Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I had not considered taking time today to give a Member's statement, but I must rise, I think, to give defence to some of my colleagues. In particular, I want to make a statement about my support for the chairman of ajauqtit or the ordinary Members' committee, Jeannie Marie-Jewell. I think there is a great deal of criticism that has been directed toward her in her efforts in this Assembly. A great deal of those efforts were a result of decisions that were made by the ordinary Members' committee, not decisions that were made by herself or without consultation with her colleagues. I think it is really unfair of the media, and maybe people like Mr. Sigvaldason, who is the publisher, should find out whether or not he has qualified people that are writing for him or other papers, because I realty think the kinds of comments that have been made are unfair.
More importantly, lot me quote from a newspaper, Nunatsiaq News, where it says, "Cabinet jobs went to those deemed to be the best and the brightest and the ones with honesty, integrity and brains." Now the question is, is that really the case? People talk about accountability of our government, and I think that when we see our communities not receiving some of the benefits that most people take for granted, then it is in the interests of Members on this side of the House to make people in cabinet accountable for their decisions and for the policies, and programs and services that they are offering to the people of the Northwest Territories.
I think it is really unfair that the media should take their efforts to only point out that there is one Member here who is trying to make this government accountable. That is simply not true, and I think it is unfair, so I wanted to get up after being absent for a week to defend my colleague because I think the media should get their facts straight and got their information to the people of the Northwest Territories correct so that people will understand the reasons why positions and decisions are being made the way they are in this Assembly.
--- Applause