Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Honourable Members of the House, since the incident, I have given some thought to it, prayed on it. There are some people who have thought about it, but I had to go inside my heart. Even last night I was talking to Tony. I said what do I do and what way should we go about dealing with this issue. I talked to the Sahtu leadership on Friday and talked to them over the weekend and today. I asked about this motion. It is really painful to move it. The Sahtu leadership told me that I would make the right decision, but also gave me some flexibility in terms of continuing on with an election. You know where we stand with regard to our leadership and with regard to alcoholism. We need to set examples for our children and set examples for our future. As leaders, we make sacrifices, daily sacrifices. I know in this House, being here six months, the amount of sacrifices that we make to our families and children on a daily basis are big. As public leaders, we give up our rights in life and take responsibilities. Some people talk about the fishbowl. I understand about the fishbowl now. People say things to you and take it out of context. Our leaders from the past were strong leaders and things were dealt with.
I was reminded of the golden rule: Do unto others as you would have others do unto you. When I was in leadership and issues like this came up, I wanted to thank Mr. Zoe because he really questioned my beliefs and values. What good can come out of this? We need to set an example to the people of the Northwest Territories. I have done a lot of work and am still doing work. It's a daily thing that I have to practice, and I thank God for giving guidance for where I am today. I had to make a huge sacrifice. At the time, I didn't see it. I have to thank a lot of people, old people, who helped me on this path and journey. Setting an example is key for us in this arena here. We have little ones who look up to us and we have older people who do, as well.
Today, we, as northern leaders, our leadership is called into question in the House here. How do we define our leadership? The motion here is we hold high regard to the integrity of holding office here. No matter what we do, there are different interpretations of how we are going to deal with this issue. At the end of the day, we have to look at the big picture and what's good for the Northwest Territories overall. What is the best that we can do?
Mr. Speaker, it's with a heavy heart that I talk about this issue. I support Mr. Zoe in terms of him or anybody else in the Northwest Territories going for treatment. It's a long, tough journey. Sometimes you want to know if this journey is really worth it. I stand here today and say yes, it's worth it, but I have lost many good people in my life and it hurts. It's emotional. In leadership, we have to stand on solid
ground and we have trust with our people and we have to gain that respect. Mr. Speaker, living in a fishbowl sometimes is not the best thing, but that's my choice and my responsibility. That's where I put myself. I have no regrets being in this House here with my honourable colleagues and with all the issues we have to work on.
It's tough, Mr. Speaker, and it's with kindness and love that I move this motion. It's not to hurt anybody, but to see what good can come out of this, Mr. Speaker. I want to say thank you to Mr. Zoe and what you have done the last few days. We talked to you, Mr. Zoe, and I was there at one time with my own people. I had to look at this.
So, Mr. Speaker, I want to say in terms of supporting this motion, and I say this in all sincerity, it's the principles that we are dealing with here as a government and as people, to lead the people in the Northwest Territories. Mahsi.