Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I love open-ended questions; I can just answer them wherever I want. The reality is is that, Mr. Speaker, if I was to reflect back, there is -- advice to the next government would be always be flexible, always be open minded, truly hear what people are saying, not just what they speak but what they mean by that. Negotiations take decades is something I've realized. So, you know, I'd like to take credit for all the work. I'd like to be envious a little bit of the next government being able to sign some of these really early on. But the reality is is they take decades; there's three parties that have to come to agreements.

I think the biggest thing that I reflect on in this government's work, though, Mr. Speaker, is that we listened. When I first got elected as Premier and took on the file, I talked to the Indigenous governments. They said there was two things that were really -- and the MLAs -- that were really obstacles. One was the core principles and objectives. Many of the Indigenous governments had problems with that, standards that the GNWT in fairness couldn't even meet ourselves. After many discussions with our own departments, we took that off. And so that will forward negotiations.

And the biggest thing, Members at the beginning asked me what is the negotiating mandate not realizing that it's not one mandate just to get some settled, it's negotiating mandates. Every area has a mandate. So I think I was challenged, correct me if I'm wrong, but by Members in the House to publicize them. So, again, I took it to the department and asked them and reflected on it and after many, many discussions, we published them. And, you know what, Mr. Speaker, we never heard a lot of flack from the Indigenous governments. I think that by publishing the core mandates of the negotiating process and taking off standards that no one else could expect to meet will be -- serve us well going forward in all future land claim and self-government agreements. That's my reflection. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would say it's still on track. We had agreed on a draft agreement-in-principle in the fall of 2020. We thought it was going to go out to consultation. The Akaitcho has asked to hold off a while on that one. They want to do some internal review of that as well. So one step forward, one step backwards, that's the way of negotiations. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm glad the MLA's hopeful. I'm hopeful. We've got an extra month, but I'll see. If not in this government, early in the next government. We have a couple that are on the -- really close. One final self-government agreement is out for section 35 consultation, the Norman Wells agreement. Pending the outcome of that consultation, it could move to the ratification process. I'm hopeful that that'll be probably the soonest one. One reconciliation progress agreement is out for section 35 consultation, the K'atlodeeche First Nation. Pending the outcome of that consultation, it could move to the final agreement negotiation stage. And two final transboundary land and resource agreements are on the verge of starting the ratification processes - the Athabasca Denesuline and the Ghotelnene K'odtineh Dene. Pending the outcome of the ratification, these deals could be finalized. So we're hopeful, Mr. Speaker. But it's not really good to count on hope. If not by the end of this government, then my projection would be really early in the next government. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I'd also like to recognize grand chief Lafferty. Not only did he become grand chief but he right away took -- agreed to take on the chair for the Council of Leaders, which now is a different chair, but shows to his honour and his courage. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I rise pursuant to Rule 1.8(1) one of the rules of the Legislative Assembly to make a personal explanation. Yesterday, during Members' statements 599-19(2), the MLA for Kam Lake states as follows, as quoted in unedited Hansard: During the press conference, the Premier asked residents who could get an a commercial flight and leave town to do so, and they did. The press conference that the MLA is referring to was August 16th, 2023. I personally reviewed the video of this press conference and want to provide this House with the complete quote that I understand the MLA is referring to and context for it.

The quote is as follows: People that do not have enough money to leave town in their vehicles and need supports to get out of town, we're recommending that you actually meet at the multiplex, take a bus, or take a plane. We don't want to see you broke down on the highway. Although we will have supports, we want to make sure that everyone is safe. I made these remarks after the Minister for Municipal and Community Affairs had outlined in the same news conference the various methods for evacuation to residents, including that the GNWT would be offering free evacuation flights to residents beginning the next day, Thursday, August 17th.

Mr. Speaker, the full context of my remarks is important to understand that although the MLA implied this, I did not encourage residents to get on commercial flights. I was concerned that those who did not have enough money to travel on their own means know that the Government of the Northwest Territories evacuation flights would be available to them. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I have a Return to Oral Question asked by the Member for Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh, on May 31, 2023, regarding Federal Indian Day Schools.

Mr. Speaker, as I acknowledged yesterday in my Return to Written Question response on the issue that has been raised by the Member, the Government of the Northwest Territories will continue to engage with Indigenous governments and communities to learn more about how they choose to proceed with the investigation of this still upsetting chapter in their past and how they believe the Government of the Northwest Territories can assist them. We will work with the Government of Canada to determine how we can continue to advance housing and health initiatives along with a suite of other social programs to try to alleviate the intergenerational trauma these schools have inflicted. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, one fateful evening around eight years ago, my partner told me that I should run for MLA because he was tired of hearing me complain about how the government wasn't doing enough. At the time, I was the executive director for the Centre for Northern Families, and I knew systemic change was needed for our most vulnerable residents.
Soon after, a local campaign school aimed at encouraging women to consider politics and to teach them about how to run a campaign was advertised in Yellowknife. I decided there was no harm in seeing what it was all about, and it was in this campaign school that I realized there was space for me in politics.

It has been a privilege to work in this building over the last eight years, an honour that I do not take lightly. I want to thank all my colleagues for being steadfast through some of the most challenging days any of us will ever experience. We did not anticipate a global pandemic or the floods and fires we have experienced, but we experienced our strongest moments as an Assembly when we worked through these challenges together.

Thank you to my constituents for trusting me to serve you for the last eight years, and to my children Levi and Dylan for being two of my biggest supporters. The biggest thank you to my partner Rory for being the mosquito in my ear that annoyed me enough to run for MLA, and twice at that.

After much discussion and thought, I have decided to not run in this upcoming election. I don't know what I will do next, but my passion for public service continues.

Looking around the Chamber today, it's clear that great strides have been made towards improving representation since Minister Green and I were first elected eight years ago. I sincerely hope that this trend continues in the next Assembly, and I wish all candidates a positive campaign experience in October. Running for office is a demonstration of your passion for our great territory and it is an honourable pursuit no matter the outcome. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following five documents: Final Report of the Mandate of this Government of the Northwest Territories 2019-2023; Letter to Prime minister regarding MLA Concerns Respecting COSMOS 954
Effects on Health and Safety; Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 1321-19(2): Housing Crisis in the NWT;
Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 1464-19(2): Federal Day School; and, Follow-up Letter for Oral Question 1541-19(2): Government of the Northwest Territories Committed to United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Implementation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to defer that to the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. Thank you.