Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize an ex-resident of Hay River, and a friend of mine, Pat Thomas.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to bring the conversation back into the sports arena for a minute, on the topic of the Arctic Winter Games. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all of the athletes from Hay River who have been successful in obtaining a spot on Team NWT for the Arctic Winter Games.

I would also like to thank all of the coaches from Hay River who have put in a lot of time with the athletes to get the teams ready. And I would like to thank all of the volunteers who have participated in organizing the regional and territorial trials, which enabled us to have the best of our athletes represent us at the Arctic Winter Games.

I would like to commend the staff at Sport North. Having been involved in the Arctic Winter Games for a number of years as a coach and participant, I have worked closely with the staff at Sport North. They perform all of the organizing for the sports. This year, they seem to have done an exceptional job. I do not know if it is because of the split with Nunavut that they have fewer athletes, but they are doing a wonderful job. I have enjoyed working with them this year.

I feel privileged to have the opportunity to participate in the Arctic Winter Games again this year. I am going to be coaching the Hay River Junior Girls Curling Team. I am privileged to have that opportunity. I would like to issue a challenge to Members on both sides of the House; it is incumbent upon us to have good representation at the Arctic Winter Games. We sit in the House and talk about how good this is for our kids and how important it is to have them involved in the games. I think it is also important for us to be very visible to our athletes at the games, to show we support them and encourage their participation in the sport. Thank you, very much, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Keeping in mind the time factor and the majority of events unfolding here today, I will keep my comments short.

I would like to begin by congratulating you, Mr. Speaker, on your election to Speaker. I am sure you will do a wonderful job. I would also like to congratulate the Member for Sahtu, the Honourable Stephen Kakfwi, on his election as Premier. I would also like to congratulate the other Members who were elected to Cabinet, especially my colleague the Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen, on her election to Cabinet.

I represent the riding of Hay River North, which is a very diverse riding. It has four very different and distinct areas. I feel I have a very strong mandate to represent this riding, which is a riding that is very politically minded, as was very evident with a 91 percent turnout at the polls on election day.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank all of the people of Hay River North who voted for me on December 6th. The trust, confidence and support they have afforded me will not soon be forgotten. I would especially like to thank Mr. Harvey Smith, my campaign manager, Mr. Andrew Taylor, my official agent, and all my workers for the hard work they have done in my campaign.

To my family, my wonderful wife Davida, my son D'arcy, my daughters, Michelle, Monique and Katrina, without whose love, encouragement and support I would not be here today. Especially my daughter, Monique, who worked tirelessly throughout my entire campaign. At the same time, she provided the family support to look after my two wonderful grandsons, Logan and Cordell.

Thank you to all of the people from Hay River in the gallery for coming out today to witness the events unfolding.

I would like to thank Mr. David Hamilton and all the staff at the Legislative Assembly for the help they have provided to me and the other new Members.

Mr. Speaker, in closing I would like to say how delighted and privileged I am to join the team that forms this new government, the first government of the new millennium, the government of this, the 14th Legislative Assembly. Thank you.

-- Applause