Mr. Speaker, it is with heartfelt sorrow that I rise today to pay my respects to Michael Ferguson. Mr. Ferguson passed away at the age of 60 after a prolonged battle with cancer.
I worked very closely with Mr. Ferguson, or Mike as he was affectionately known, in his role as the auditor general for the NWT and for Canada. He upheld his responsibilities to the people of the Northwest Territories and all Canadians with integrity, honesty, and passion. His dedication to transparency and accountability, in these times where it is harder and harder to know what is "really real," was and still is a guiding light for me as a public servant.
Mike worked tirelessly to ensure that the people whom he served received the best possible services from their governments, all while cutting through the spin to ensure that those governments were meeting the guidelines, milestones, and conditions they publicly set for themselves.
On a more personal level, Mike was a warm, kind, compassionate, and down-to-earth man with a wonderful sense of humour. He will be greatly missed by all. My thoughts and condolences are with his family, friends, and loved ones. I will remember him fondly, and try my best to honour his memory.
Rest in peace, my friend. You, your work, your presence, and your laughter will all be sorely missed, but rest assured that you and your contributions to our democracy will never be forgotten. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.