Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I don't know whether I have the same interest in this matter as other Members since it's no secret that I'm not going to be running again for re-election, but I would like to reassure Mrs. Marie-Jewell that I'm looking forward to a life after politics and I'm not particularly stuck on serving out my term to the last hour.

I think I'm neutral on this issue. What I would like to remind Members is that we debated and discussed this matter at length at our Caucus workshop in Fort Smith last year. And, while I know it wasn't formally announced, Members did agree at that time that we considered the issue of a spring election and decided against it. I think many of us, as I have, have told our constituents -- who have been asking, and that's a lot of questions directed to sitting MLAs now when the election will be -- that it will be in the fall. I think we have to consider that there are other people out there who are considering running in the election this fall, perhaps running against some of us in this room. They are planning their lives and their personal commitments around this fall. I think this amendment, if it passes, will take them by surprise and it will be seen as an advantage to incumbents. That is going to be the reaction from some people. That's the reality.

The other point I'd like to make, Mr. Speaker, is we're not like jurisdictions where there are political parties and the government of the day can call an election as it deems appropriate. For better or for worse -- as Mrs. Marie-Jewell pointed out, I believe, in her remarks -- we have a four-year term set out in our constitution, which is the Northwest Territories Act. That is the law and it can only be abridged in extraordinary circumstances. In fact, as I understand the procedure -- since we have considered holding early elections over the years -- in this Assembly, we would only be able to hold an early election, as proposed in this amendment, if we got approval from the Governor-in-Council, the federal Cabinet. So, even if we were to approve this amendment -- which I will not be supporting for reasons I'll outline -- we would still have to persuade the federal government that there were extraordinary circumstances or reasons to call a spring election.

Now, as I understand from Mrs. Marie-Jewell, what she is suggesting is we have a fiscal crisis and that is one of the main reasons we should hold an early election. Can you imagine after Paul Martin's budget and after the reaction to it -- and it has been seen as changing irrevocably the nature of the federal government, and is going to result in the lay-offs of tens and thousands of public servants -- the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories persuading the Government of Canada that there's a fiscal crisis that should provoke an election? If we're having a fiscal crisis that should provoke an election, then there should also be an election called in Canada because of the fiscal crises facing the Government of Canada.

---Applause

I don't know if that argument will go over big in Ottawa, Mr. Speaker, if we were to make it.

Mr. Speaker, I don't believe there is a justification on the basis of fiscal crisis. I think we need to pay attention to our fiscal situation, as we've done over the last three years. I, frankly, have every confidence that Mr. Pollard will continue to deal with the financial issues responsibly as he's done up to now. I think we have some work to complete in order to lay the ground so the new Assembly can deal responsibly with those fiscal issues. One of the things that we would have to deal with, I think, is balanced budget legislation. Another thing I would like to see us deal with is a thoughtful transition plan. And I would respectfully suggest to Mrs. Marie-Jewell that we are going to need a little more time than her amendment would allow if we are to do that work.

I have listened carefully to her arguments. I think part of her arguments are premised on the fact that new blood will better be able to tackle the current situation. I'm not sure that's true, Mr. Speaker. I believe that every legislature deals with pressing fiscal and other issues, and I would like to suggest that we have been given a mandate to represent our constituents and deal with the current issues of the day. We are not lame; we are alive and well. In fact, I would say we are in full flight. At the moment, we are tackling issues that are on the point of resolution.

Mrs. Marie-Jewell suggests that we need a new Finance Minister to finish the formula financing, that we need a new Energy, Mines...