Mr. Speaker, June 15 to June 21, 2008, has been designated as National Public Service Week. As the Minister of Human Resources for the Northwest Territories public service, it is my honour to stand in the House today to recognize the significant contributions made by the approximately 5,700 Government of the Northwest Territories public service employees.
It is public service employees who make it possible for the government to deliver services to the residents of the Northwest Territories. These services range from front-line health care to maintaining our highways to educating our children. As you can appreciate, delivering these services requires a great variety of skills on the part of public service employees. We have a public service that exhibits a high degree of professionalism and commitment to providing quality services to all residents of the Northwest Territories.
Mr. Speaker, last Thursday we had an opportunity to recognize some of these exceptional employees at the annual Premier's awards. Staff were recognized for individual awards, and there was a team award for the Aurora College Northern Nursing Program. These awards also included collaborative awards with partners such as the Tlicho Healing Wind Project — Promoting Sexual Health Team; the New Deal Capital Planning Task Team and Administrator’s Working Group; the Aurora Research Institute; Mallik International Gas Hydrate Research Program Team; and the Elders Wilderness Camp.
The Government of the Northwest Territories is currently undergoing some change in order to meet the vision and goals of this Assembly. Change is never easy or undertaken lightly, and we all recognize the work of the public service and wish to say “Thank you.” Please join me in expressing appreciation for the hard work and dedication of the public service and in celebrating National Public Service Week.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Minister responsible for Transportation, Mr. Yakeleya.
