Thank you, Mr. Speaker-elect. I, too, would like to congratulate you and Mr. McLeod on your positions today.
Good afternoon. I would like to start by acknowledging everyone here today to the important journey we have embarked on. When I look around the room, I feel nothing but optimism. We have worked very closely in a short period of time, to bring forward our priorities and set the stage for the 18th Assembly. I am confident we are on the right track. We have already laid the important groundwork for a brighter future, a future that will give everyone in the NWT a chance to prosper. I look forward to working with each and every one of you to make this happen. That's what it will take.
Our teamwork will either make us or break us. I think we've already laid the foundation to keep a good working relationship here in the past few days, but there are some key factors that will ensure our success going forward. This is where I believe my extensive business and governance experience can be a real asset to the Executive Council. A lot of us have already called for a need for transparency. I believe collaboration, consultation and innovation among us will also be instrumental in our success. I have championed this approach and leadership in every one of my previous business and governance roles. I also intend to champion here, if elected to Cabinet, what I believe will help and define the success of the 18th Assembly.
Let me take a moment to tell you a bit about my background. Thirty years ago I moved to Hay River because of an opportunity. I wanted to raise a family and grow a business in one of the most exciting communities for economic growth in the North. I am eternally grateful for the continued opportunities that have kept me there. As a Red Sealed auto body journeyman, I started with a small auto body repair shop, which quickly grew into one of the largest sign manufacturing businesses in the NWT.
Like my other northern entrepreneurs, what I lacked in formal business education was learned the hard way, trial and error. I worked around the clock to get the job done, keep clients happy and run a profitable business. That's not a bad thing. I developed a strong work ethic early in my career because I had no other choice. My reputation and the well-being of my family were on the line. However, just like my new role here in this Assembly, I quickly learned my family wasn't the only stakeholder in my success. My business success also played an important role in the strength of my business community, both in Hay River and the Northwest Territories.
The livelihood of our local business communities has a direct impact on each and every person in the NWT. It impacts jobs; it impacts family incomes; it impacts the cost of living; and it impacts the amount of money we can reinvest in our communities. That's a big responsibility; hence, to underline one of my first lessons in the importance of collaboration. I took a more active role to promote the growth of my business community and town when I became a director of the Hay River Chamber of Commerce. I saw firsthand the impact that collaboration with fellow directors could have on our community. It's been rewarding to see our successes as a board translate into successes for the businesses, families and youth.
Similarly, I think we can have the even stronger impact on our priorities if we find ways for better collaboration within this Assembly. Every one of us should be seeking to collaborate with federal, municipal and Aboriginal governments. We should be working with the organizations and stakeholder groups within our communities, and we should be working with each other. Collaboration will be key to working smarter and faster towards our goals. It will also be vital to making sure we can create the relevant policies at the centre of health, well-being and the prosperity of our people and communities.
I think even new MLAs such as myself have already had a good deal of experience with consultation during our campaigns. This will be another critical factor to our success in this Assembly. We have already heard from numerous constituents, stakeholder groups and organizations about the issues at the heart of our communities. But the job isn't over. The truth is, it's never over. We need to keep an open dialogue with our constituents, committees and everyone here today. We have a duty to give a voice to every single person in our communities and to bring it right here.
Giving people a voice is one of the reasons I got involved as president of the Hay River Metis Government Council and vice-president before that. One of my proudest achievements at the Metis Government Council was overseeing community wellness contribution funding with the GNWT. I led a large-scale consultation to make sure the entire community could benefit from these dollars. I also saw the value in consultation in my work with the NWT Chamber of Mines and Aboriginal Participation Committee to help me give my voice to my community by sharing some of the real impacts on resource development on our businesses, youth and our communities.
The key part of our job in the next four years will be to maintain a strong relationship with our communities. That is the only way we can truly listen and give a voice to our constituents. We need to do the same within our Assembly. We must keep open dialogue between our Members, Ministers and our committees to make sure we include as many viewpoints as possible in our decision-making. It's the only way to ensure our efforts are relevant and consider the well-being of every single person in the NWT.
Our constituency very clearly voted for change on election day and we have to be held accountable to that. This is why innovation will be critical to defeating the status quo. I think we're all pretty aware of the limited resources at hand with the declining economy. We have to get creative; we have to get uncomfortable; and we have to think long term. As a business owner, I've always had the future in mind.
Innovation has been key to my success. With an evolving economic climate, it can often mean the difference between sink or swim for a business. It's one of the reasons I feel so strongly about investing in youth. Fresh minds bring a lot of value into a company. In fact, I've recently passed the baton to my star protégé, who has been running the show since I was elected as MLA. The young people are good at seeing things in a new way. It's amazing what you can learn when you stop and open your mind to new ideas and ways to doing things. It's one of the reasons I participated in schools with the SNAP program. It's a great initiative that connects youth with local apprenticeship opportunities to help inspire them to find meaningful careers within our communities.
I've also had the opportunity to work with youth in my role as the president of the Hay River Metis Government Council. I attended weekly student council meetings at the Diamond Jenness High School to mentor youth, the future leaders of our communities. It is these experiences that have helped instill in me the importance of innovation for longevity. The future is never certain. The only thing that is constant is change. That's exactly why we must value innovation in this Assembly that will help us set priorities that empower our people and our communities with the flexibility to adapt and thrive into the future.
Back into my community, some of the most respected peers refer to me as a man who gets things done. I take great pride in that. But I also know my success has never been the result of just one person. I'm looking forward to building a positive working relationship with everyone in this Assembly. Whether a Cabinet or a Regular Member, I am committed to bringing the same work ethic that has driven my business and leadership success to every task, and I'm also committed to fostering a working environment that's centred on consultation, collaboration and innovation. I strongly believe that it will help define our success as an Assembly and help set a positive, new direction for the people of the Northwest Territories.