Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, everything in life needs a balance and this legislature is no different. There is a balance required in this legislature between economic development and social development. I believe I can contribute more to one side than the other. Economic development business is needed to provide the jobs and provide the taxes to ensure that social issues can be dealt with, issues that have come up numerous times in this House and mainly surround the provision of health and education.

Later today, we are going to be electing an individual to Cabinet. This position that will take place in the election, is not until March 31st. This position is until October 4th, when the next election in the new Western Territory will take place. After April 1, 1999, there will be three Ministers, Mr. Antoine, the newly elected Premier, Mr. Kakfwi, Mr. Dent and someone from our ranks today. That will leave four people. There will be two additional Members elected prior to April 1st to take office after April 1st. The balance that I talked about is extremely important in Cabinet and it would be extremely important to ensure that there is a balance in Cabinet between people that have an economic development perspective, business sense and those that have the ability to understand and provide what is needed in the areas of the social envelope, health and education. It is extremely important to ensure that there are the resources which come in the form of taxes to provide those health and education requirements of people in the north.

Mr. Chairman, I know the amount of work that is available. I have watched the Members of Cabinet. I have watched their dedication, the amount of hours that they put in. Like myself, from a small business background, I am very aware of how difficult it is to work and how long the hours have to be to be successful. That, for me, is not a question. I have the time, I would dedicate the time to do that. I recognize there would be a phenomenal learning curve, even though Members have had the opportunity to work here on this side of the House. As I say, I know what hard work is, but I also know that when a person enjoys what they do, it is not hard work. I have always been able to find enjoyment in things that I do.

In my business life, I have demonstrated that I can work with aboriginal and non-aboriginal people equally. I have demonstrated that in a number of business ventures. I have the ability to work well with staff and I would like to suggest that I can bring the best out of staff so that each person can feel that they are contributing individually and collectively. I would suggest that I also have the ability to influence other departments.

Mr. Chairman, if an individual can motivate staff, I would suggest that is one way that people can feel part of the whole and staff can feel and hum like one operation. To me, I feel that is an extremely important element that I could bring, the ability to get people humming and moving.

As far as having knowledge of other communities in the Northwest Territories, for a number of years, Mr. Chairman, I had the pleasure of being the Chairman of the Liquor Licensing Board which gave me the opportunity to travel to many communities in the Northwest Territories, meet with the people, listening to concerns that they had on one of the, I would suggest, more difficult substances that is available legally in the Northwest Territories, alcohol. I have had the opportunity to work and deal with people in the communities, so I have that experience that I would bring to the position.

I am a northerner, I was born in northern Ireland, I have lived in the north of Canada for numerous years, I will not say I married here in the north, I will not say the number of years that my wife has lived in the north, but I will say that she was born here, and I have five children, all of whom were born in the Northwest Territories.

I will close now, Mr. Chairman, by thanking Mr. Picco for his nomination of me, and I would ask all Members to consider my comments and I thank them for any support that they will give. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

--Applause