Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Increasing the number of women in politics is critical. MLA Green did a wonderful job of talking about why we need to increase the numbers, so I am not going to do that again. I do want to say that this government has made it a mandated priority to support initiatives designed to increase the number of women running for elected office in the Northwest Territories. We are moving towards this through campaign schools to support women with the tools they need to run for office. When we do this work, we cast the net more broadly than running for a Member of the Legislative Assembly because we know that gender representation is important for all levels of government and that women who have some leadership experience or, at a minimum, a knowledge of the process have increased likelihood of running.
That said, Mr. Speaker, two of the most important ways that women need to be encouraged is, one, by being asked and by being supported. Asking multiple times by multiple people and providing the financial emotional and physical support needed to run is critical. This motion is an indirect way of calling on women in our territory to run, and it is also a commitment by all of us to ask and encourage in a way that extends past our current term. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of Cabinet, we give full and enthusiastic support for this motion. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.