Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I recall, when I ran for MLA, thinking before that it probably is not that much of a stressful job. I now know better. I now read more before 10:00 in the morning than I used to read every week. There are meetings before Session, after Session, at night, on weekends. Outside groups want your time and support for their issues. Some of the longer term Members, their children grow up before their eyes and they do not even notice. My children have sometimes mentioned to me that they are thinking of calling me Uncle Seamus instead of Dad.

Politics is a stressful life, Mr. Speaker. I would like to thank all those MLAs who ran before and served the people of the Northwest Territories. What happened to the Members of the 12th Assembly? Where are they now? Many of the former Members are still working hard for the people in their own home communities. Henry Zoe is the executive director for the Dogrib Treaty 11; the former Premier, Nellie Cournoyea is the chairperson and chief executive officer of the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation; Richard Nerysoo is the president of the Gwich'in Tribal Council; Dennis Patterson is the chairperson of the Baffin Regional Health Board; Fred Koe is the deputy minister of Aboriginal Affairs; and Tony Whitford is our Sergeant-at-Arms, as well as being the executive assistant to the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories.

I do not think you can say that any of these people have retired from political life. As a matter of fact, Mr. Speaker, some of them are probably a bigger pain to the government than they were when they sat in this House. The Members of the 12th Assembly who managed to get re-elected, have all been elevated to loftier positions of power. Their experience in working in the Assembly is a benefit and valuable. Some of the former MLAs are in private business. Michael Ballantyne runs his own consulting firm, although I have not heard of him getting any major government contracts, I am sure he is lurking in the corridors of power somewhere. John Pollard, after imparting his vast knowledge of finance to my honourable colleague, Mr. Todd from Rankin Inlet, has returned home to Hay River and is looking after his own business interests, instead of those of the Northwest Territories. Jeannie Marie-Jewell is in Fort Smith living a life of leisure and contemplating her next foray into public life. I have heard from unreliable sources that she is developing a penchant for biting M&Ms in half.

--Laughter

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.