Thank you, Members and thank you, Mr. Speaker. One of your jobs as the Premier is to appoint the Ministers to their portfolios and you do that by meeting with them and finding out what their interest is. Mr. Ng came in and I knew Mr. Ng fairly well by now, and he says, I would like to have Health and Social Services. I said, well, good thing he is asking for it because nobody else wants it. It is too tough. Maybe we should check it out and see if he needs a psychiatrist first. Mr. Ng has served the people well in the Western Territory, the Nunavut territory, and all the people in the Northwest Territories. He is a hard-working Minister, very straightforward, very honest and he never says no to a challenge. Mr. Ng, it is an honour to have served in this House with you and even though you are moving to Iqaluit, in Nunavut, you will always be good friends with myself and my family.
Manitok Thompson. I remember when Ms. Thompson first came to the House in a by-election. We taught her everything about bird dogs, she said, myself and Jeannie Marie Jewell.
--Laughter
I remember when Ms. Thompson first got elected as Minister. She came in and her attitude was basically, well I am not quite sure of how to be a Minister. I am not quite sure how to do the job, so do not give me anything hard. There is no easy jobs as Ministers in the government. Ms. Thompson, you took on a responsibility of community governments in the whole Northwest Territories. You did an excellent job. You always brought sanity to the issues. You are a very strong- willed person and you have always worked hard for your people. Keep up the good work. It was a pleasure working with you.
I first met Mr. Arlooktoo when he was a Member's assistant in the Legislative Assembly. I used to sit next to his father in the 11th Assembly, I believe it was. I got to know Mr. Arlooktoo very well over the years. He has always had my respect and Mr. Arlooktoo as well, when he first got elected. I knew what it meant coming in green because I had been there. I was very nervous. Mr. Arlooktoo served in different capacities of Ministers in the government representing the whole Northwest Territories. Mr. Arlooktoo, you did an excellent job, you have grown so much in the past few years and I am proud to say you are my friend.
Mr. Ningark and his wife Celine are very special people. Mr. Ningark always brought a calmness and sanity to this House. You always knew that Mr. Ningark will be fair with everyone. Mr. Ningark, I thank you for working with you for the past many years. I wish you the best in your retirement. I know you have done a good job to represent your people and I thank you for your friendship.
I met Mr. Evaloarjuk and Mr. Barnabas in this Assembly. Mr. Evaloarjuk, I have not had the opportunity to get to know you very well, but I am impressed from what I have seen. The same as yourself, Mr. Barnabas, I know you will do a good job as the Speaker of the new Nunavut government. Keep up the good work. You are both very honourable people and it was a pleasure to have served with you.
What can you say about Mr. Picco. Mr. Picco is a great guy. Some may think, the public perception may have been that he was hammering at people or doing things, but we always got a kick out of him, he was so much fun. He is a good guy and his heart is in the right place. He is always thinking of the social issues and I hope him the best of luck as Minister of Health and Social Services in the Nunavut government. Good job for Mr. Picco and it was a pleasure serving him here with Mr. Picco.
I hope Mr. Enuaraq the best. Once again, a new Member, I never had an opportunity to know him well, but I did enjoy working with him.
I met Mr. O'Brien when he worked with the Housing Corporation. I never got to know Mr. O'Brien that well, because we have only worked for three short years together, but it has been a pleasure working with you and I hope you the best in the Nunavut government.
Mr. Todd is going to be hanging around for awhile. It has been a pleasure. I am going to say something about Mr. Todd at a later date. I am going to save him for last. I have worked very close with Mr. Todd over the years. Next week in the Legislative Assembly I will say goodbye to Mr. Todd.
Mr. Speaker, I hope I never missed anyone, but it has been a pleasure working with the Nunavut Caucus in this Legislative Assembly. Mr. Dent mentioned that the level of debate, the attitude in debate, just the atmosphere in this House will probably change when you guys go to Nunavut. I agree with him, it will probably change. I have appreciated, over the past 12 years, working with all the Nunavut Members. I know Mr. Pudluk, is not a Member here today, he is retired. He was my seatmate for four years in the Legislative Assembly. Mr. Pudluk, if you are listening, you taught me lots, thank you for your guidance and support. I would like to thank you all. I hope everyone the best of luck with the Nunavut government and I hope that we will see each other again. With that, mahsi cho.
--Applause