Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Kam Lake, that the Honourable Jackson Lafferty of the electoral district of Monfwi does take the chair of this House as Speaker.

Mahsi, Members. Good afternoon. Also good afternoon to the public. Thanks for being here with us.

[Translation] First I would like to say that I am very happy to see everyone here in the House again. We are now going to sit as the Government of the Northwest Territories and it’s going to be difficult work, but we are all going to be here to support one another and I’m happy to see everyone here. I would like to say thank you to the drummers for their drumming and their prayers and also for the bishop who has said a prayer for us. [Translation ends]

Please accept my sincere appreciation for the trust you have put in me by allowing me to serve as your Speaker. I fully understand the duties I’m assuming, presiding over the proceedings in this House, assuming the administrative duties associated with the Assembly, and representing this Assembly in traditional, ceremonial and diplomatic circles.

I wish to assure each and every one of you in this Chamber that I will fulfill all the duties of the Speaker to the best of my ability. I consider myself a servant of this House and of all Members, and I commit to upholding and protecting the dignity of this institution in both my actions and my decisions.

My first obligation is to preside over this House in a manner which ensures that the rights and privileges of all Members will be upheld and to maintain the order and level of decorum that will allow each of you to carry out your duties to the best of your abilities.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank former Speaker, Mr. Jackie Jacobson, for his counsel and guidance during the 17th Legislative Assembly. Those who know me are aware of my unwavering commitment to the use and preservation of the Aboriginal languages. You will hear me use my Tlicho language more often, both in this House and beyond its doors. I encourage other Members to join me in promoting and using our Aboriginal languages whenever possible in this Assembly. This is a priority of our Assembly and we need to lead from the front.

I, too, have heard the discussions regarding our unique form of consensus government and the need to help public to better…

[Translation] Today the language is very important, and especially here in this Assembly, I would like to see all the Members who speak a language, speak their language. Those who do not speak a language, try to learn the language. To us, the language is very important because that is how we identify ourselves, and we know who we are when we speak our language. So I would appreciate you to try to use your language as much as you can. [Translation ends]

First, our discussions regarding our unique form of consensus government and the need to help the public better understand how we make decisions in this House, this Legislative Assembly, I commit to being part of that education process. We will be looking at ways of bringing information about the government to all residents of the Northwest Territories; indeed, to all Canadians and internationally.

I must take this opportunity to express my sincere thanks to my constituents in the Monfwi riding. [Translation] I would like to say thank you to all those in the Monfwi riding, even though I didn’t go through the election. I am very happy to be back here and I am now sitting as the Speaker. I am a Speaker now and when you look at it, a Speaker’s job is very big. We have to listen to all the people in the North. That is why we are here. As the Speaker, when I look at it, we are here to represent the northern people, and that is one of the reasons I put my name forward to be a Speaker. We want to make sure that in the future, always work together, listen together and we can resolve a lot of issues, as difficult as it may be. We are here representing people. We have to listen to the people who have voted us here. [Translation ends]

My congratulations to the Premier and the Executive Council elected by the Members of this Assembly. I wish you well as you undertake your new responsibilities.

I would also like to take this opportunity publicly to thank my family. Politics is not an easy life for a family. Politics is not an easy life for families and the sacrifices each of our families make on a daily basis. As Members, we could not do the job without the love and support of our families.

[Translation] I would like to say to all our families, our wives, our families, our children, we have to thank them. We can’t be in this position without their support. All of us, as Members of the Legislative Assembly and Ministers, we have to remember our family, thank them and also the public in general who have voted us here to this House. We have to support one another and care for one another as we sit in this House. At this time I would like to say thank you to my wife, my family and my friends. Some are not here in the House; they are travelling or in school. My family, some of them aren’t here, but I know they remember me. Last year I lost my mother but I feel like she is here, she’s present with me. I would just like to say thank you to her too. [Translation ends]

Colleagues, we are beginning our journey here today with many challenges facing us in this great territory of ours. In the various roles that each of us will play, as we debate public policy, raise issues of concern for our constituents, lead departments, provide opportunity for public input and hold the government to account, I ask for your assistance. I ask that you always:

treat each other with dignity, respect and compassion;

protect the integrity of this institution with your individual actions; and

conduct yourselves within the rules set by the House.

Please be assured that I will work hard to maintain the trust and confidence you have placed in me today.

Mr. Clerk, will you ascertain if the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, the Honourable George L. Tuccaro, is prepared to enter the Chamber and address the Legislative Assembly?

I would ask you to rise for the entrance of the Commissioner and to remain standing for our National Anthem, which will be performed by Members of the Yellowknife Choral Society.

---Singing of O Canada

Orders of the day. Item 3, Members’ statements. Mr. Simpson, Hay River North.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to use this opportunity to thank, first and foremost, the people of Hay River. In Hay River, we know about the state of the economy, we know about the growing social ails of our territory, and in the face of these issues, I am honoured and grateful that they put their faith in me to represent them here in this House.

It’s a great responsibility and one I don’t take lightly. I only made two promises during the campaign. The first was to work hard and the second was to bring a loud voice to the Legislature for the people of Hay River. I have been doing that since November 23rd and I promise to continue doing that for the remainder of the 18th Assembly.

I would also like to thank everyone who supported me during the campaign, all the volunteers, my family, my parents, my aunt, my cousin and especially my lovely partner, Sarah, who put as many hours in as I did.

I would also like to recognize the Members of the 18th Assembly. As I’ve gotten to know everyone over the past few weeks, I’ve become even more optimistic about the future of this territory. Every single Member is capable, has a valuable set of skills and brings a unique perspective. The staff of the Legislative Assembly also deserves to be commended. They do an amazing job here. You know what? I’ll keep it short. That’s everything. But once again, thank you all and let’s get to work. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi, Mr. Simpson. Next on my list I have Mr. O’Reilly.

[English translation not provided.]

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s important for me that my first words in this session of the House were in French. French is one of the official languages of the Northwest Territories. My maternal grandfather spoke French, but the language was lost within one generation. I will try to speak French in this House from time to time.

This is a Member’s statement to offer some thanks. I want to recognize that we are meeting on Yellowknives Dene First Nation territory. I wish to thank everyone who got out and voted in the Frame Lake electoral district, even if it wasn’t for me. Although the voter turnout was reported at 27 percent, the voters list was clearly out of date with 20 to 30 percent of those on the list not resident at the addresses specified, including an entire apartment building on Forrest Drive.

Our son, who is studying at the University of Victoria, applied for an absentee ballot and it never arrived in the mail. We can and should do much better with our voters lists and find more ways for voters to exercise their rights.

Thanks to the other candidates, Jan Fullerton, David Wasylciw and Roy Erasmus, for their hard work in raising of the bar in what was a very civil election campaign, where candidates and their teams helped each other with signs.

Thanks to the people who volunteered on my campaign and to my family for all of their support, and especially to my wife without whom I couldn’t have done this.

We begin an important journey together today. It has been a real pleasure getting to know all of the MLAs over the last three weeks during a very intensive orientation, priority-setting period.

I have a strong sense that everyone has come prepared to work hard and to collaborate. I will do my very best to serve the people of Frame Lake and the entire Northwest Territories. I look forward to working with all of the other MLAs.

Lastly, I would like to again congratulate our new Speaker, our Premier and our Cabinet and all those who put their names forward to serve. Mahsi, merci and thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi, Member O’Reilly. Next on my list I have Mr. Beaulieu.

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

Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness that I rise today to pay tribute to George Marlowe, an elder who passed away this morning.

Over the past eight years, I got to know George and had a lot of respect for him. George was an amazing guy. Over 70 years old, he was on the caribou range at Artillery Lake. It was like having a young man with all the strength and abilities that were unbelievable. I wasn’t prepared today to do a full eulogy for George, but I wanted to let people in the area and in Wiilideh and Tu Nedhe know of his passing.

Many people respected George and I got asked how George was doing every day. George died of cancer. He lived for a long time. He was given two months to live in the spring; in March, actually. He stayed home and Celine took care of him, and his girls.

George will be sorely missed by his community. He attended meetings. He always spoke for his people. People could never come into the community where George would not come to the community hall and speak clearly and proudly for the people that he represents.

Mahsi, Mr. Beaulieu. [Translation] Member for Yellowknife Centre, Ms. Green.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like, today, to give my thanks for all the people who helped to put me in the position that I am starting with my family and especially my partner, Janice McKenna, my daughter, Tiffany Thrasher, my parents and friends who encouraged me to run for public office. I’d like to thank my campaign team for the many hours that they put in to getting me elected, for the constituents who put their trust in me to represent them in this 18th Assembly. To my new friends and colleagues in the Legislative Assembly, it’s been a pleasure to get to know you and I’m looking forward to working with each and every one of you over the next four years.

My pledge is, today, as I said yesterday, to work hard, to work cooperatively, to be focused on results and consensus. I’m up for the challenge, and I think we all are. Thank you.

Mahsi, Ms. Green. The Member for Sahtu, Mr. McNeely.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to welcome everybody in the gallery and the people who are listening, and thank the rest of my colleagues here for the last couple weeks and all the efforts that we have done, the transition document, reviews and so on. In particular, I thank the people of the Sahtu region who have placed their faith in me to represent them in this House. To the campaign team that helped me visit the communities and did all the legwork, as well, a big thank you to those people. Also, what happened over the last few days in electing our House leader, the Executive Council. I look forward to working with the Members, the Premier-elect and yourself, as the Speaker.

I wish everybody a safe and happy holiday and time with their families. I’m looking forward to representing and bringing the issues forward from the Sahtu region in the New Year.

Mahsi, Mr. McNeely. [Translation] The next speaker who will be speaking will be Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Blake.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to take this opportunity to thank my constituents of the Mackenzie Delta for their support over the next four years. I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate yourself on your position as Speaker, and also to our Premier and new Cabinet.

I would also like to wish everyone through the Northwest Territories, especially in my riding, a very Merry Christmas, and I hope you all have times with your families. Christmas can be a very difficult time, especially for those who have lost loved ones. In our communities we always pull together and offer our support. I just wish everybody all the best in the New Year.

Mahsi, Mr. Blake. [Translation] The next speaker for Member’s statements is Mr. Testart.

Once again I’d like to thank all the people of Kam Lake who have given me the opportunity to represent them in this House. I’d also like to thank all of you for being here and putting up a very strong team that is going to lead this territory for the next four years. I would like to congratulate yourself, the Premier and our Executive Council members. One thing I forgot to do on election night is thank my family and supporters and volunteers, so I will take the opportunity to do that today.

I worked with some very enthusiastic young people, long-time friends, who believed in me and believed in the message that allowed us to be successful on election night. They worked with me for a very long time, some for longer than a year, and that meant a lot to me and I’d like to thank them very publicly, from the bottom of my heart, for all the hard work they did.

I’d also like to thank my partner, Colleen. She’s put up with me for a very long time and also during an election and several elections. I couldn’t do it without her.

Most of all I’d like to thank my son, Corbin. He’s six years old. I’m a single parent, so it’s sometimes difficult for him to understand why I’m so busy, but he puts up with me as well. I do it for him and I do it for a future for him, as well, and I’m looking forward to working on that future and getting real results for the people of the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Mahsi, Mr. Testart. [The next person who has a Member’s statement would be Mr. Thompson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To the residents of Nahendeh, I’m deeply honoured and humbled to be here representing you for the next four years. It took a lot of work and I would like to thank my team. They were amazing people in all six communities. We worked hard and did a great job getting people out to vote.

I’d also like to thank my family who are going to sacrifice the next four years of their life for me to be here. They did a great job and were very supportive during the time.

I’d also like to thank my competitors, Rosemary, Deneze, Randy, Arnold, Kevin and Dennis. You realize I called them by their first name, because that’s what it was. It was a first name basis and it was a respectful campaign. I thank them for all their hard work and I thank their teams. They did an amazing job.

To the Premier and the newly elected Cabinet, I look forward to working with you and I thank you very much.

Mahsi, Mr. Thompson. [Translation] The next speaker for Member’s statements would be Mr. Vanthuyne.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, want to thank all the folks in the gallery today for coming. You’re setting the expectations high. The galleries have been rather full the last few days, and as Members, we expect to see your attendance up there over the next four years.

I want to take this opportunity to thank the Clerk’s office and all the staff at the Assembly for treating us so well and making the transition into territorial public life much easier than originally anticipated, so thank you so much.

To the constituents of Yellowknife North, most certainly I thank you for your support and putting your faith in me as your elected representative. I truly look forward to serving you and protecting your interests over the next four years.

I, too, need to thank friends and family and all of those volunteers who supported me during the election period. For all your hard work, I am grateful. I, too, have to acknowledge today the spirit of my mother, who I lost in 2003. I know she has been with me for the last number of years, of course, but she’s been especially with me over the last handful of months and given me the strength and courage to run and be here today. I wanted to take the time to acknowledge that.

Of course, I look forward to working with all of you and the respective Members of this House in making this great territory even greater. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.