Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, feel saddened that we have come to this situation on siding one of our 19 Members in this House. This institution is led by the elected officials to best serve the residents of the Northwest Territories. In this part of Canada, we truly have many challenges, challenges faced by addictions, remoteness, isolation. Those are fundamental principles that are really facing the communities' endeavours to progress.
I had the opportunity in one of my positions in the 1970s to work for NTCL, a Crown corporation, later becoming a private corporation, and now a public corporation. Since then, I've experienced harsh conditions in the Arctic coastal communities having not been there, but knowing people who did, and explaining those harsh conditions which create barriers in front of the ships.
However, we are back to the issues at hand before us today, led by issues that are in question. As I reflect as a first-time MLA into this institution, operating underneath a consensus government style, I've learned to respect each and every individual in this House for the simple fact that they do work hard. I've seen it; I've witnessed it. My predecessor, I have often wondered, what did they do outside of the televised sessions. I've seen that first-hand through participation. The determination of other 19 MLA in this diversified, culturally-traditional environment should be respected, and I do respect the other 18 Members on the fundamental issue that you have chosen to represent people that really matter in your respective area. Again, as a first-time MLA, I've seen how Cabinet operates, family members themselves, limitations to the access of their families because duty calls first, and they serve those duties respectfully. Those duties can be seen by the images and the presentations they deliver when talking about the progression of our government, in Ottawa, more specifically.
More specifically, again, to the Indigenous partnerships that we are trying to engage in developing and build on the strengths of trust.
Through consultation with the people that I represent and what I've seen, we in the Sahtu will stand behind this Minister. Thank you very much.