Debates of March 19, 2004 (day 4)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Since this is a Friday session, I want to put a little poetry into my Member’s statement today, a poem written about my wife and I as we travelled into rural Canada to promote and educate people about the Northwest Territories. A local poet by the name of Ken Blacklock wrote this poem on March 7, 2004. I haven’t gotten up to recite a poem since my university days at the University of Colorado in 1972 or 1973, so I ask you to indulge me as I may sound awfully rusty. Here goes my concerted effort, Mr. Speaker.

“Though politicians ain’t always my friends,

Today I will try to make amends.

I welcome to Alberta and Blue Ridge,

An MLA who is down from the northern fridge.

Roger Allen is the Member of the Northwest

Territories Assemblies

Living in Yellowknife, the Northwest Territories.

With his wife Dodie, a teacher on spring break,

Wants to visit Fort Floyd Sydney, so a holiday

they take.

They have no political parties, just sometimes

after meeting

They sit and talk together, no sides in the seating.

And after they decide the roadwork they will do,

The NWT no longer means “no way through.”

So today we give a welcome to Roger and his wife,

A politician that I haven’t given any strife.

An Inuit, Gwich’in, Irishman, a territorial blend,

A Canadian gentleman I’d be proud to call my friend.”

Mr. Speaker, many of the people I meet are fascinated by our governing system, so I take much pride in promoting our beautiful territory throughout my sojourns. That is how I will share this poem with you, my friends. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause