Mr. Speaker, it is almost to the day that I and all honourable Members of this House were elected to the 18th Assembly, and I simply cannot put into words the honour felt when the confidence of Kam Lakers was bestowed upon me on November 23, 2015, to represent them here as a Member. I imagine that the feeling is shared by all my colleagues in the 18th Assembly, for politics is the art of the possible, and those who are fortunate enough to be in public service must always remember why we decided to stand up and run for office: to assist in the continuance making of our society better.

When I went to the doors during the election, I offered Kam Lakers a costed platform with key priorities such as supporting the natural resource industry and small business sector while also supporting the developing of a diverse and knowledge-based economy; taking action on poverty, homelessness and addictions so we can live in healthier communities; and also looking at innovative and practical ways to achieve that within the life of this government.

Doing all within my ability to make government more open and transparent while protecting the public's right to information is a huge priority for me, because, Mr. Speaker, the people should always know how their representatives are doing their jobs. All these priorities are common-sense concepts that can easily be accomplished by this Assembly and this government, and I'm proud to say we are well on our way to making many of these commitments happen.

Mr. Speaker, an essential aspect of the role of being a Member of the Legislative Assembly is holding the government accountable, and though the honourable Members of Cabinet and I do not always see eye to eye, I do believe that we have the best interest of Northerners at the forefront of our efforts to build a stronger NWT.

To the honourable Members who sit with me on standing committees and the seats opposite Cabinet, I congratulate you all in the way you've conducted yourself as Members of this House over the last year. We have proven to work hard for our constituents and to work together in solidarity to ensure that our government doesn't lose sight of the people we serve. I urge all of us to keep pace and to carry on with the good work that we have been doing to date.

Mr. Speaker, when I first stepped into this Chamber I was struck with the awesome responsibility that has been placed on me by my constituents. I again want to thank the people of Kam Lake for this amazing honour. I will continue to serve their interests as my top priority, and will continue to work to deliver on the promises I made during the last election. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'll see you next year.