Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Mr. Lafferty.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. [English translation not provided.]

I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

I just want to highlight the importance of us being here as representative Members of the Legislative Assembly.

First and foremost, I just want to say thank to the Members. As Members, we serve the public. We have two Members who are leaving us, Mr. Bromley and Ms. Bisaro. I’d just like to say thank you for your time as being part of this Cabinet here for eight years, and I’ve also served two years as a Regular Member. Every time a Member approaches me, obviously, I put my MLA hat on as well to deal with those issues. At the same time, this is an opportunity for us to reach out to our constituencies.

Most of us have stated that, obviously, we want to return because there is a lot of unfinished business ahead of us. At the same time, we have to keep in mind, as I heard around the table, that there is a lot of support staff that we have to recognize. Even with myself, being a Regular Member, all the resource staff that we’ve had, and even sitting here as the executive. Just highlighting my executive assistant, Morven MacPherson has been with me since day one. I’d just like to thank her for all the hard work and keeping me in line, and through secretaries as well. Not only that, the CAs. I’ve gone through plenty of them over the years. I’ve been through eight of them. But at the same time, it’s given me an opportunity to work with different people.

I’ve been through approximately 14 different chiefs and grand chiefs since I became an MLA. I’ve worked with a lot of them with different experiences and different walks of life. I’m very appreciative of all the work experience. My constituents, I’d just like to say thank you to them for giving me the opportunity to serve them over the past 10 years.

Last but not least, obviously, my family. My wife, Diane, and my five beautiful kids. As I’ve been sitting in the House, when we first started, our kids were young. Now I have kids in university, kids working as well. Without them, this would not be possible to stand here to speak to you.

With yourself, Mr. Speaker, I’d just like to say thank you for your support, as well, over the years, and the support staff that we have.

Best of luck to all the Members who are running. Best wishes to Members who are retiring as well. Mahsi cho.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Well, I’m going to do one today. I’d like to start by saying hello to my son Joseph, who’s watching this back home in Tuk – he’s two and a half years old now – he can switch it back to cartoons. I can’t wait to see you, son.

I’d like to start off by thanking my Deputy Speaker, Mrs. Groenewegen, for all the hard work you’ve done with me in the last four years and supporting me and making some crucial decisions during our time and working together. Thank you so much.

To my board of management, thank you so much for all the hard work you’ve done for the benefit of all our Members. It’s been a good time. I really cherish all you guys, and my two friends. Before you, I was there in the middle between Wendy and Bob. Obviously, I was the rose between two thorns. But they taught me so much, just like you, and I respect them so much.

Bob, yesterday Ms. Spence brought up your mother. God rest her soul. She was always here and always giving us encouragement. She was an awesome lady, and I know you have that in you too. You have a good heart and you want the best for the people.

Wendy, I always called you Mother Superior, because you’re always so hard, making sure everything went down. But I really admired you for that and I really thank you because you’ve been helping me, too, along my way as a Member and as a Speaker too.

To all the Cabinet, thank you so much for all the hard work you guys did, and all my Regular Members, every one of you. I could go on for an hour or so if I was allowed to, but I’m not going to do that to you.

Our support, my support staff, I’d like to thank Nina Larsson, my executive assistant; and my CA back home, Donna Bernhardt, who does so much for us, for the people of Nunakput. People don’t see the hard work that you guys do and the hours you put in and I want to thank her.

I want to also thank Wendy Morgan. Wendy has been there for me too. So, I think there’s about four or five of us that share Wendy. Thank you so much for all your work that you’ve done for the people of Nunakput.

Where do I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement?

---Laughter

---Applause

And there are no nays. How about I keep going? To all my constituents back home, thank you for your support and being there for me when I go visit the communities. To my elders, who we cherish so much across our territory, thank you so much. To all the families that are hurting right now with the stuff that’s going on back home, thoughts and prayers are with all the people who are hurting across our great territory today. Thoughts and prayers are with you from this House.

I’d like to thank my clerks, which I have the best clerks in the Northwest Territories and in the Commonwealth of 170 countries.

---Applause

Thank you, Gail; thank you, Tim; and thank you, Doug; and thanks to all your support staff and our security. Like you guys said earlier today – you said it best, Bob – like you said, we have the best.

To my wife, Jenny, who has been the biggest supporter here, and to all my kids, Chelsey, Kristin, Matthew, Mitchell, Mikayla, and my son Joseph, and my grandson, Alexander. I know I’m a young grandfather too.

It’s been really an honour to work with every one of you. Bob, Wendy, I’ll never forget our times together and Sandy always trying to hit me.

But like I said, again, thank you guys so much, every one of you. God bless you and good luck in your future endeavors. We have 17 days left in this government. So I want all my Members to try to finish all of your constituency work in the last 17 days to try to get some help for the constituents and for the people that we serve. So thank you, Members.

Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. The honourable Premier, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Mr. Abernethy.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize two people in the gallery today. First, Kieran Testart who is a resident of the Great Slave riding. Second, a long-time friend, more like family. He’s a source of wisdom; he’s a source of advice; he’s a creative conveyor of criticism when needed; he presided over my wedding to my amazing wife, Caroline; and he in fact introduced my parents, so you can kind of blame him for me. Mr. Speaker, in the gallery today, Dr. Ian Gilchrist. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to use this opportunity to recognize my wife Judy and appreciate all the support that she’s given me in the last 36 years. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize my constituent from Hay River South again today, Germaine Michel, and I’m so glad she came to see the Legislature and have a tour here. It’s her first time, and anybody who lives in our territory should come and enjoy this wonderful building. I’d also like to, again, recognize my constituency assistant of 17 years, Wendy Morgan, and thank her for all of her support and all of her help over these years. To my husband, Rick Groenewegen, he is a good man. Just think of how boring his life would have been without me.

---Laughter

To my beautiful daughter, Jillian, it’s so good to have her here in Yellowknife. As I said, she keeps me company when all of the rest of the family is not here. So I’d like to recognize them today. Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Dolynny.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To you and through you, I’d like to introduce a fine young man from the riding of Range Lake, a man who has joined us on many occasions here, who is a staunch advocate for transparency and accountability with his recent Open NWT website. That is Mr. David Wasylciw. Keep up the good work. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. Mr. Bouchard.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize constituent Rick Groenewegen and his daughter, Jillian, obviously, and I’d like to thank Wendy again, recognize Wendy Morgan and Hay River resident Germaine Michel as well. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bouchard. Mr. Bromley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s always special when we have family members in the gallery and I’d like to particularly start by recognizing my wife, Marianne. Perhaps you could stand up.

---Applause

Much to be said there. I appreciate your comments about my mother. She was here when we started and I’m missing her today. I’d also like to recognize Chief Edward Sangris from Detah. Great to see you here, Chief.

I had quite a number of people show up in the gallery today in support of the work I do. They all seem to be movers and shakers, whether it be in our economy, our social work or our environmental work or putting the dots together for all three; my CA of four years, Craig Yeo; Ian Gilchrist, who we just heard mentioned; Peggy Holroyd; Lloyd Thiessen; Dan Wong; John Stevenson; Tasha Stevenson; Julie Green; Sue Wahlner; Rose Marie Jackson; Christine Wenman. I see Kevin O’Reilly has lasted out our droning on here today, and his wife, Suzette Montreuil, was here earlier, too; and I’d particularly like to recognize my CA, Bob Wilson, whose phone number is… Well, ask me if you don’t know it.

---Laughter

With regard to families, Melody, Judy, Rick and Jillian in the audience, I’d like to recognize them too. It’s always a special moment when you have family members here. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Ms. Bisaro.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It was a real pleasure to come into the House today and see so many people in the gallery, and as Mr. Bromley said, some of them have lasted through our droning, others have had to go, but it was great to see so many people. It was also great to see so many people sitting on that side, the far side of the Assembly so that we can actually see them from the Regular Members’ seats.

I have two constituents who I want to recognize, Suzette Montreuil has had to go, but Mr. Kevin O’Reilly, who both he and Suzette have been great supporters. So, thank you both of you for coming and for all the work that you do on behalf of residents of the NWT and particularly Yellowknife. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Mr. Moses.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d also like to recognize Ms. Judy McLeod and thank her for supporting my colleague here, Mr. McLeod, over the eight years. You’re doing a great job, and also for all the work you do, again, for the region, in the health area.

It is Fire Prevention Week and I’d like to recognize Mr. John Moore from Inuvik, who is a volunteer firefighter for the community. I’d also like to recognize my constituency assistant, Ms. Weronika Murray. When my previous assistant decided to take a year off, there were some big shoes to fill and I was wondering how that was going to happen with all the work that our office does, and Weronica came in and jumped right into the position and she’s been doing a very great job and keeping the office in order and keeping it efficient for constituents back home and even residents throughout the Northwest Territories. So, thank you very much. I’d just like to welcome everybody here to our last day in the House. I think they’re just making sure we leave. So, thank you.

Thank you. Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you Mr. Speaker. I want to also recognize the family members that have come today to support the Members in this House here. It’s very nice to have them come. I know the sacrifice they have to do so that we can do our work with the fullest attention to our constituents.

I also want to recognize Chief Sangris, Mr. Bromley’s constituent, with the Akaitcho. The Yellowknives people here wanted their ancestors here so we can stand here and do this work.

Mr. Speaker, I also want to recognize Geraldine with Mrs. McLeod here. It’s been a while since I’ve seen Geraldine. I had to ask the Premier, “Is that Geraldine?” I wanted to say that. Sometimes it’s good to see old friends come back still in good spirits.

I want to also recognize my constituency assistant, Ms. Lorraine Bezha, and the other constituency assistants who have been with me. For Ms. Bezha’s hard work and commitment and dedication to the people of the Sahtu, I’d like to say thank you so much to her and all the other constituency assistants that our Members here have to make sure that we do our job effectively and efficiently. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.