Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize a very special person in the gallery today, Ms. Sandi Briscoe. She has represented our territory and the NWT government in Ottawa since 1982 and will retire this spring. In addition to managing the Ottawa office and providing direction to visiting NWT politicians and public servants not familiar with the city, Sandi was often the first contact for Ottawa bureaucrats who knew nothing about the North, numerous Ottawa Valley school kids doing special projects on our territory, and prospective northerners seeking information about the NWT; employment, housing, education, medical services and so on.
Sandi started with the Government of the Northwest Territories after the legendary Legislative Assembly lobby descended on Ottawa in November 1981, to encourage federal politicians to include aboriginal rights in the Canadian constitution.
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She was an important part of the follow-up to that historic event. However, the most distinguishing feature of her career with the GNWT is who she worked for. Sandi is one of the few remaining GNWT public servants who can claim to have worked for all nine Government Leaders and Premiers as well as numerous Commissioners, Cabinet secretaries and intergovernmental deputies during their term. Can you imagine the patience and fortitude that was required to serve such a diverse group?
Mr. Speaker, Sandi has witnessed what few of us have over the past two decades. She served her government and the people of the Northwest Territories with dedication and distinction, always with a smile and immense good humour. She has received recognition which most of us would never expect in our lifetime; an acknowledgement in one of Cece McCauley's columns that she is doing a good job.
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Mr. Speaker, I am sure that I speak for all of us in this Chamber and for many officials in our public service when I express our sincere appreciation for her many years of service and wish her the best upon her retirement at the end of March. Thank you. Mahsi cho.
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