Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I, as well, think I owe the people of the Northwest Territories and my colleague, Mr. Zoe, the

respect of him hearing my comments as to where I stand on the situation.

Mr. Speaker, this is not an easy situation, as has been said by many of my colleagues, for any of us. Whether you vote yes or no, it's still very difficult because we are talking about an individual's life, his personal life, his family life, his professional life. We are talking about a circumstance where other people were involved and other people were affected, some more acutely than others.

Mr. Speaker, when I had what I thought were all the facts, I had to seriously contemplate this situation. I had hoped we wouldn't come to this point, but more simply the situation to me is this. With the information that we have, I believe our colleague's, Mr. Zoe, conduct, his words and his actions have placed him in an untenable situation in terms of remaining on Cabinet.

Given all the situations we deal with as a territory, our issues of zero tolerance and the way this situation has unfolded in stages, Mr. Speaker, this is going to have a divisive effect. We are the place of last resort for MLAs. We are the arbiters of the fate of ourselves. This could have taken other routes with the police or other situations, but this is a political situation that has come to pass before us. Now we are called upon as MLAs, as legislators, to pass judgment on one of our own in terms of whether they should remain on Executive Council or not. It is not something I have looked forward to. I would have loved to have made it through this assembly with smooth sailing. Such is not to be.

So today I stand before this House, before you, Mr. Speaker, and before the people of the Northwest Territories for my seat mate, Mr. Zoe, to say that I will be supporting this motion. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.