Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am excited to be back in this House. The work we do here is an opportunity to lay a strong foundation for the future of our territory and the people who have elected us. We have the chance to address the issues which affect our shared futures. We have the opportunity to get it right and to chart a clear path toward a healthy and prosperous future for all the peoples we represent. Mr. Speaker, there are very serious concerns that compel us to make sure we get it right.

Northern workers in the public service have not had real job security for some time. Three years without a collective agreement is simply unacceptable for the largest employer in the Northwest Territories. Northern owned and operated businesses continue to struggle with too much red tape, broken procurement policies, and a lack of access to crucial sources of new capital to grow and sustain their business. Municipal governments are still underfunded, and yet this government continues to download new responsibilities; access to information, cannabis control, emergency response services, homelessness, all without additional funding to address resourcing these pressing issues. This is forcing our communities to raise taxes while cutting programs and services to make ends meet. In addition to this, there is a sugar tax, a carbon tax, land transfer tax, airport tax. The list goes on, Mr. Speaker, and for a government mandated to tackle the ever-growing cost of living, it is absurd that its policies are directly impacting the pocketbooks of Northerners.

The time now is for decisive action. It is time for us as representatives of the people to pursue the policies and legislation needed for economic growth. It is now that we must put niceties aside for real and frank discussion of these pressing issues at hand. Mr. Speaker, we must not merely pawn off nice words at the expense of everyday northern families and the communities that we serve. People are anxious, people are frustrated, and this government must act to ensure prosperity, growth, jobs, and most importantly, that our cost of living is held in check.

This is the beginning of the final stretch, Mr. Speaker, and we must be certain that what we do here today is for the benefit of all people. Thank you.