Item 4, Members' statements. The Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, Mr. Allen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm going to begin by trying to slow down after some of my constituents told me to, which means to speak slower so I can become more audible. Mr. Speaker, they also gave me a very strong philosophical statement by saying to take pride in being a good MLA, which I hope I will be able to do in this 15th Assembly.

Recognizing that statement, Mr. Speaker, I want to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of my campaign team. If there has ever been a book written about how to campaign and how to organize a campaign it can be done by a very valuable family member of mine, my sister Gloria, who lead and followed up with all the necessary work that required me to be re-elected to the 15th Assembly.

Also, I have committed to making a statement to a friend and colleague, Mr. Vince Sharp, who went way beyond the call of duty to get voters out to the voting polls. Also, my nephew, Kurt.

Mr. Speaker, I, too, like every Member of this Assembly, will be bringing forward a mandate. The mandate was drafted and articulated by my riding of Inuvik Twin Lakes that foresees the progression towards our goals and ambitions and where we should be looking forward to future governments.

I won't be extending my time too long because I think we have other official duties to carry through, but in conclusion I want to congratulate all the Members who have been elected, re-elected or acclaimed to this Assembly. As well, to you, Mr. Speaker, I convey my personal congratulations on behalf of my riding, as well as to the Premier-acclaimed and the new elected Cabinet. I look forward to working with yourself because we all have a duty to perform in this Assembly, whether it's as a Cabinet Minister or as a regular MLA. So I look forward to being able to work with the Members over the next four years.

Before I conclude, very special people in my life who I need to acknowledge for their dedication and support: my wife Dodie, Rolland, Jessica and Vanessa who bear the absence of myself on many occasions; my mother and father, who are getting elderly; as well as my young nephew who watches TV every day, and Liam who are watching tonight -- it's from Uncle, hello. Thank you so much.

---Applause

Item 4, Members' statements. The Member for Deh Cho, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to quickly say a few words. I'd like to first off welcome the many people from my riding to the Legislative Assembly. It's good to see. It's not very often I have people in the audience that are here and watching us as we conduct our business. I want to start off also by saying thank you and congratulations to you, Mr. Speaker, and also to our new Premier Joe Handley, who's already setting a tough agenda. We really have our work cut out for us. Also, congratulations to all the new Ministers who were elected and to all the people that put their names forward. It's not an easy decision to go out there and put your name forward and I commend their effort.

I want to take the time, also, to thank the people in the riding, in the communities, that were working with me on my campaign team. I also have to acknowledge Mr. Mike Nadli who ran against me. He brought a lot of credibility and came to the table with a lot of credibility and brought many issues forward. I want to wish him all the best.

Once again, I also have to thank my family for their support and for dealing with a lot of the stress that comes with running a campaign and going through an election period; my wife Joyce, my son Kevin, my daughters, Robyn and Shawna.

I also have to thank all my colleagues here today for all their support in electing me into a Cabinet position.

I never really had a chance to publicly thank my official agent, who's here today, Albert Lafferty. Also, a couple people who went out of their way to support me during my campaign, Mr. Rocky Simpson and Mr. Wally Shuman.

So, once again, I want to thank the many people in the audience and say Merry Christmas to all the people in my riding from Kakisa, Hay River Reserve, Enterprise and Fort Providence. I'm looking forward to working with all the Members of this House for all the people out there in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Item 4, Members' statements. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery.

At this time I would like to recognize a couple of our special guests: Chief Superintendent Everett Summerfield, commander of the RCMP "G" Division. Welcome to the House.

---Applause

The Honourable Justice Richard of the Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories. Welcome.

---Applause

The Honourable Justice Vertes of the Supreme Court of the Northwest Territories. Welcome.

---Applause

One person I'd like to have the honour of recognizing is the former Speaker of the House, Mr. Tony Whitford.

---Applause

And also, beside Tony is the former Clerk of the House, Mr. David Hamilton.

---Applause

At this time, it gives me great honour to recognize a former colleague, Premier and Minister of this House, Mr. Jim Antoine.

---Applause

At this time, I'd like to recognize Ms. Maureen Villebrun, Grand Chief of the Dene Nation. Welcome to the House.

---Applause

It gives me great honour to recognize a few constituents I have in the audience: Ms. Elaine Alexi of Fort McPherson.

---Applause

And also beside her, former chief and mayor, Mr. William Koe.

---Applause

Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it's not very often I get a chance to recognize visitors in the gallery and I have quite a few people who are here from the different communities in my riding. I'd like to, I can't see them here, but I have a classroom at the Aurora College in Fort Providence, they're here with their instructor, Margaret Field: Anthony Bonnetrouge, Lance Minoza, Dion Elleze, Joseph Landry, Evelyn Constant, Veronica Gargan, Beverly Bouvier, Wilma Gargan and Wanda Minoza. Also from Fort Providence we have our SAO from the Hamlet of Fort Providence, Susan Christie. Also, the mayor of Fort Providence, Maggie Levavasseur and her husband, Serge.

---Applause

And from the Deh Cho Bridge Corporation, the chief operating officer, Albert Lafferty.

---Applause

I'd also like to welcome the chief of Kakisa Band, Lloyd Chicot.

---Applause

And I believe the sub-chief is also here someplace, although I don't see him, Alan Landry.

---Applause

And, of course, my brother, Bob McLeod. Welcome.

---Laughter

---Applause

Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As my colleagues have noted, it's tough for us to see everybody who's in the gallery, so I'll probably miss some, but I'm going to try and recognize some of my constituents. You've recognized a couple of them already. I see up there Barb Saunders, who is executive director for the NWT Status of Women; Lyda Fuller, who is executive director for the YWCA. You did recognize, he's a former constituent, he's no longer a constituent, but Justice Ted Richard is also a former Member of this House. He was the Member for Yellowknife South. I thought we should mention that and recognize that.

---Applause

Along with Supreme Court Justice John Vertes is Mrs. Louise Vertes, who is no stranger to the government. I'd also like to recognize Mrs. Barb Wyness of the UNW and Mr. Blake Lyons from the NWT Association of Communities and, finally, my new executive secretary, Kathy Wind.

---Applause

Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Braden.

Mr. Speaker, among the people in the gallery today are representatives of a number of the business and social organizations in the communities of the Northwest Territories. I'd like to recognize Jennifer Marchant of the Northern Frontier Visitors Association, and Ms. Cecily Hewitt, who is the executive director of the NWT Council of Persons with Disabilities. Also in the gallery today, Mr. Speaker, are Bea Daniels -- I believe she is still the president of the NWT Seniors' Society -- and Ms. Barb Hood. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Delorey.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to recognize a couple of constituents of mine in the gallery today. A very well-known northerner and a gentleman who has been associated with seniors for a long time is now the president of the Hay River Seniors' Society, Mr. Lloyd Brunes.

---Applause

Also, another constituent of mine and one that is no stranger around the Legislative Assembly and was my campaign manager in the election, Dawna O'Brien.

---Applause

I would also like to recognize the mayor of Hay River in the audience today, Ms. Diana Ehman.

---Applause

Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would also like to recognize our very recently elected mayor of Hay River, Mayor Diana Ehman. Also very good friends of ours from Hay River and supporters, Stan and Karen Boudreau. Also I would like to recognize the presence in the gallery today of my lovely daughter -- I am very biased, I love her -- Jillian.

---Applause

Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it's with great pleasure I get to introduce people into this Assembly. It's not too often we get people down from Inuvik. In the gallery, I have Ms. Shirley Kisoun and Ms. Pam Williams. As well, I would like to especially recognize the man who received me with open arms even though he didn't know he was going to get a new baby boy, my father David Roland.

---Applause

Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Ms. Lee.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to just take this opportunity to recognize my family and friends. I know my mother hates being recognized, but she did a lot of work to get me here. My mom Taejeong Lee, and my supporter and friend, Connie Henderson. Thank you very much.

---Applause

Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Handley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to first recognize my wife Theresa. I hope she continues to recognize me.

---Laughter

I would also like to recognize Mayor Gordon Van Tighem from the city of Yellowknife and also all the deputy ministers who are sitting here nervously today.

---Laughter

Also, Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize all the other people who work behind the scenes who keep our government functioning well, particularly board members and board chairpersons. I see Andy Wong from the Workers' Compensation Board; Reanna Erasmus, a constituent and chairperson of the Yellowknife school board. It wouldn't be tradition if I didn't recognize Major Karen Hoeft as well. Thank you.

---Applause

Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Pokiak.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize my son Darren Pokiak up here and his uncle Rick Kikoak. I would also like to recognize my daughter, along with Gilbert Thrasher and his wife Lottie from Paulatuk, and also my brother Ernest Pokiak from Tuktoyaktuk and also Blake Noksana. Thank you very much.

---Applause