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