Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Members and friends, this is the first opportunity to speak to you as MLA. I want to begin by saying thank you to the residents of Yellowknife Centre for your kind trust as well as bringing me back from my long sabbatical. And a special thanks to my wife, Susan, with whom none of this would actually be possible. She is truly the partner in my full sense of that word.
Now may I remind all my colleagues through this occasion that our spouses, that our children, and our family members, even though they were not on the ballot with us, they always are with us and they will equally share in the results, be it good, be it bad, be it less good, but please remind them that they are important through all this process because without them, we wouldn't be as strong as we are today.
Now, friends, to the business at hand. I've come here today not only to address you as my colleagues of this Assembly but to speak frankly and directly to Northerners at large, all of whom who have sent us here to do their work for them. I know that for many Northerners watching us right now, many the issues that loom over them loom over us. But we are here to carry their hopes and dreams. For many of us the state of the economy is a real concern. We've heard it here today. And it may rise above many other issues for some. However, others there are simple overwhelming issues such as the overwhelming cost of living. Whether you live far in the North or you live in the south NWT, families are making day-to-day decisions that are challenging, and they're struggling. Now not to mention there are many other issues, such as families struggle with the poor application of the $10 a day health care program, a program well intended but not promised with the delivery and the implementation as we all believed it was. It carries many complications. There are also many other issues before us, and we could go on at length.
Many families are personally worried about the future, as I am as well. But we need to take thoughtful collective steps together to help address many of their concerns. Now more than ever, it is important this Assembly learns to be innovative, progressive, and maybe even sometimes have a little luck. We are here to take steps in the coming months and years to help bring and create a stronger North and a future for all our people in all our ridings. While our economy may have its challenges, I am confident the northern resilience will never be shaken, and we will truly be stronger than ever during our time, this 20th Assembly, our time of renewal.
Now, wishing doesn't necessarily make it so. So there is a lot of work. So let's not underestimate the tough days ahead of us, and there will be. There will be complicated choices in front of every single one of us. Before we know it, we'll be asking difficult questions, but we must not waiver because Northerners are truly depending on us.
If we're truly honest with ourselves, many of us ran for leadership because we felt we didn't see it before, or we felt we had something to offer with respect to the challenges of the day. The reality is is we are now here, and we must forge a path forward together not forgetting about people or other ridings, not just about ourselves. So some of us may be new. And I see many of them in here, while there's others of us who are renewed the way I'm looking at it, all with a common goal to help and serve others. I'm confident that we could do this with courage and efficiency, but we must do this in a meaningful way. We must forge ahead clearly not by blaming the 19th Assembly or any other previous Assembly but rather forge tirelessly as we seize the opportunity before us.
It's true at the same time that we often need to remind ourselves the challenges, and maybe even the predicaments of today, we need those to inspire us to work harder for each other and, again, for each other's ridings. We are in this together. The common good will not be solved easily. And for those that think it is, obviously don't understand the grips and the size of our challenges. There will be a lot of work. Some of these challenges will take many years. And let's not fool ourselves because many of these situations we find ourselves in today just didn't happen overnight.
When talking to Northerners, they realize we have a big job in front of us but they also have our confidence and however meaningful as that may be, they expect us to take steps, whether the steps to address the cost of living, help them with the carbon tax challenge on home heating fuel by removing it, we must do what we can.
During my many conversations, I would hear desperate families talk about things that are breaking down. We cannot ignore their calls for help. When I met with several different families, they told me about their struggles. For example, finding a doctor, how can that be in this day and age? One family mentioned to me about the challenge when they were trying to get their diabetes medication with the locum doctor. Every time they had to start over and over and over again with a new doctor. It was getting exhausting. Then there's other families who want to start a family. They want the kindness and continuum of care working with their doctor. And then you'll hear heartbreaking stories of seniors who are on the other side, entering the next phase of their life, without that trusted special one working with them as they move towards the winter of their life. They want that relationship. And by golly, they deserve it.
When I heard about the ongoing health care challenges, I listened to many of the people talking. It's not just about the locum doctors. It's not just about the locum nurses. It's also about the overworked health care system. They are exhausted. But clearly and importantly, they need to know we have their back because some of these solutions that they need, we just need to listen to. They're not as complicated as we're trying to make them out to be.
At the same time, you don't have to look any further for the evidence of different struggles throughout all our communities. I can point in my community of the homelessness and the addictions of downtown and even the compounding public safety issues that need urgent help. This is not news here, and this is clearly not news in many of the ridings. Many loved ones will tell me they see their family members downtown struggling with their demons, and they would give anything to help break that cycle. We can help. We can start making good choices. We can support them. So as this problem gets worse, let's not let people feel abandoned and fearful.
There will always be challenges of the day but we cannot ignore the promises of the future. We have many to cherish and we have many to support, so they too deserve the fullness of our attention. I know each of us want the best for our young people so in this economy, we must be prepared to rise to that occasion. Opportunities like the polytech, it can bring in investments and educational opportunities for all Northerners as well as maybe new Northerners. Let us not miss this opportunity.
Now, keep in mind that one polytech will not replace a diamond mine but it's about the past. As we sit here with the gray economic cloud looming over the Northwest Territories, we must look at ways to diversify our economy. And therefore, we could also consider, not only as I suggest but as many suggest, the polytech could come on the property of the capital area site right near the Legislative Assembly as one option. So don't overlook at ripple effects. When you do one success, it can help spark other ones from one region to another region, from one community to another community, to one riding to another riding.
You know, they'll often say that the true hallmark of leadership is about inspiring others to get the best from them even at times when it's even better than what we can do ourselves. That's teamwork; not worrying about getting the credit, but looking at the end result of what's meaningful for everyone. The system, therefore, must accept the inevitability of change. It is time we acknowledge that our Indigenous governments, our community governments, are our allies, not our competitors and hands down not our enemies. They are our friends. They are our colleagues. They are in this together with us. So we must not hold on to useless tenets and silly reasoning why we hold each other back. And so by example, by not transferring lands to community governments, to cities, to our partners so they can get on and do their business and do it right, we are holding them back. We're not supporting their economies. We must reflect on those choices. We can make the good choices by helping them. By standing with community governments and our Indigenous partners with their housing initiatives, it would be a clear application of support.
The GNWT does not control every single outcome, but it's time we become a clear single partner in the context of our support on and on. As I look to the fall of 2027, I want to talk about the end of our four years as I work towards the closing of my statement. Wouldn't it be nice to talk about the settling of land claims and settling -- and working through the implementation agreements? At the same time, wouldn't it be great to talk about the progressive steps we have taken to fully implement our wellness centres in our regions and support the homeless initiatives or provide housing and addictions care and aftercare and employment initiatives in all our regions? Wouldn't it be great in 2027? By fully funding communities, by supporting their needs, 2027 could be fantastic. And it starts today by the work we do together.
It wasn't that long ago when we lived in a prosperous era, and I don't think that that slippage is so far behind we can't remember it. We must inspire ourselves. We must act boldly and wisely to revive our economy and to build a foundation of lasting prosperity for everyone. The North is mineral rich. It may be infrastructure poor but the world needs us, and we have things for them to share.
Equally important, this Assembly needs to have a focus on putting money back in the pockets of Northerners. I have suggested a few ideas. There are many, many more. But we must revisit how we do business, and it must be a call to action on how we do this because the cost of living and the struggles are real. I do not hear one single riding saying everything is perfect. We have so many people needing other assistance, and we can do this together. And I know it's not easy. We will disagree with each other and, as a matter of fact, probably quite regularly. And that's okay. That is a hallmark of democracy. But it's what we do with that disagreement on how we do it is what we can do to deal with these priorities and working for everyone.
I also understand that at any given day these challenges will be exhausting but I can tell you I'll be relentless.
So in conclusion, I want to start by saying that each of us ran -- sorry, let me try it again. At the conclusion, I want to point out that the start of each of our journeys really began with the thought of changing the narrative in our communities and how we can afford our energy and time and create solutions. But you're not alone. As you sit there in your chair, know this: You have 18 other Members who feel somewhat similar. Sometimes we're scared. Sometimes we're nervous. But we are all together. With approximately 1,379 days to go in this Assembly, time is short and before you know it, it'll be over.
So I'll leave you with this: However we found our way here, our job is to lift all regions of the North, help with the prosperity of all and all Northerners because the change in the people we may have been waiting for is actually here today. Congratulations, everyone. And thank you very much. Thank you