I would like to express to the Legislative Assembly my gratitude for the honour which you have afforded me by choosing me as your Speaker. It is with great pride, honour and humility that I graciously accept your trust to be your Speaker for the 12th Legislative Assembly of this wonderful Northwest Territories.
My first obligation to you is the traditional requirement that the Speaker ensures that the rights and privileges of all Members are upheld and to ensure you are each able to discharge your duties. The most important and fundamental right is freedom of speech in your debates and freedom from interference in carrying out your duties. I can assure you that I will do my best to ensure that these fundamental rights are upheld, as are all other rules and procedures that this House has adopted.
You are all aware that as Speaker this may be my last chance to make a speech -- some of you are probably grateful for that -- so I would be grateful if you would permit me a few brief remarks.
I would like to acknowledge at this time my predecessor, Mr. Richard Nerysoo, who has set a high standard for me to follow. I am sure each of you will join me in extending thanks to the Member for Mackenzie Delta for his dedicated service as Speaker.
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I will be calling on Mr. Nerysoo's experience and wisdom to assist me as I learn my new role.
I would like also to acknowledge the service of all Members to this House, but in particular to the Member for High Arctic, Mr. Ludy Pudluk. Mr. Pudluk is now the Dean of the Assembly and has served his constituents for 16 years in this chamber.
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I would also like to thank all Members of this House for their vote of trust and confidence. I say this because without the support of all honourable Members, in good times and bad, the Speaker cannot adequately and properly serve the Members who elected him or her.
The history of the speakership goes back many centuries. Most of you are aware that in those distant days the Speaker was chosen by the House of Commons in London to take messages to the King. Sometimes the King did not like the messages the Speaker brought. Undoubtedly the expression, "Don't shoot the messenger" stems from those days. I might add that sometimes Speakers did not return and, in fact, at least nine Speakers are known to have died a violent death. I am sure that this will not happen if I take a message from this House to the Commissioner.
Today I would suggest the great test is not when the Speaker goes to see the Commissioner but when the Speaker comes to see you in this House. It is for these reasons that the Speaker used to be dragged to the chair because he was never sure of the fate that awaited him. I can assure you though, that I did not have to be dragged to the chair of this House for fear of my life. But I do respect the responsibilities you have given me. I will be pleased to convey your decisions to whomever you so instruct me to do so.
In the 19th century an unofficial adjournment of the House was instituted called, "The Speaker's Chop", to enable the Speaker to have his dinner. Now adays a Speaker can be relieved by a deputy. According to legend, Sir Henry Lacy, a Member of the House of Commons in London, was so driven by hunger to madness, that he went to hide behind the Speaker's chair and "attempted to eat the Speaker's chop." I can assure you I do not want to see any Member of this House driven to such extremes by lack of food, so I will ensure adequate adjournments.
I know you would want me to also take a moment to express our appreciation to the Clerk, Clerk Assistant and clerk of committees and all the Clerk's staff who, under great pressure and time constraints, have ensured that this sitting and election process yesterday and today were conducted with sophistication and professionalism.
I am particularly proud of our Assembly and how it works. I am sure that all Members have noted that we are now interpreting in all but one of our nine official languages. We have added Chipewyan and Gwich'in. I would like to acknowledge the work of all the interpreters and translators and there is no one in Canada, probably in the world, who comes close to us when it come to language.
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On a personal note I would like to say a few words of thanks to the many capable officials who, over the past four years, have helped me so much. My executive assistant, John Stephenson; Tanis Stirling and Sharon Morrow, who were my secretaries; Geoff Bickert, deputy minister of Justice, who has been a tremendous asset to this government; Eric Nielsen, deputy minister of Finance; Jim Nelson, comptroller general; Lew Voytilla, the secretary to the Financial Management Board; Kevin O'Keefe, with the legislative and house planning committee; and all the staff in Justice, Finance and the cabinet who worked for me and with me during my time in cabinet. I would also like to thank my former cabinet colleagues and the former Government Leader for the support and the friendship that they afforded me.
I would like, before closing, to mention the most important people to all of us. These are our wives, our husbands and our families, and personally my wife Penny, my daughters, Alexandra and Erin, and my son Nicholas. Without them I could not have continued in my political career. To them, from the deepest part of my heart and my being, I say thank you very, very much. You have been wonderful and you continue to be wonderful for me.
As a Legislature we are facing many decisions in the days and years ahead. Like all decisions made in this House, getting to those decisions sometimes leads us into adversarial situations. However, this is the place for these great decisions, and it is the place where history is made every day.
In conclusion, my ability to preside over this House ultimately rests in your hands, and I will do my best, inspired by the trust and confidence that you have placed in me today. Thank you very much.
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Mr. Clerk, would you ascertain if His Honour, the Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, is prepared to address the Legislature?