Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I feel a little lost for words. I have many emotions about today. It is the last day of the Assembly and for some people that would offend my Irish heritage. We are supposed to be never lost for words. My Irish heritage also would suggest that we can drown our
sorrows the odd time in a little alcohol but, Mr. Speaker, with what the Minister of Finance has done three weeks ago, I cannot even afford to do that.
--Laughter
Mr. Speaker, there are a few people I would like to take this opportunity to thank. The first one is my wife, Linda. I would like to thank her very much for the continued support that she has given me. I cannot help but think of a lot of the Members who, when they leave this building after a hard day's work and many frustrations, I can only think of those Members who do not have a spouse or a companion to be with, other than at the other end of the phone. I appreciate the work that those Members have done in this Assembly without having the support from people they love and care for.
I would like to thank you, Mr. Speaker, I think it goes without saying with your impartiality and how you have conducted and regulated the Members in this House through some pretty difficult times. I would like to sincerely thank each and every one of my colleagues. I have learned much from you. Hopefully, I have been able to give you some insights and wisdom also. I know none of us are above learning from each other.
I would like to thank the staff, not only of the Legislative Assembly. I have said a number of times that it is the staff that work for each Member that makes us look as good or as bad as we do. I think they are to be commended on the work they do on an ongoing basis. I would be remiss, Mr. Speaker, if I forgot about the staff that work for this government outside of this building. There are many, many capable and competent people that work for this government and they have always provided information on a timely basis. Nothing was ever too much to provide the information and get it to the committees or to individuals. I would like to thank each and every one of the bureaucracy, both in Yellowknife and around the rest of the Northwest Territories, for their service and dedication to this government. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.