Masi, Mr. Chair. [Translation] I would like to acknowledge that we are on Chief Drygeese Akaitcho Territory. I would like to acknowledge that, in this House and in the Northwest Territories, we stand on the land of Dene, Metis, Inuvialuit, and NWT Cree.

Congratulations to all the newly elected MLAs. I look forward to serving in the 19^th Legislative Assembly with all of you. Masi cho to the constituents of Monfwi for their confidence in me as their representative in the Legislative Assembly. It has been a privilege to serve the Tlicho people for the last 14 years and an honour to continue serving for the next four years. Masi to my wife, Dianne, and my children, Jayde and Jesse, Cheyenne, Sahara, Denae, Ty, and our grandson, Ares, for their love and support.

I am Jackson Lafferty. My father was Maurice Lafferty. He spent much of his life on the land. He was a trapper, a dog musher, and provided for us what he harvested. He was adopted, too, and raised by Mary Adele Lamouelle. My grandmother also had a hand in raising me, as I was the oldest grandson. My mother is the late Dora Marie Lafferty. She was a Tlicho interpreter for the Behchoko Health Centre. Her parents were Pierre and Margaret Mantla, who raised their children on the land. To this day, I look at my uncle. [End of translation]. It is the Dene way. Introducing ourselves in this way allows us to situate ourselves and gives context to relations we have with each other. It shows our history. Where we came from, and paves the way for the future. This is the way I would like to see the Government of the Northwest Territories working. With an understanding of each other and our people. Knowing where each of us comes from and building a relationship from there so that we can move forward together with common understanding.

We need to serve in the spirit of Dene Nawo: with good intentions. We need to serve within a culture that values respect, listening and cooperation. I have been involved in governance for half my life - 25 years. As a young adult I got involved early in local and regional politics. I served 14 years at the Legislative Assembly, in the administrations of three different premiers. I served as a Regular MLA and I served as a Cabinet Minister for 8 years. In the last Assembly I was entrusted with the Speaker's chair. I understand the roles and responsibilities of all those various positions.

[Translation] I have also had the opportunity to work among some of the great leaders among them. [End of translation]

[English translation not provided]

The late Pierre Beaverho, a very well respected Elder from Whati, gave me some advice when I first began politics. He talked about the importance of promoting our languages in all our day to day events and gatherings. Our language, our way of life, our culture make us who we are. We must never forget it. Pierre told me if I was going to be a leader, to do it in my own language. His advice to me as kawi (or leader) was to stay true to yourself. To always do what you believe is right.

Pierre Beaverho also spoke to me about the Dene drum and its meaning. The beat of the drum is the heartbeat of the people. Its shape stands for harmony and unity of all people. It is not by chance that our Legislative Chamber is circular, like a drum. Pierre told me to carry the message of the drum forward in gatherings and meetings. To share the meaning of unity. Masi, Pierre, for these words. As a rookie band councilor, in my 20s, these were very powerful words.

I have held these close to my heart and they have led me since. I often returned to Pierre for his advice. So, as we serve in this House, let's never forget the drum, and all it stands for. That includes a consensus style of government that recognizes, regardless of our disagreements, that all ideas and opinions matter and have worth. Working collaboratively, in a consensus system strengthens and unites us in a way that party politics never can.

But have we always worked in that spirit of consensus? Have we displayed unity and strength? From my perspective as Speaker, as Minister, and as an MLA, I don't think we have. That is where this Assembly, under the right leadership, can make a difference. I believe it is possible for the Executive and Regular Members to generally work together to achieve a common cause and a collective vision. Northerners demand it. For the sake of our youth, our education system, community wellness, decent housing for all, economic diversity, climate change, caribou, and many other challenges that confront our territory, we need a leader that will work with all 18 Members in the spirit of servant leadership, one who is open-minded and a good listener, and one who explores all sides of issues and opportunities before making a decision; a leader who has respect for different perspectives, one who will collaborate and work with all levels of government in order to get the job done; a leader who looks beyond their own interests for the greater good of all, who inspires others to do the same. A leader who leads to serve. I believe I am that leader.

During the 18^th Assembly, there were no small communities represented on Cabinet. Ministers were only drawn from Yellowknife, Hay River, Inuvik, and Fort Smith; large urban centres, very different from the 33 small communities that make up the rest of the territory. This was a barrier to consensus in the 18^th Assembly. It cost the Executive a proper understanding of the challenges of life in the small communities where most of us live, places without all-weather roads, banks, daily air services, hospitals, full-time policing, or even decent food. I am pushing for an Executive that represents all parts of the Northwest Territories so we can truly represent and serve our people in a generalized spirit of consensus.

The October 1^st general election has given our territory much to celebrate. It was conducted in a spirit of fairness and efficiency that nine-tenths of the world's voters can only wish for. Most remarkable of all, women today occupy 50 percent minus one of the seats in this Chamber. This milestone will have a lasting impact on policy decisions and outcomes of this government. It is an outcome that I welcome with all my heart.

Finally, the election has delivered a crop of bright and committed MLAs representing incredible diversity, skills, talents, and experience. Among us, MLAs are experts in Indigenous governance, engineering, healthcare, media, law, climate change, business, social issues; each and every one ready to make a difference in the lives of our constituents.

The NWT deserves a Premier who, through collaboration, can incorporate these diverse perspectives and experience into Cabinet decision-making and lead us to serve the people of the Northwest Territories to the best of their needs. I am up for the task. I know that each of you is equally committed to collaborative tasks at hand, as well.

That is not say that it will be an easy road. The challenges are very complex, critical to the well-being of our constituents. The challenges far outstrip the fiscal resources available to us. Furthermore, the GNWT does not have exclusive jurisdiction over the Northwest Territories. We share governance with municipalities, the constitution entrenched with Indigenous governments, and other Indigenous governments seeking settlement of their claims. The federal government also is a crucial partner and primary source of revenue. The consensus principle applies to our dealings with these important players. With trust, patience, hard work, and the right leadership, it can succeed in the most difficult circumstances.

In our priority-setting around the table, MLAs discussed economic prosperity. We all recognize that there is a need for economic diversification to build a northern economy. There are many opportunities and tools to encourage development in our territory. This is just one key objective that we set for ourselves.

All my experience in government administration and all my hard-earned political skill, I dedicate to delivering those priorities. I pledge that to you now.

On specific issues, I pledge the following as Premier. I will ensure the GNWT supports, with respect and integrity, those Indigenous governments seeking settlements of their outstanding land claims agreements. I pledge to collaborate and cooperate with Indigenous governments to establish meaningful, equitable, and model relationships. I will use my intergovernmental experience to strengthen our relationship with the federal government and to move them to a better understanding of our unique realities in the Northwest Territories.

I commit myself to improving the implementation of development strategies and the development of a clear and more efficient regulatory process to encourage further investments and opportunities here in the Northwest Territories. I will support the enactment of mining regulations that respect the environment and our changing climate, doing so in collaboration with all stakeholders, including Indigenous governments and business owners.

To help diversify our economy, I will support business development, especially in small communities and with Indigenous governments. Targeted areas will include tourism, ecotourism, research and development, arts and culture, as well as the development of infrastructure. I will work with communities to dissolve barriers to procurement and contracting and help strengthen our skilled labour force.

I will ensure that the wisdom of our elders is taken into account in planning for climate change and that Indigenous knowledge has the same weight as science.

Under my Premiership, the GNWT will collaborate with the federal government to ensure food security and reduce costs, especially in smaller communities, and that communities will be involved. Food security includes agriculture and traditional harvesting.

I promise that the Northwest Territories will continue to lead the country in reconciliation initiatives in the wake of the national Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the federal Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women.

I have already led the way by creating mandatory modules teaching the history and legacy of residential schools as part of the school curriculum. I will be a strong ally in language revitalization, including research and the encouragement of youth to speak their Indigenous languages.

I pledge to work in close collaboration with communities and with Indigenous governments, the federal government, and non-profit groups to find viable solutions, such as Housing First, to the housing crisis that we face, especially in small communities and especially with respect to displaced and homeless people.

I pledge my support for a polytechnic university on par with institutions in the South. I want to encourage our post-secondary students, the graduates, to continue their higher education here in the Northwest Territories and to pursue their careers here in the Northwest Territories, instead of taking their talents south.

With respect to health and wellness, I want to make sure that no Northerners are left behind. This means strengthening reconciliation efforts and supporting individual wellness in culturally relevant ways. It means better communication between departments, communities, and Indigenous governments.

Ensuring no one is left behind means integrative wraparound social services. It means supportive, innovative approaches, like the Arctic Indigenous Wellness Foundation, FOXY, and SMASH. It means restorative justice options, connecting with elders and with the land.

Ensuring no one is left behind means a greater focus on accessibility and affordability of early childcare. Finally, ensuring no one is left behind means ensuring that services are in place for our seniors, for addiction treatments, and for our mental health clients. I pledge my heart to ensuring that no one is left behind.

It is not possible to catalogue my responses to every issue that we face. Time doesn't allow, but I am an excellent listener, and I have respect for different perspectives. If elected Premier, I commit to working as a team to explore all sides of issues or opportunities before making a decision.

As we serve the people of the Northwest Territories, we are reliant on the expertise of those who work in the public service. Our public service is a resource to be cherished and honoured. It is the professionals skilled and dedicated to the people of the Northwest Territories. This also applies to the unions who work diligently to protect workers' rights and workers' welfare.

As the Premier, I will provide the leadership necessary to keep our senior government staff focused completely on the priorities set by this House. Under my Premiership, senior staff will engage more with the people of the North in their communities. The same goes for Indigenous governments.

I pledge to take our excellent, high-calibre civil service and, within four years, make it even better. By better, I mean a tighter ship and greater efficiency. Deputies and assistant deputies will be required to search out and eliminate duplications and overlap. There are no other ways, if we are to find the dollars needed to fund the priorities that we have set.

The next four years present an opportunity to both build on good work done by many people before us, as well as an opportunity to work together to tackle the issues that we know our residents face today; the cost of living, health and wellness, education, employment, homelessness, food and income security, the need to support the many northern families living with the legacy of residential schools, and the results of the loss of Indigenous language in our culture.

It is my goal in the next four years that people will be able to look back at the 19^th Assembly as a government that put collaboration and cooperation first, a government that worked together for the good of all of the people of the Northwest Territories. It will be a government of strong, productive relationships, working with communities, Indigenous governments, and the Government of Canada. It will be a government in which Cabinet and Regular Members found a way to work closely together to produce the best programs and services for all Northerners; an NWT united behind a collective vision that leaves no one behind.

If elected Premier, I promise that every Member's voice will be heard in this House. Every community will be represented. My priority is to build upon our elders' concept of consensus government, to work together in the spirit of Dene Nawo, good intent for the betterment of our people in the Northwest Territories. I believe that we will work together in the spirit of collaboration. With all levels and departments within the government, we can work in the true spirit of the drum, that we can achieve a better future, and we can be a united voice and vision for the NWT.

[Translation] If I am Premier, I promise every Member's voice will be heard, and every community will be represented. My priority is to build upon our elders' concept of consensus government. We are all here today with the same vision for the North. Let's all work collaboratively together and achieve our common northern goal. We will be like one people. We are all here to work in this Chamber. Each one of us will present what we will be working on. Thank you. [End of translation]