Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Hay River South, that Bill 61, Appropriation Act (Infrastructure Expenditures), 2020-2021, be read for the second time. Mr. Speaker, this bill authorizes the Government of the Northwest Territories to make appropriations for infrastructure expenditures for the 2020-2021 fiscal year. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

I will now call for the last time Committee of the Whole to order. "What is the wish of committee" is how I would usually begin, but today is the day for speeches. I will keep it brief, committee. No worries. This is the last time the 18 of us will sit together as Committee of the Whole, so I just want to say a few words.

Prior to becoming an elected Member of this House, I really had no political experience. I hadn't really attended any formal meetings, let alone chaired any. It was a little intimidating to come here and chair Committee of the Whole right off the bat, but I have to thank all of the Members of this House for making my job very easy, especially when you compare this Committee of the Whole to Committees of the Whole around the country. The level of civility displayed in this committee is far and above that, that we see in virtually all other legislatures, not just in Canada but around the world. It's really not even comparable.

There are disagreements, and while some Members can get close to the line, and I know some Members have gotten really good over the years at getting close to the line, the Members' ability to discuss and debate has never been hindered by that. I have been fortunate enough to go to the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Conferences, and I talk a lot with other deputy speakers and other presiding officers, and it amazes me, some of the things that go on in those legislatures. Members will stand up to speak and will be heckled so that they can't get their words out. I hear a lot of stuff like that, and it amazes me. It makes me grateful that I have been able to chair this committee.

I also want to thank the unsung heroes of the Committee of the Whole, those people who ensure that, as legislators, we can focus on the issues at hand and we don't have to worry about having the right papers on our desk, or anything else. First and foremost -- I won't say "foremost"; everyone is important. First, I'd like to thank the clerks who have been by my side in this sitting. We have Mr. Glen Rutland, Cynthia James, and with me right now, we have Mr. Michael Ball and Jennifer Franki-Smith. In the past, we've had Doug Schaurerte, Ms. Gail Bennett, Sarah Kay, and our law clerks, Sheila MacPherson and Alyssa Holland. Some of these clerks have had decades of experience, and some have had less than me up here on this desk. I've learned a lot from those with the experience, and those who I basically learned with. I want to thank them.

I also want to thank -- I was going to name everybody, but that's how you leave people out. I'm not going to name anyone other than the clerks at the table, but I want to thank the back office staff. They're the ones who prepare the motions, who prepare the scripts, who prepare the House documents. If you've seen the volume of bills and motions and reports that we've been dealing with, you know that that that's an amazing feat.

I want to thank the sound and broadcasting techs, the ones on staff and from Pito Productions who make sure that we can be seen and heard and that the people of the NWT can keep their eye on us. There have been a lot of advances in how we can be seen and heard over this Assembly. We're now broadcast over various forms of social media. The satellite and TV broadcast has gotten better, and so I want to thank them for all the work they've done.

I need to thank the Hansard staff, the ones here and the ones who work outside of here. Their jobs as keepers of the official record is vital to democracy, and I want to thank them for what they do.

The Sergeant-at-Arms. I want to thank the Sergeant-at-Arms' staff for helping me maintain order. Although I've never had to ask them to escort a Member out, I know they would, and I've confirmed that they would.

The security team. I want to thank the security team. When we're here late, they're here later. The same with the guys in the back office. The same with everyone else I'm talking about.

Finally, I want to thank the people over at Cliff's Café, who I think put in more hours than anyone else in this Assembly to make sure that we get breakfast in the morning, and, when we go late, we get fed at night.

Once again, thank you all to the Members, and thank you all to the staff who make this happen.

---Applause

What is the wish of community? Mr. Beaulieu.

Tom Beaulieu Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Committee wishes to thank you for your work, and the committee wishes that you rise and report progress. Thank you.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

Thank you. There is a motion to report progress. The motion is in order and non-debatable. Minister Moses.

Alfred Moses Inuvik Boot Lake

I want to reiterate, thank you. The Members' comments, you've done a tremendous job over the last four years in your role as chair, as well as the other deputy chairs. I just want to thank you for what you've done. Thank you.

The Chair R.J. Simpson

All those in favour? All those opposed?

---Carried

I will rise and report progress.

R.J. Simpson Hay River North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Your committee would like to report progress, and Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of the Committee of the Whole be concurred with.