Thank you, Mr. Chair. I too would like to congratulate you on being chosen as Speaker-elect, and congratulate Mr. Kakfwi for a job well done.
Many of you have heard me for quite some time this morning and this afternoon responding to questions and so on. I think I will say just a little bit more in the area of what I stand for and who I am. I came here at the 13th Assembly with an open mind. As I said, I had my back to the wall, eyes and ears open. I was told I would get an education of a lifetime. And I must say, the 13th Assembly has brought me more wisdom over the years: how to deal with people, issues, and how to take on challenges. And I hope to be able to bring that forward in the 14th Assembly in whatever role I will be given.
I think we have an opportunity here to make a difference for the people of the Northwest Territories by working together. I will be committed to the cause of making life better for our residents in the communities.
If we are going to make a difference, as I said many times this morning and this afternoon, it will be as a team. We heard earlier that we will have our disagreements, but at the end of the day we have to get on with business. That is what I am here to do, to get on with business in order to make a difference in the lives of all the people whether they are employed, children, elders, and unemployed. We have to represent them all fairly and equally.
I believe I have shown that ability in the last Assembly, and I hope to be able to continue that in whatever role I will be serving in this 14th Assembly. I look forward with apprehension, but knowing there is opportunity. If we take advantage of the opportunity, the changes that will come about will be more productive than just reacting as past governments and we have. We have to take the challenges and the calculated risk of making a difference. I think we can do that. We have good people around the table, and the challenges out there are huge. As my friend from Thebacha would say, they are absolutely huge. But I think we can make that difference.
We can improve the lives of the residents of the Northwest Territories. We can improve our communication with all the other groups in the Northwest Territories, and I think we can make better inroads with Ottawa. If we take the challenge and look at the changes that need to happen, we can all make a difference. That is what I came to do in the 13th Assembly. And as I spoke to people during the campaign of this election, we are going to face some difficult times. If we are willing to accept that tough decisions have to be made, at the end of the day we can will have positive outcomes.
So I look forward to working with you all in the 14th Assembly. I hope that I have your support as a Member of Cabinet for the 14th Assembly. And I think as a team we have started out on a good foot and we need to continue to build. Thank you.
-- Applause