Today it’s probably one of the toughest positions I’ve been put to task for in my elected career, as MLA for Nunakput and in my political career as a whole. For Nunakput I’ve been very fortunate to have my colleagues on both sides of the House support me on anything I’ve done. In regard to giving me the access road to Tuk and anything that I’ve asked for basically. My leaders back home, they phone me and tell me, support the government, support them to keep them in to try to work together as 19 as a whole. It’s a really tough call for me because you know some of the stuff I’ve seen, people don’t see what goes on here behind the closed doors of the Legislative Assembly. With all that’s been going on since the summer, I mean I sit as vice-chair of EDI, you know what happened with our worker there. That’s bad. That is bad for all of us in regards to having an affair. I mean, as a family man, it was a real sickening feeling I had in regard to the family. To me, in my growing up, it was family first. That, like I said, brings me to a real sick feeling. I can’t judge my Premier in regard to that; he’ll be judged by the good Lord.

I came to Yellowknife and to the Legislative Assembly as MLA for Nunakput to make a

difference for my people. I think I’ve been working together with my colleagues as a whole to do that. The bottomline is we have to quit pointing fingers either through our side, not so much our side, it’s a two-way street, and we use the media to get our points across. Some days you think you’re in All My Children or in some soap opera. Like I said, it’s a really awkward position I’m put in. I really think notice has been given in regard to this being brought up to my colleagues across the floor. You guys better start doing your job, start serving your people. You’re not. Half of you are doing an awesome job. The thing is we’ve got to start working together to get it done.

Health benefits, Sandy, throw it out. It ain’t going to happen. You know? The other things, the little things, you forget about the people in the communities. The high cost of living. I could go on and on. People are starving up north. No fuel. Are you going to buy fuel for your kids or are you going to buy food? What are we going to do? It’s up to you seven Members across the floor to serve the people of the Northwest Territories and not serve yourself.

The whole thing that this came about, it wasn’t shot from the hip. Things kept building up in regard to where it’s at today. For me, I’m put in a tough situation in regard to my leadership back home and my supporters. They tell me, support the government. We are in tough economic times right through and they’re saying if we did this it’s going to crumble. I don’t think it will if it went either way. I think there are Members here who could do a job on either side of the House who are more than capable. I’m just put in that situation in regard to...

I listened to a lot of people. I even had phone calls from people who I never heard from in 10 years and they’re phoning me at my apartment. Two o’clock this morning I got a phone call. For the past two days I’m not sleeping. I’m worried about this day. Now it’s here. Today I’m really reluctant to go with or go against, but for me Blackberry wireless has been giving me e-mails steady from my constituents telling me to support them.

I’m giving you guys one more chance in regard to what’s going on. To my colleagues on this side of the House, I apologize. One more chance. Next time it comes up and one of you are not doing your job, I’m going to make sure I follow through. Also, I really get tired of reading the newspaper everyday in regard to my colleagues Ramsay and Groenewegen. People taking shots at them. All they want is the best for the people of the Northwest Territories and sometimes it gets taken out of context. Bottomline: let’s start working together, let’s grow up. We’ve got to serve our people. People are starving. I’m putting you on notice. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.