske. I believe he is up there, he was waving to me when I came in. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to deal with the motion I gave notice of earlier today.

Thank you again, Mr. Speaker.

WHEREAS this Legislative Assembly is required to appoint Members to the Board of Management in accordance with section 36(3) of the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act;

AND WHEREAS appointments to the Board of Management are required to be made during the first session of each legislature;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for North Slave, that the following Members be appointed to the Board of Management of this Assembly: Honourable David Krutko, Member for Mackenzie Delta; the Honourable Brendan Bell, Member for Yellowknife South...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Monday, December 15, 2003, I will move the following motion: Now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for North Slave, that the following Members be appointed to the Board of Management of this Assembly: The Honourable David Krutko, Member for Mackenzie Delta; the Honourable Brendan Bell, Member for Yellowknife South; Mr. David Ramsay, Member for Kam Lake; Mr. Kevin Menicoche, Member for Nahendeh; and, Mr. Calvin Pokiak, Member for Nunakput;

And further, that the following Members be appointed to the Board of...

May I thank all of my colleagues. Mr. Speaker, I believe we can all work together in this success and build a great North that we can all be proud of.

Mr. Speaker, I grew up in Fort Simpson. I've danced in the friendship circle. I came to high school here in Yellowknife and I lived at Akaitcho Hall. I've been a Yellowknife city councillor and now I have a great source of pride being able to say I’m a father, a husband and now an MLA for Yellowknife Centre. My dreams are coming true and I believe I have many years of my journey still to continue, but I thank the many people who have helped...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Although some of them have been recognized, I am still going to mention them again. Bishop Sperry, a constituent of mine who was here earlier. I am not sure if he is up there. Commissioner Glenna Hansen; chief superintendent and his wife; soon to be former constituent, former Clerk David Hamilton. I would like to recognize Reverend Flumerfelt -- I just saw him earlier -- Didier Bourgois, my neighbour; Esther Braden, a constituent. She snuck off there I believe. Dr. Judith Knapp, Jennifer Marchant and Audrey Zoe and my eyes aren’t so good, so I am sorry if I missed...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As this is my first statement, I may appear nervous. In my political history whenever I saw a crowd this large it always made me nervous, so I'm very nervous today. I must say that upfront.

Mr. Speaker, may I congratulate you, as well as our new Premier-elect, on your positions as well as your acclamations to your positions. You are both going to be our shepherds into our new future. It's going to be a unique journey, and we will be looking to you both to teach us and carry us forward.

To Mr. Handley -- Premier Handley, I should say -- I would like to bring echoes of...