Mr. Speaker, I certainly do not have the same tenure as my honourable colleague on my right, but I have had the pleasure of being in this Assembly since Mr. Hamilton's appointment and I too want to rise to pay tribute to him on this important anniversary.
He has a very difficult job, Mr. Speaker, especially in a consensus government where sometimes the Clerk performs miracles to keep the system working. David Hamilton, as we all know, for those of us who have worked in this House, is a fixer. He can tell you how to do something, never why you cannot do it. He is a superb organizer. Anyone who has been involved in elections in the Northwest Territories, and plebiscites, knows what vagaries of human foibles can cause the works to be off-track. The fact that David has managed to steer us through a number of votes, plebiscites and elections which have occurred in this vast territory over that period of time, while carrying on his job as the Clerk, is a tribute to his organizational abilities and his human skills.
I want to say, as a Member, that we do have our ups and downs, our difficulties, and David treats us all with respect and affection. He lets us talk to him and unwind, and sometimes complain. I want to express my gratitude to him for that and for his ever present humour. This is essential to survival in politics and in this Assembly.
I would like to join my colleagues and our Government Leader in thanking David for his time and wishing him an equally long tenure over the next decade. Qujannamiik.