Thank you, honourable colleagues. John Ningark. When I first sat down, on many occasions in the social programs committee, when things got a little carried away or twisted, he would quietly speak up and talk to us and refer us back to what we were here for, the people, and how things should go and how they operated, especially with so many new Members. I thank him for that. I know he will still be a positive role model in his community and region.

Mr. Speaker, today the sun will set on this Assembly as we know it but tomorrow the sun will rise once again. It will rise both over the east and the west. It will rise again over the people as we know them. We all go to work, maybe in different shoes and a different location, but we go to work knowing the commitment we have to the people and those we serve. Those in Nunavut, when they sit down for the first time around their table, they will have to face the responsibilities as they have here, but I am sure they will do a good job for their people as they have done for the whole territories as we know it.

Thank you for the time to serve with you as the 13th Assembly. I have got one thing to say though, before I close. It was with a trip I shared with Mr. Arlooktoo. We travelled to Russia, my only trip out of the country. After that, I think I will stay close to home.

--Laughter

Mr. Arlooktoo, we travelled together on our first trip across the sea from Anchorage, Alaska to Vladvostok which was the first place we had a real eye-opener to the services we were going to come to expect in our journey across Russia. It was an eye-opener and it definitely let me know that what we have here in the north, in Nunavut, and in the Western Territory, is a very good system and the people are well served.

On one occasion, we were flying over to Prudhoe Bay and the plane door did not quite shut properly. He was sitting up front because he was the Minister and I was the ordinary MLA, I sat in the back. He was reading his book and as he leaned to the door to rest, it was a flight of over an hour, the door popped open. I reached forward and grabbed him, tapped his shoulder, and said, do not do that, the door is open.

--Laughter

Some reminded me as we relayed that story that I missed my opportunity at that time to become a Minister of this Cabinet.

--Laughter

Mr. Arlooktoo took it quite well and we survived our journey. I still need to look at some of the pictures he took at some of the facilities they have in Russia so we can reminisce a little bit before he leaves this Assembly as well. Again, thank you for your companionship, your guidance and your work and I look forward to, I am sure, we will run across each other's trails once more on behalf of the people we serve. I look forward to seeing how you operate and the challenges and how you deal with them. As well, I will keep you in my prayers as to the direction you get and where you go. I hope that you will keep me in yours. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause