Mahsi. Please be seated.

Mr. Speaker, Premier Cochrane, Ministers, Members of the Legislative Assembly, staff, and visitors in the public gallery, mahsi. I am blessed and honoured to once again sit before you in this great Chamber. I wish to acknowledge that the land on which we gather are treaty lands and the home to many Indigenous people, including the Dene, Inuvialuit, Metis, and Inuit. We are grateful to be on this land. Many of you may have joined in all the powerful events happening throughout your communities and across Canada to honour National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

I have witnessed how this 19th Legislative Assembly really took to heart reconciliation and actioned it in so many ways by the encouragement to speak Indigenous languages, the Indigenous dress code, and incorporating Indigenous traditions and culture in this great House. You have shown this through recognizing and awarding distinguished Northerners residents during your term.

On February 27th, 2023, House Speaker Blake unveiled the Legislative Assembly's meeting room renaming project which was inspired by nature and reflected in all languages. The project includes representation of all official languages and regions in the Northwest Territories. Each of the nine rooms chosen are represented by a northern animal. Art work was done by an Indigenous NWT artist, Trey Madsen, and symbolizing the traits associated with each animal bringing deeper meaning to the work that takes place in each room.

Earlier this week with the unveiling of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls monument in front of this beautiful building, it was a very emotional ceremony and I was honoured to be here. But, most importantly, is how you individually as Members honour the people, the culture, and the traditions in the work that you do.

Today marks a day that I imagine is mixed with many emotions as well as much personal and professional planning for each of you. As Members of this 19th Legislative Assembly, each of you has become an instrument of change, an enhancement within this government. You have acted on the wishes and concerns of the people of our vast territory during your elected term. For that, I applaud you with a huge mahsi cho and know that we all owe you a debt of gratitude and gave us much to be extremely grateful for.

Being in politics is difficult, not only for the politician but for the families as well. As difficult as it is, we must remember that your families contributed immensely to have you function as an individual, a team player, and a Member of our great consensus government. On behalf of the people of the Northwest Territories, I extend my deepest admiration and gratitude to your families.

Some of you have already announced your intention to seek re-election. I wish you well and every success in your platforms and in your campaign journey. If you are elected again and return to this House, know that it was meant to be. If you do not get re-elected, close this chapter of your journey knowing that you have done your very best in representing your constituents and, most importantly, all Northerners. Some of you have announced your well thought out intentions to not seek re-election but rather have chosen to pursue new adventures and perhaps to rest and relax. Do that. Do it. I applaud you with sincere appreciation for your commitment and dedication and the service to your constituents and to all Northerners. I sincerely wish you all success, good health, and happiness in the next chapter of the journey you will take from here on.

I need to express my sincere gratitude to the people that worked diligently behind the scenes to assist you in your work - your staff, the public service, the staff that keep this great House tidy and organized, the translators, and interpreters. Everyone is to be celebrated for the tough decisions and accomplishment especially during the many challenges during your term. Much work will still be needed to address these times and these challenges.

I am very thankful for the difficult decisions made, especially during the many challenging times during your term. To name a few, these times include natural disasters and devastation of floods, wildfires, evacuation, and COVID-19 pandemic.

In closing, I remain deeply honoured to have been part of your political journey. I will keep close to my heart your kindness, your confidence in me, and how you welcomed me to my role as Commissioner of the Northwest Territories. Mahsi cho and Happy Thanksgiving.

Now as Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, I am pleased to assent to the following bills that you all have worked hard on and deliberated so carefully.

• Bill 65: Builders' Lien Act;
• Bill 74: Forest Act;
• Bill 77: Nursing Profession Act;
• Bill 78: Waste Reduction and Resource Recovery Act;
• Bill 80: Dental Hygienists Profession Statute Amendment Act;
• Bill 81: An Act to Amend the Education Act, No. 2;
• Bill 82: Legal Profession Act;
• Bill 83: Liquor Act;
• Bill 84: An Act to Amend the Northwest Territories Business Development and Investment Corporation Act;
• Bill 85: United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Implementation Act;
• Bill 92: An Act to Amend the Petroleum Products and Carbon Tax Act, No. 3;
• Bill 93: Practice of Engineering, Geoscience and Applied Science Technology Act;
• Bill 94: Miscellaneous Statute Law Amendment Act, 2023;
• Bill 100: Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures) 2024-2025;
• Bill 101: Supplementary Appropriation Act (Operations Expenditure and Borrowing Authorization) No. 3, 2023-2024.

Mahsi cho. Thank you. Quyananni. Merci beaucoup. Kwana.