Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I, too, will be voting in support of this motion. Like many, it's been a number of years that I've had the opportunity to work with David. I thought, when I first came in, that I would turn this government on its ear and make some drastic changes and became somewhat disappointed as I slowly figured out the system doesn't move quite as fast as one would wish from time to time. I would be disgruntled and sit back and wonder what we are doing here. He would stop in with a few words to say: "hold the course", "you are doing the right thing for your constituents."
There were times when I sure wished to be the fly on the wall when he's heard of Members who wanted to make a certain motion or the government would come out with a bill. I'm sure there were some antics and some words that were best left behind the doors as his advice might have been a little more stern than some of us would let on. But he has helped many of us as we walked through the doors of this Assembly. I, too, when I walked through here, was very green to territorial politics. I was open minded about what would happen here, but as for the actual rules, Robert's Rules and so on, of different meetings and how we conduct ourselves, Mr. Hamilton's quiet advice would help steer the meeting and bring to a conclusion what we thought was total madness at times.
Many times I've had to explain to people, they'd ask about this Assembly and they'd ask, who was that man that sits at the table in front of the Speaker? As I've come to learn, now I say to my constituents who ask me, that is the man who steers the government direction. Although we think we're the power of this Assembly, I've come to learn that the Clerk position and Mr. Hamilton in particular has an awful lot of authority that many of us thought we wielded. He's taught us that he is one that can make things flow or he can plug things up as he saw the rules and explained them.
He has helped us and helped the North in more ways than many people can say. I guess, as we look at things and the season of change that would come upon us, and we know that the snow is once again, as on an annual basis, coming around, so too would another time of elections and new Members coming through the door. Members who've been around would leave and take on another life. Mr. Hamilton will, I'm sure, be paying much attention as he's seen this territory grow from its infancy, from when Members were elected, to a certain degree, to where we're a full governing body making rules for our people and the Territories.
There are times when he would go to a Member who would stand on their own, as I have, in this Assembly from time to time and felt that the difference we make here may be very minimal and wonder if it is time to look at greener pastures. Again, that quiet voice would sit down in his office, he would tell you that you are doing what's best for your constituents and don't be afraid to stand and take the heat if it is that situation. Or maybe it's time to sit down and be quiet about something and let the will of the House rule the day.
So it has been my extreme pleasure, and I'm sure as he's seen the picture in the paper, when I was first elected, along with many of the others. I'm not sure where they got that picture from. I know that many comments made by my colleagues about the, who is this guy from Inuvik? Look at that guy. Is he a terrorist?
---Laughter
I wasn't sure, but I'm sure Mr. Hamilton, as he saw many of us come in here, knew that he would at times have his hands full with Members coming in here and what we would do. He would steer us gently in a way that was best fitting for us as Members and for our constituents. I said I came in here as a very green Member to territorial politics. I guess I can say somewhat that I am seasoned now. I have gone from my dull grays to my colourful purples and grapes, as one of my colleagues would say. Along with that, I have grown as a member of the Legislative Assembly and hopefully, with the advice and calming influence of Mr. Hamilton, be able to serve my constituents in the future remembering his guidance. There are times when the business of this Assembly is first and foremost, but there are times when his ability to talk to Members aside from the politics of the day and talk to you on a personal note and let you know you are doing a good job. So I'll miss you.
---Applause