Thank you, Ms. Thompson. Good afternoon. Before we proceed with the orders of the day, I would like to make a special announcement. If the Members would allow me I would like to make it as informal as possible so that we can allow some pictures to be taken.
Members of the Legislative Assembly, clerks, Pages and members of the public in the Speaker's gallery; I would like to break with tradition today and ask the Sergeant-at-Arms to lower the Mace. Please stand.
Please be seated. I have asked the Mace to be lowered so that we may recognize this special moment. There is a tradition, that when we are in the House we concentrate only on House business. But today is different. Because today is the last day we will all be sitting in this House. Tomorrow, the Members from Nunavut will be leaving. They are going to prepare for the Nunavut celebrations in Iqaluit and some will take their place in the new Legislative Assembly of Nunavut.
And I think that it is fitting to take a moment today to recognize that this is the end of a very long journey. I would also like to mark this moment with the recognition in this House of some people who have made all of our jobs easier.
When I first became a Member of this Assembly on October 16, 1983, I was new and young,
--Laughter
bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. The Clerk at that time had started his job on March 3, 1983, only seven months before I got elected. He quickly became respected for his advice and personality. As the Clerk of this Assembly, Mr. David Hamilton has been the guardian of all of our affairs. He has been an advisor, coach, counsellor, referee, mother, father, aunt, uncle, grandmother and grandfather to all of us.
I have worked with Mr. Hamilton now for 16 years and naturally, as the Speaker, I rely on his continued good judgment for all activities. With division one week away, it would be a shame if we did not honour our own because there are a lot of deserving staff, but the recognition must first go to Mr. Hamilton for his years of service to this Chamber.
So, Mr. Hamilton, on behalf of all of the Members of both Territories, I would like to express our gratitude and thanks for all of your work and present to you a gift, which reflects our appreciation. Mr. Hamilton.
--Applause
Mr. Arlooktoo.