Good afternoon. Before I proceed with the orders of the day, I have an announcement I would like to make. Friends, today I'm making an announcement that leaves me with a sense of regret and anticipation at the same time. I will be stepping down, retiring as it were, as Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories, at the conclusion of this session. It has been a tremendous honour to have been elected as your Speaker, and a tremendous challenge to have served in this important role for over two years.
Time has flown by and now is the appropriate time for me to move on to new challenges. The hectic task of building and opening the new Legislative Assembly is now complete. A new education program, consisting of tours, videos, information kits and educational packages for all our schools will be fully in place, by April, 1994.
It is the right time for a new person to move the office of the Speaker to its next stage. The role of Speaker is evolving as rapidly as is the Legislative Assembly, itself. The operation under the control of the Speaker is increasing, in its complexity and magnitude. During the difficult era of rapid change that we will experience during the next decade, it will become increasingly important to have a fair, impartial and steady hand at the tiller of the good ship Legislative Assembly, as we navigate uncharted waters.
It is again time for me to be directly involved in the political dynamics of the day and to be able to articulate my concerns and the concerns of my constituents on the floor of the House. I have no intention of seeking a Cabinet post during the next two years. I will be more than pleased to carry out my responsibility as an ordinary Member and on committees of this House.
I thank Members for respecting my decision. I also thank them for the honour they gave me in letting me preside over the official opening of the new Legislative Assembly building. I want to thank Deputy Speaker Pudluk, the Dean of the House, for his advice and assistance during my term and the chairs of committee of the whole, Mr. Ningark and Mr. Whitford. I would like to thank Mrs. Marie-Jewell and the Ordinary Members' Committee, and Madam Premier Cournoyea and her Cabinet for the courtesy and support they've shown me.
There have been times when there have been disagreements with my decisions, but everybody has always respected and followed them. I would like to thank Members of the Management and Services Board, Mrs. Marie-Jewell, Mr. Patterson, Mr. Antoine, Mr. Nerysoo, Ms. Mike and Mr. Pollard, for the many meetings they've endured, and the tough decisions they've made, to make this a better Assembly.
I want to take this opportunity to thank David Hamilton, Clerk of the Assembly, the table officers, the secretaries that have worked with me, Sharron Morrow and Anne Todd, my assistant, Paul Jones and all of our staff, our interpreters, our Hansard staff, our pages from all over the territories, Cabinet staff, and everyone who provides support to the Assembly. I believe they provide a service, second to none in this country. I will thank many of them by name in my first Member's statement.
Finally, I would like to thank my wife Penny, for her patience and understanding and my children, Erin, Alexandria and Nicholas, for letting me give up a big office that has a TV and a shower.
---Laughter
My retirement as Speaker will be effective on the day the commissioner prorogues the Fourth Session of the 12th Assembly. Thank you all very much.
---Applause
Orders of the day. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Mr. Nerysoo.