Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Firstly, I would like to formally congratulate you, as well, on your election as Speaker of this House. I'm sure you'll do an excellent job.

I would like to also thank my honourable colleague from Natilikmiot, Mr. Ningark, for nominating me for the position of Cabinet Member and thank all other Members of this House who participated in the process of selecting the Cabinet Member. It is a very important process that we go through. I also want to thank the mayor of Cambridge Bay, Mr. Larry Aknavigak; and, of Coppermine, Mr. Donald Havioyak; members of the Kitikmeot Regional Council; Mr. James Eetoolook, the first vice-president of NTI; my constituents; and, last but not least, my family members who supported me morally in putting forward my name to stand for a Member of Cabinet.

I would also like to thank Mr. Lewis for putting forward his name as a candidate for Speaker, and Mr. Pudluk and Mr. Patterson for putting forward their names for Cabinet Members. It gave us, as I said previously, the freedom to choose. Finally, I would like to thank everybody for the trust that they have placed in me in electing me as a Cabinet Member. I commit to working hard in trying to represent the interests of all residents of the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

---Applause