Daniel McNeely Sahtu

I'm hoping that I'm trying to capture a lot here. That's why the opposition is just smiling. Nevertheless, I think we made a change, and I hope, I'll just summarize, but I'll go back home and mention that to the leadership. I thank everybody, and thank the former Members who brought us advice when we became newcomers to this Assembly. Mahsi cho.

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. I served as chairman in Priorities and Planning. I'd like to thank support staff that we had in the room. I'd like to name them: Lee Selleck and Stephen Dunbar, Doug Schauerte, Sarah Kay, Michael Ball and Glen Rutland.

I'd like to thank my constituents. I have a constituent up there today, in fact, and constituents back here; it was very good work working with the constituents. I'd like to thank my family, my mom, my siblings, my children, my spouse, Monique.

I hope that I have made a difference in the work that I have done. I know that it seems like we're doing a lot of work. At the end of the day, it always feels like there's so much more to do. It's a difficult place to leave, representing people, because you never know what is coming. You will never know. If you don't stop, you never know what is to come. Better opportunities, maybe, other MLAs could bring to the riding that I currently represent. Mainly, I represented four communities. I'd like to again just thank the constituents. Not so much the leaders. I talked about them yesterday in my reply, but definitely, I would like to say, thank you, marsi cho, to the people of Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh. Marsi.

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to thank the residents of the Nahendeh riding for giving me the privilege of representing them for the past four years. I am and always will be humbled for being elected to this job. It is about the people. I am representing their voice and their ideas.

To the community and regional leadership, these past four years, I enjoyed your honesty and frankness as we tried to address concerns and issues with the GNWT, federal government, or others. I would like to thank you for opening your homes, offices, and community to me as we work for the residents of Nahendeh.

To the Nahendeh residents, thank you for trusting me to address your issues. I am honoured you feel comfortable to reach out to me at any time during the day to discuss your issues.

It wasn't about trying to get the issues completely addressed, but being successful to help the residents move forward.

I would like to thank those who were my sounding board and advisers. I appreciate the time and direction you offered throughout these four years. Your ideas and concerns help me do my job better.

To my constituent assistants, I would like to thank them, it was Pearl Norwegian, Mary Drake, Maja Echtay, Deborah Richards, and Charles Blondin, for doing a great job running the Nahendeh office. Their commitment and professionalism were a great asset to the residents and myself. They were the first face you saw, and they were always making people feel comfortable to come in and share their concerns. I could not have been as effective without them.

To my colleagues of the 18^th Assembly, I'd like to thank you for all your help as we move forward to a better NWT. I know there were times when we didn't agree;, however, this is what makes life better. We have to work together to get things done. We should all be proud of the work done during this Assembly.

To the unsung heroes of the GNWT, thank you for all the work you do for the residents of the NWT. Sometimes, it's hard, but you do a job well done with professionalism. I appreciate the important work you do for the residents. Sometimes, we don't say it enough, but thank you. Mr. Speaker, I'd like unanimous consent to conclude by statement. Thank you.

---Unanimous consent granted

Shane Thompson Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This will be the last I'll ask for unanimous consent to conclude my statement this session.

From the bottom of my heart, I would like to thank all the legislative staff and the Executive Branch staff. You were so helpful and supportive. They were very important as we did our work, and they helped give us good direction.

To friends and family, thank you for your support throughout these four years. I know I've missed some important life events, but you are very understanding of this.

Finally, I'd like to thank Ms. Grace. I know I'm not supposed to thank her, but I'm going to anyway. She has been, and always will be, a big part of my foundation. She's made sure to balance my life, and I'm thankful for this. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Frederick Blake Jr. Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank my constituents of Aklavik, Fort McPherson, and Tsiigehtchic for the honour of representing the Mackenzie Delta for the last eight years.

Also, to my fiancee, Jamie, and my children for their love and support, especially while I am away from home for session, committee work, and constituency business.

Also, to my constituency assistant, Liz Wright, in Fort McPherson for your hard work and dedication over the last eight years. I'd also like to thank Eugene Pascal from Aklavik for being my contact person, helping when needed with constituency work.

Mr. Speaker, last but not least, I'd like to thank my colleagues; yourself, Mr. Speaker, Cabinet, and Regular Members. When we first started, we had an ambitious mandate for the 18^th Assembly, with 230 mandate commitments, but working together, we completed 202 with 10 in progress, and 18 unfilled, which is a success.

Also, to the MLAs who have decided not to seek re-election, I'd like to thank you for your service to your constituents and the Northwest Northwest Territories. Our Premier hasn't announced yet, but whatever you decide, I will respect and honour.

Mr. Speaker, with our election this fall, I would like to wish all the candidates all the best on the campaign trail. I will be running myself, as I already announced. You just never know in elections. I always put my faith in the Lord. Whatever He decides, I will respect. I would just like to wish you all the best. It was an honour working with you all. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Michael Nadli Deh Cho

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] Today is good. It seems like a new day for us. [Translation ends] [Microphone turned off] to stand in this House many times on behalf of the people of the Deh Cho riding. This truly is a special place of united people for the good of the NWT.

Four years have quickly passed. I have to say a few words of gratitude to some people I am blessed to have in my life. I must say that I am blessed with my children and my grandson. Yes, winter is dawning. I am grateful and appreciative from the support of my relatives and extended families throughout Deh Cho and Denendeh.

Mr. Speaker, I represent the most beautiful riding of the Deh Cho. The people and communities of K'atlodeeche, Enterprise, Kakisa, and Fort Providence are one of a kind, the Dene, Metis, and Mola. Thank you for your engagement and talks. Whether we agreed or not or just chit chat, mahsi for those moments.

I would like to thank my friends and colleagues of this House. Mahsi. I would like to thank Premier McLeod for his leadership and the Cabinet and the Ministers and the departments and the staff that make the wheels go around.

Yes, last but not least, my constituency assistant, Trisha Landry, and her family and the rest of the staff who worked behind the scene. Thank you to yourself, Mr. Speaker. Mahsi.

Herbert Nakimayak Nunakput

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to just start off by looking back on the last four years. We have learned a lot. We have learned a lot as Regular MLAs working with Cabinet. It is not an us-versus-them system. It is consensus government.

Mr. Speaker, this past week, when we passed all of these bills, it showed how consensus government works. I am proud of that, actually. Coming from a small community, it really did voice my concerns from my region coming from the most expensive region in the territory, maybe in Canada, maybe in this world. When you think about it, the cost of living in the North is higher than anywhere else. For myself to be able to express the concerns, whether it is health, the cost of fuel.

Mr. Speaker, working with our Cabinet colleagues, I think the relationships that we have built during this time, these four years, is such a short time when you think about it. I am grateful for the conversations. I have learned a lot. I have learned tremendously from people like Mr. R.C. McLeod, sitting there in his office, whether it is having a conversation. We learn more when we talk about our family. It is a fact. We ground ourselves and remind ourselves that we are here to do a job. Representing our region is key in what we do.

Anyways, Mr. Speaker, getting down to it, I would like thank my constituents from Tuktoyaktuk, Ulukhaktok, Paulatuk, Sachs Harbour. In my constituency, I have four CAs. Maybe we need to focus on them and look in the next Assembly. Maybe we need an office in every region, in every community in this territory. We have GSO offices in most of the communities in the territory. Think about that. We can represent the government better. It is not always just about us. It is about the people that we work with.

Mr. Speaker, I would just like to close in saying thank you for being the amazing human being that you are yourself. To other MLAs on this side from Tu Nedhe Wiilideh and from the Deh Cho, for keeping the language strong and alive in this Assembly.

Mr. Speaker, I hope, looking forward, that we all can work together and whoever is here next can do a better job than we did because we can always do better. We did a lot during this Assembly. I would like to congratulate everybody here and the staff for being the people that they are to make the Northwest Territories as great as it is. It is an amazing place. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.