Thank you, Mr. Chair. I provided my thoughts, just acknowledging that we did revise our mandate. As colleagues have put it, it was a collaborative process between Regular MLAs and Cabinet. It is commendable that with 19 MLAs with diverse backgrounds and, of course, the diversity of the ridings that we represent, we came together and came up with a product that we think will serve at least the agenda of this government. We have two years to try to set our sights in terms of ensuring that the goals that we have set for ourselves are measurable in respect of at least being timely, following up at the same time, and at least having a measure of resources allocated to those initiatives that we might undertake during the two years of our term.
I have got some notes here. We were elected in November of 2015, and together, as a Caucus, we developed a mandate for the 18th Assembly. We are halfway to completing our terms as MLAs. The mid-term review offers an excellent opportunity to pause and reflect on our work. It is a good time to look at what we have accomplished with our mandate and to reassess our priorities for the remaining two years. Likely, we will shift or reposition our expectations and huddle as a team once again.
I will offer a few thoughts on our mandate from a SWOT perspective: strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. I think our weakness could be how we work together as Regular MLAs and Cabinet. I think it is very important that we try to work collaboratively and cooperatively, with mutual respect and understanding. We are all in the same boat trying to strive for the betterment of the NWT. We are trying to at least build on our common interest in ensuring that we address very hard core needs, sometimes fundamentally, that small communities have or larger centres or even cities, for that matter, have. We are trying to better our society in general.
Of course, the other one, and I did not want to spend too much time on it, is threats. It is the unity. It is how we work together. It is very important that we be mindful that if we do not have unity amongst ourselves, we are in a weak position.
In light of that, I did not want to build upon the weaknesses or the threats that we might have, but trying to build upon the opportunities and strengths that we have. One of our greatest strengths is the resilience and creativity of our people. Mr. Chair, as we know, the cost of living, including the cost of goods and services, is higher here because of our distance from larger markets and the remote locations of our communities. I have been encouraged by the efforts being made regarding the domestic production of food in areas such as agriculture and greenhouses. We need to support more of this innovation. We need to roll up our sleeves and plant initiatives for the long-term.
The Dehcho Process presents an opportunity to fulfil a long-standing commitment to create certainty. Mr. Chair, the Premier and Minister Bennett have the report of the ministerial special representative, which was well-received by the Dehcho First Nations. The GNWT should work towards completion of the process within the year, including outstanding negotiations, including the Akaitcho, Metis, and K'atlodeeche First Nation. Let's get this done before an opportunity to create certainty becomes a missed opportunity that puts us into the blame game.
Now, once again, the TRC had outlined recommendations that the government needs to act upon. It could be that this government, in the spirit of reconciliation, ensures that we complete all outstanding land claims. Mahsi, Mr. Chair.