Mr. Speaker, I congratulate you again on your election as Speaker. As I mentioned yesterday, I believe that your election sends a strong message of our commitment to Aboriginal culture and languages, and I do hope you will use your language in this Assembly. I think all of us should do that, and I urge all Members to learn and use the many languages of the Northwest Territories.

I wish to congratulate, also, our Premier-elect, Mr. Bob McLeod. I am looking forward to working with him and all of you in this 18th Assembly.

We set out a very ambitious set of priorities, but I believe that working together through consensus government we can achieve those lofty goals.

Finally, I would like to thank the members of Thebacha. I see members who have travelled all the way from Fort Smith today and I am pleased to see them in the audience in the gallery.

I would like to thank my wife, Anne, and my grandson, Mason Heron, who put up with me during the election and have had to put up with my absence the last few weeks. So, thank you to all.

Mahsi, Mr. Sebert. [Translation] The next Member’s statement, Mr. Abernethy from Great Slave.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today on the first official sitting day of the 18th Legislative Assembly, I wanted to take the opportunity to express my sincere thanks to the residents of the Great Slave riding for their support on November 23rd. It’s truly an honour and a privilege to sit here and represent them for my third term in this House and I look forward to working with them and for them over the next four years.

Elections can be quite complicated, quite difficult, and you can’t be successful in an election without an incredible team. I would certainly like to take this opportunity to thank the team who helped me out during the election this year. My friend Sham is from the Great Slave riding, who went door to door with me; my parents, Dick and Loretta Abernethy, who were at the office pretty much every day and my dad went around and checked the signs every morning; my sister, Susan, who went door to door with me on many nights; John Argue, who went door to door with me on many nights; Louise Boettger, who sat in the office in the evenings; Karen Willy, Jackie McKinnon, there were so many I can’t name them all, but mostly I want to thank my wife, who actually went to almost all of the doors with me over the 28-day period and had an opportunity to listen to the residents and she keeps reminding me of what I heard on a regular basis. Thank you all.

I have had an opportunity over the last couple of weeks to sit and talk with all the new Members and we do have an ambitious priorities list, as Mr. Sebert said, but I know, looking around this room, we have a great group of people who are committed to the people of the Northwest Territories and I am incredibly excited by the opportunities that we have in front of us and I am really looking forward to getting down to work for all the residents of the Northwest Territories. It’s going to be a lot of fun; it’s going to be hard; there’s going to be arguments; there’s going to be fights; but we will find a way to move forward. So, thank you all and I look forward to working with you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi, Mr. Abernethy. [Translation] Deh Cho Member, Mr. Nadli.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to congratulate you, congratulate the Premier and Cabinet as well. I would also like to thank the drummers, the church leaders and also the Commissioner. Most of all I would like to thank the constituents of the Deh Cho, the people of the Deh Cho riding, especially my children, my family, my relatives and friends.

Most importantly, elders who were there for me who still continue to live in the community, plus the past elders. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

[English translation not provided.]

We must work towards making transformative changes and recognize a special moment in the upcoming history of the 100th anniversary of Treaty 11 within the time of this 18th Assembly. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi, Member Nadli. It’s always great to hear another language in the House. Please continue using that official language. [Translation] Range Lake, Ms. Cochrane.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to start by thanking the constituents of Range Lake for voting me in as MLA. I am going to continue to do my best to represent you as best I can. I also want to thank all Members of the Legislative Assembly for voting me in for Cabinet. That’s huge and I will not forget that my role is to represent the whole NWT.

I also want to take a second to acknowledge that I was told that I am the actual second female to be elected into Cabinet from Yellowknife, and ironically, we’re both from Range Lake, the two who were elected, so that’s a nice thought.

I really want to take a moment to thank my family, way too many to identify. I know if I started, I would forget someone, my incredible friends and the most wonderful campaign team I could have asked for, who were there through thick and thin, day and night, and still to this day have been supporting me, so thank you hugely for them.

The biggest thing I want to say today is I heard before I came in here, I was talking to a gentleman, and he said that the word on the street is that I am the voice for people that have not had a voice within the government for many years. I’m really honoured and I’m humbled to have been titled that, and I promise I will carry those words with me for the whole four years that I am here. Thank you very much.

Mahsi, Ms. Cochrane. [Translation] The next speaker, Mr. Schumann.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, would like to thank the constituents of Hay River South for voting me into the House. I would like to thank all my family and friends, my constituents, and especially the team that helped support me to get me here. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention today, I would like to thank Jane Groenewegen and Wendy Morgan for their 20 years that they’ve supported Hay River.

Last, but not least, I would like to thank my beautiful wife and my son for all the support they’ve given me to get here and for the sacrifices they will continue to put up with for me to be here for the next four years.

I want to thank you for electing Mr. Jackson Lafferty, our Speaker, Premier Bob McLeod and the Cabinet and all the Members here today. We have huge challenges ahead of us, but I know there’s great optimism in this room. I look forward to working with every one of you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi, Mr. Schumann. [Translation] Member for Nunakput, Mr. Nakimayak.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Once again, congratulations on your appointment as Speaker of the House, also to Premier Bob McLeod and all the Cabinet Ministers who made amazing speeches yesterday. It was pretty inspiring, so I want to carry on moving forward.

Thank you to my family for putting up with me. Also, the other campaigners who were running for the election, I had a lot of airport dates with them. It was a good start to working and conditioning ourselves for what we’re going to go through in the next four years. I’d like to thank former Speaker, Mr. Jackie Jacobson, Ethel-Jean Gruben, John Stuart Jr. and Robert Kuptana, who ran good campaigns.

Also, moving forward, I just want to thank my fellow Members here and my children at home. I don’t think they’re watching. They’re in school.

As well, a campaign like this was really tough and it showed that people from small communities can make a difference when you put your work together, and I hope moving forward that that’s a message. As Mr. Beaulieu had mentioned, the smaller communities need a voice, and I look forward to serving as your MLA for the next four years. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi, Mr. Nakimayak. [Translation] Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, Mr. Moses.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to start off by congratulating you on your position. I look forward to you keeping this House in order for the next four years and working alongside you.

I also just want to take this opportunity to congratulate all the new Members on your elections. I know I was watching you during your campaign; you all did a great job. Over the last couple weeks I’ve seen the enthusiasm, I’ve seen the work ethic and I’ve seen the optimism, and I think moving forward we’re going to work great together as 19 Members.

I’m very honoured and humbled to be serving my second term in this great building for the people of the Northwest Territories. But before I start thanking all my supporters and thanking my family, there’s a special group I would like to thank, and that’s the Members of the 17th Legislative Assembly as well as the staff. Through their mentorship, their leadership, their hard work and dedication for the people of the Northwest Territories and to this building, as well as creating very strong, lifelong friendships, they’ve made me the Member that I am here today. I will continue to work on their behalf to push a lot of work that we did in the 17th forward, alongside 18 other Members here, to do the best for the people of the Northwest Territories.

I believe that people deserve a strong voice, and I always say that I bring that strong voice into this House. But what’s better than one strong voice? Nineteen strong voices. That’s what we have with the 18th Legislative Assembly.

Now I’d just like to take this opportunity to thank all the supporters who helped me get re-elected into the 18th Assembly. I will not let you down. I will work harder during this government than I did in the 17th Legislative Assembly.

I want to thank two of my biggest supporters, my parents, Martha and Winston Moses. I think it was a really great moment when my dad and I were putting up signs throughout Inuvik just before the elections went on. Aside from my biggest supporters of my parents, I also want to thank my smallest supporter, Ms. Kali Wood, who wore my button and she was actually on some of my buttons as we were going through the campaign and I was sure her support helped put me over the top.

I want to thank everybody who has prayed for me over the 17th Assembly and will continue to pray for me to do the best I can in this House for the people of the Northwest Territories.

With that said, I want to wish everybody a Merry Christmas. Have a safe, enjoyable and happy holiday season with your family, with your friends; and after today and after the business gets settled, that all the Members from out of town have a safe trip home and enjoy it with your family and friends. It’s going to be very seldom for the next four years. Thank you.

Mahsi, Mr. Moses. [Translation] Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, Mr. Robert McLeod.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Congratulations on your appointment. I notice that we’re the hold-overs from the 15th, so you and I have to be wise now.

I want to thank the residents of Inuvik Twin Lakes, the constituents who came out to vote. There was a lot of them who came out to vote and support me for the last four terms I’ve been here. Their vote is much appreciated. I have always thought I was reflective of the community and I tried to bring that into this Chamber.

I want to thank the hardworking supporters we had. A lot of us couldn’t get into the position that we’re in today without a good support team and good people who believe in you. They go to the wall for you. I would start naming them all, but then I’d forget someone and they may not support me next time, so I’m not going to go there.

Lastly and most importantly, and as Members have said before me, without the support of your family, we aren’t able to do this. It’s extremely difficult. We come in here and they hear a lot of talk out there. We’ve developed fairly thick skin and they still take a lot of things personally, but we believe in what we’re doing, so they believe in what we’re doing. They continue to support us.

When I started here I had my three children, my future son-in-law, my wife, Judy, and there are 12 of us now. I have five grandchildren and the family just keeps growing. I’m doing my part to grow the Northwest Territories. So I want to thank the family for their unconditional support. It’s much appreciated.

Of course, I want to thank Judy. She’s been a huge supporter of mine for the last 36 years in everything I’ve done. I appreciate that support and I appreciate the support of my colleagues yesterday as we went through the process. I hope I represent you well. I hope I represent the Northwest Territories well, and I appreciate your confidence in me. I will not let you down. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi, Mr. McLeod. Item 4, recognition of visitors in the gallery.

First I would like to recognize some of the officials here today. I would like to recognize former Commissioner, Speaker, Minister, Member, Sergeant-at-Arms, Honourary Clerk, Honourary Navel Captain, Mr. Anthony W.J. Whitford.

I would also like to recognize in the gallery, former Premier Mr. Jim Antoine.

Former Member of the Legislative Assembly, Mr. Bill Braden.

Former Member and Minister, Mr. Dave Ramsay.

Former Minister and Member, Henry Zoe.

We have Grand Chief Bill Erasmus, Dene Nation.

I would like to also recognize Chief Frieda Martselos, Salt River First Nation.

Also with us, Chief Roy Fabien, K’atlodeeche First Nation.

With us as well, Mayor Mark Heyck, Yellowknife.

And all those from the public for being here with us. Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Bob McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am so eager to recognize some constituents from Yellowknife South. First I’d like to recognize Gayla Thunstrom, first vice-president, Union of Northern Workers; Alisa Praamsma, executive director of Native Women’s Association; Jugjit Curran; Peter Vician; David Stewart; Jeff Anderson; Susan Abernethy; Dillon Short. Welcome to the gallery. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mahsi, Mr. McLeod. Member for Great Slave, Mr. Abernethy.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just want to take an opportunity to recognize some of my family that I have in the gallery today. My parents, Dick and Loretta Abernethy; my sister, Susan Abernethy; my wife, Carolyn Abernethy…Carolyn Smith, sorry. Weird.

---Interjection

I don’t know.

---Laughter

She should think about it. Anyhow, with me today, my uncle and aunt, Rob and Marg Abernethy, who have actually joined us from Calgary today. It’s the first time they’ve been in the Assembly during sitting. Thank you.

Mahsi, Mr. Abernethy. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, Mr. McLeod.

I would like to welcome my wife, Judy, to the gallery. Always a pleasure to have her here with us.

Mahsi, Mr. McLeod. Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh, Mr. Beaulieu.