Item 6, Members' statements. The Member for Yellowknife North, Mr. Erasmus.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to thank, first of all, the people who put me back into the House as their Member for the Assembly. Had it not been for them, I would not be able to stand here today.

Back in 1975 until 1978, I participated as a Member of the Legislative Assembly, and it's very good to see my old colleagues from yester years and I am glad to be here again.

I would also like to thank my family; my wife, in particular. For the last 27 years, beginning in 1968, I have been travelling extensively. I reviewed this and there were times when I was away from home for as long as three months and we had small children at the time. Many of my children are adults, and it was for them and my wife that I did this work, and I appreciate the support they've given me.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, wish to congratulate Mr. Morin on his election to Premier and also yourself, Mr. Speaker, as well as all the new Ministers we elected yesterday. I wish to give a special thanks to my family and friends for all their support during the campaign and, most importantly, to the people of Kivallivik.

My election and my victory was somewhat bittersweet. In the middle of my campaign, my biggest supporter passed away, my father. I would like to say thank you to him for his support. I know he's watching over me.

In closing, a special thanks to my children, Jaren and Kelsey for all their support, and my apologies for being away so much during the campaign. Matna, mahsi.

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Thank you, Mr. O'Brien. Item 6, Members' statements. The Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

Item 6, Members' statements. The Member for Yellowknife Frame Lake, Mr. Dent.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to congratulate you on being elected the Speaker. You have been in the position before, you are not new to this position and we rely on your direction. Congratulations on your position.

Congratulations to the Government Leader, Don Morin, on his appointment. It's hard to say congratulations in Slavey, so I'll say it in English. You also know the business of the House because you've been here before. I would like to congratulate the ones who have been Ministers before and the new Ministers as well.

We have already promised each other that from now on we will work together. I would like to thank my constituency: Nahanni Butte; Trout Lake; Jean Marie River; Wrigley; and, Fort Simpson. I would like to thank all the people who elected me and have allowed me to return to this position. (Translation ends)

saying that I had zero votes and I was leading by a little dotted line. After a while somebody in the crowd suggested that we should take a vote in the room and phone it in. Winning by acclamation, Mr. Speaker, was a gift from my constituents. It means to me that I have to work just as hard in this Assembly as I did in the last, or even better, and I am committed to that. It is a great mandate. For that, I would like to thank everybody in my constituency.

The biggest thank you and recognition is to my family: my wife, Celine, for her strength and support; to my daughter, Melaw; and my sons, Denezeh, Sachey and Tumbah; as well as to my father and my extended family. Mahsi.

I would like to thank the Members of this Assembly for the confidence that they showed by electing me to this Cabinet. I will continue to follow the teachings of my elders into the position by being fair and open and listening to everyone, as I have learned as a leader in the communities. One of the things that I've learned, Mr. Speaker, is that as a community leader, you develop a lot of patience by listening to people. This, I will try to do in this Assembly.

To the incumbents who did not succeed in coming back here, I would like to thank you all for the last four years that I have worked with you. I have to say that you have contributed to the people in the North. For that, I would like to thank you.

(Translation) I would also like to thank all the people in the communities. We are elected to be sitting here for the next four years, and I promise to work to the best of my ability with all of you. There was one elder who had written who told me at one time, if you work on something there are a lot of things that you're not going to agree with but, if you work hard on it and work well with the people, everything will come out in the end.

Right now, I would like to promise you again that I will work to the best of my ability for the next four years. Thank you.

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Thank you. Item 6, Members' statements. The Member for Nunakput, Mr. Steen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Similar to my colleagues, I would like to express my congratulations on your election to the Speaker's position. I would like to take the time today to express my appreciation, as others have done, to my constituents in Whale Cove and Rankin Inlet for the overwhelming support that they've provided me in my recent election. In particular, I want to thank my campaign team who worked very, very hard.

I also want to thank all the Members of this House for the confidence, particularly this week, and support in my election to the Cabinet. That meant a great deal to me.

To the new Premier, the Honourable Donnie Morin, I want to assure him of my loyalty and full support. Perhaps to the outgoing Premier, I want to express a very special thank you for all the confidence and support she showed in me in the last four years.

---Applause

This is truly a lady who will surely be missed. Thank you very much.

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Thank you, Mr. Todd. I also understand that today is your birthday, so happy birthday.

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Mr. Todd is now in the category of old age.

---Laughter

Item 6, Members' statements. The Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Morin.

---Applause