It’s obvious that more people than I were thinking over the weekend about the events that occurred last Friday. I’d like to thank the Premier for his statement.

I want to take this opportunity to thank all Members of this House for their openness and their honesty in their remarks that were made during the confidence motion debate on Friday. It was gratifying for me, at least, to hear the frustrations of the Members on the other side of the floor as well as the Members on this side of the floor. I found it a somewhat cathartic experience to be able to express my own concerns and reservations publicly and to all of Cabinet in one fell swoop. Everyone heard it at the same time. For me it cleared the air, I got a load off my chest, and let everyone know where I stand and how I feel.

So now what? As a friend of mine says. Did we really hear each other? Will we really make an effort to solve this impasse or will each side retreat into their corners to sulk and plot anew on how to get the other side?

It will take an effort on our part, all of us; an honest effort from every one of us. We all have to be the grown-ups that we can be and play nice in the sandbox, as has been said before.

Can we overcome our distrust? See the others’ point of view? Leave aside our instinctive vindictiveness? Ignore the personality conflicts and work together for the better of our Territory and our residents? I hope so.

I believe all of us in this beautiful room in this wonderful building love the NWT, and deep down we’re all here to make improvements for our people. We’ve reached an impasse, but it’s not insurmountable. The outcome all depends on how we look at the problem and how we tackle it. I will do my part to reach out and find solutions, offer to compromise and work things out. I only hope I get a positive reception and the same willingness to fix the problem from those I offer my hand to.

The two sides of this House have different expectations regarding how things should work between the two bodies that we’ve established. But I believe we all want the same result. Can we actually talk this out? Find common ground? Can each side compromise and change a bit, develop new processes and protocols to suit both sides? I say yes and expect no less from the rest of my colleagues.

What is needed for us to go forward is a large dose of humility and another of common sense. Talk is cheap; it’s actions that count.