Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have now entered the third year of the 19th Assembly, signifying the halfway point of our mandate. As we begin this winter session, I'd like to welcome our colleagues back from the six-month-long break since our last session.

Mr. Speaker, I first want to take a moment to acknowledge all the staff of the Legislative Assembly. Our staff are important to our work as legislators here in this Assembly, and I want to thank them for their service.

In addition I would like to thank, as always, the amazing constituents of Fort Smith for their continued support of their MLA for Thebacha. It is an honour to serve and represent my community in this Chamber.

Mr. Speaker, I want my constituents to know that everything I do here at the Legislative Assembly is to serve the people of the NWT, along with the interests of Fort Smith and the broader South Slave region. I take my job seriously, and I'm very mindful with what I say and how I conduct myself because I always want to be respectful of the office that I hold.

Mr. Speaker, I'm someone who speaks my mind and who stands up for what's right. I am true to my convictions. I'm not afraid to stand alone if I know in my heart it is the right thing to do. Leadership requires strength, heart, trust, and willpower to get things done. And those are the qualities which I strive to accomplish every day in my elected leadership.

Mr. Speaker, I want the people of the NWT to succeed and to have good representation in the Legislative Assembly. For these reasons, I will do whatever I can within my position to ensure that good governance is always done in the name of the people of the NWT. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.