Mahsi, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, elders, my honourable fellow colleagues here in the 13th Legislative Assembly, ladies and gentleman in the gallery and the people of the Northwest Territories. It is a great honour today and a privilege to address you today as I put my name forward for the Premier of the Northwest Territories. I would like to thank the honourable Member from Thebacha, Mr. Mike Miltenberger, for nominating me for this important position of trust. I would like to recognize my family, Mr. Chairman: my wife Celine, my son Denezeh, my daughter Melaw, my two other sons, Sachey and Tumbah, for their understanding and support as I continue on this political path that I have chosen and that I am on now.

Mr. Chairman, this is an unfortunate opportunity today coming after a lengthy, very painful process of the Conflict of Interest Commission and the report. I would like to mention that the honourable Member from Tu Nedhe, Mr. Don Morin, resigned as result of that and I commend him for the courage in taking that decision. Mr. Chairman, I want to speak in my own language.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The reason I put my name forward for government leader, this is a big responsibility.

Mr. Chairman, my life has been an incredible journey and a learning experience. Earlier on I learned important lessons from my parents, my relatives and elders at our traditional camps along the Deh Cho at a place called Rabbitskin River. Their lessons of respect, trust, tolerance, patience and a willingness to work cooperatively to achieve common goals will undoubtedly help me as Premier if I am elected.

I began my political career serving the people of Liidli Kue as a chief of the Liidli Kue First Nation. I have been privileged to serve as the MLA for the Nahendeh in this Legislative Assembly for two terms of office. As MLA I have been pleased to serve as chairman of the Standing Committee of Finance, as co-chair of the Constitutional Working Group and as Minister of Transportation, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Minister of Public Works and Services. I feel a strong responsibility to continue putting my experience to good use, Mr. Chairman. To help improve the lives of all northerners. What do northerners want and expect most from us? I believe, Mr. Chairman, that they want honesty, accountability and stability at this time. Together we must restore public confidence here in the Legislative Assembly and get back to work. Back to the issues that affect the daily lives and future of our constituents, the people of the Northwest Territories who put us here.

A great deal of work remains to be done leading up to April 1st to ensure a smooth transition to both territories. I remain committed to working with all Members of this Assembly to complete the task in a fair and practical manner. For myself, Mr. Chairman, division is both an exciting and somewhat sad time. While I am excited about working on the many challenges leading up to and after April 1st, it is with a sense of sadness that I say goodbye to my Nunavut colleagues and the wisdom that they have brought here to the Legislative Assembly.

--Applause

As my Nunavut colleagues look to the future in their reality of Nunavut, they will be setting their own priorities and agenda. I hope the first Legislative Assembly of Nunavut has the opportunity to benefit from the commitment and hard work they have brought here to this Assembly. Mr. Chairman, simply because the people in Nunavut and the NWT will live in two territories cannot take away from our shared history and the many similar challenges we face. That is why it is important that the people of both territories continue to work together for the common interest of all northerners. I am committed to this.

To my western colleagues, I say let us take up the unique opportunity to shape the new territory and to reflect who we are. As we turn our attention to the future, we must take a course that meets the interests and needs of all people and creates a better quality of life for all northerners. In taking this course, we must recognize that our first responsibility is to our children. They represent the very foundation of our future. I am committed to ensuring that northern youths are afforded every opportunity to realize their personal potential. I am determined to create the kind of future for all our children that will enable them to find good jobs, raise healthy, productive families and become leaders within their own communities.

I believe all political leaders must be responsible to act as good role models for northern youth. We have a responsibility to listen to the people we represent. Our elders tell us to work together to build a healthier northern society, to focus on our common goals and to respect our differences. As we turn our attention to the agenda of the Western Territory, the groundwork has been laid by the Legislative Assembly to deal with the critical issues that we face. Westerners, for the first time, we have the opportunity to not only have the say, but to a play a central part in shaping a new government system for the new Western Territory. To seize this opportunity, we need to participate in the implementation of aboriginal rights negotiations and the development of the constitution of the western Northwest Territories.

Mr. Chairman, I am confident that we will all benefit by ensuring aboriginal people participate in their rightful place in the political and economic future of the north. Many Members have talked about the enormous economic potential of our resources. We need to develop this potential in a way that provides the greatest economic benefit for northerners and ensures the protection of our fragile northern economy and our fragile northern environment, as well. To realize these benefits, northerners must be in control of decisions concerning the development of their interest. This means, Mr. Chairman, not only controlling the pace of development, but ensuring that we have a greater share of taxes and resource revenues that accrue from development. These revenues are essential, Mr. Chairman, if we are to maintain current services for our people and make needed investments in the future.

Mr. Chairman, I am convinced that we can only do this if we dedicate our efforts to negotiate with Ottawa, in partnership with aboriginal governments and to realize greater self-reliance for all northerners. We are at the pivotal point in the north's history, an exciting and challenging time that presents unprecedented opportunities. My overriding goal is to play an instrumental role in creating two strong and stable governments that contribute to the Canadian federation as we move into the next century. The people of Nunavut will take firm control of their own affairs on April 1st, 1999. I am confident that Nunavut will assume a prominent role in the Canadian federation as well. The new Northwest Territories is equally poised to seize all available opportunities.

Together, Mr. Chairman, the two new territories will demonstrate to the rest of Canada that we can competently manage our own affairs and contribute meaningfully to the Canadian federation. This has been, and remains, my goal as a Member of this Legislative Assembly. It is a goal, I am convinced, we can achieve if we work together, Mr. Chairman, shoulder to shoulder here in the Legislative Assembly, serving the needs of our constituents. Whatever the outcome of this election, we must not lose sight of the fact that at the end of the day, we are all here to serve the people of the Northwest Territories. Whether you select me, or my honourable colleague, I am committed to working closely and cooperatively with all the MLAs here in this Legislative Assembly so that we could leave a legacy for which the people of the Northwest Territories can look at and be proud of.

With that, I would like to say thank you. Mahsi cho, Mr. Chairman.

--Applause