Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Politics were new to me and I want to offer some brief and random comments on the experience of the past four years.

People ask me, so, Bob, do you enjoy it? I always reply that I am not sure “enjoy” is the right word, but the job is fully engaging, it uses whatever you can bring to the table.

Another motivating aspect is that being at the table, your voice must be heard. People can choose to ignore your input or disagree with it or use it to modify their own thoughts, but fundamentally the

electorate has provided you with a voice and this must be fully valued.

First, as Stephanie Nolen, a Globe and Mail foreign correspondent speaking on CBC’s program “Ideas” last night said, you must show up. This is equally true in politics. You must be at the table to use the privilege the electorate has provided you.

With this in mind, I want to deeply thank the citizens of Weledeh who have given me this opportunity and this trust. It has been an unimagined honour to serve as MLA for Weledeh and all people of the Northwest Territories. I thank the constituency assistants who have worked so hard for me and you, starting with Mr. Craig Yeo, my longest serving CA. We are a team. I thank Lani Cook, Julian Morse, and briefly Jaya Bastedo served early in my term. Similarly, I have found the Legislative Assembly staff the most extraordinary workers I have ever seen.

The late leader of Canada’s official opposition, the Honourable Jack Layton, has been a mentor to many politicians. On the business of doing politics, his fine last words serve us all: “My friends,” he said, “love is better than anger; hope is better than fear; optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful, and optimistic and we’ll change the world.” I thank Mr. Layton for his service to the country and especially for his championship of those most in need. I offer my condolences to his family, friends, and comrades, and give thanks for his contribution to improving Canadian society.

Finally, with much love, I thank Marianne, to whom I owe so much, and all of my extended family for their support.

Mr. Speaker, to you and all my colleagues I say mahsi.