Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Over the past couple of weeks, Mr. Speaker, the Premier has been delivering some messages, both in Calgary to oil and gas executives and other stakeholders in the northern energy plan, the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce and over the weekend, the Native Women's Association.

Mr. Speaker, I was trying to keep track of this and I listened to how the message was heard and interpreted and it has come out in a number of different ways. I think some audiences heard the message as a threat that the Northwest Territories government was going to halt development unless we got certain things. Others heard this message as kind of a downer signal that we had a demoralized Premier and a directionless government.

Mr. Speaker, I heard it as a message that the North is edging closer to realizing its goals of self-sufficiency and taking its place as a peer amongst the provinces. A region that really does have something to offer the rest of Canada, and not a place that is constantly in need of a helping hand.

We cannot do it ourselves. The message said clearly and unequivocally that Ottawa has to cast off its leffagy and indifferent attitude about the Northwest Territories and take a stand and support what we are trying to do. It was a message of frustration that our repeated efforts to get attention and some kind of commitment have been stymied over and over.

Mr. Speaker, I also heard it as a message of leadership, positive leadership and the stubborn belief that what we are doing is right and that as leaders we must never lose sight of our goals or let our beliefs flag. It was a message, a plea, for unity among all leaders in communities, among aboriginal First Nations, in business and here in this Legislature to stay united and to achieve this great purpose. We in this Legislature have not been doing much of a job of that this week.

While we have been consumed with issues surrounding our Power Corporation what really matters out there, Mr. Speaker, jobs, education, health care, an alarming rate of social decay are going untended. We are failing our people, Mr. Speaker. I implore my colleagues on both sides of this House to look beyond the issues of the day and steer ourselves towards those things that will truly make a better tomorrow. Thank you.