Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to deal with my motion on the appointments to the Management and Services Board today. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

WHEREAS it is required by Rule 85 that a Standing Committee on Infrastructure be appointed;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Thebacha, that the following Members be appointed to the Standing Committee on Infrastructure:

1. Levi Barnabas

2. Jane Groenewegen

3. Seamus Henry

4. Edward Picco

5. Vince Steen

AND FURTHER, that the following Members be named alternates to the Standing Committee on Infrastructure:

1. David Krutko

2. John Ningark

3. Jake Ootes

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to deal with my motion on the appointments to the Standing Committee on Infrastructure.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Monday, November 27, I will move the following motion: I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Baffin Central, that the following Members be appointed to the Management and Services Board of this Assembly:

1. Honourable Sam Gargan

2. Honourable Kelvin Ng

3. Kevin O'Brien

4. Floyd Roland

5. Vince Steen

And, Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time, I will be seeking unanimous consent to deal with my motion today.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I give notice that on Monday, November 27, 1995, I will move the following motion: I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Thebacha, that the following Members be appointed to the Standing Committee on Infrastructure:

1. Levi Barnabas

2. Jane Groenewegen

3. Seamus Henry

4. Edward Picco

5. Vince Steen

And further, that the following Members be named alternates to the Standing Committee on Infrastructure.

1. David Krutko

2. John Ningark

3. Jake Ootes

Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time, I will be seeking unanimous consent to deal with my motion today.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize my wife, Leonie, and my good friend, Peter Liske, who came back to town just in time to work on my campaign.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. First of all, I would like to congratulate you on your election as Speaker. I would also like to congratulate the new Premier, the Member for Tu Nedhe, Don Morin, and also the newly-elected Executive Council.

I would like to thank all the people in Yellowknife North who voted for me, and thank the campaign workers who worked on my campaign for doing a good job. I would also like to thank my wife and my family who have stood behind me during some tough times and who continue to stand behind me.

I would also like the gallery and the new government here to recognize Mike Ballantyne's work in the last 12 years in this Assembly.

---Applause

I would like to inform the people from Yellowknife North that this new government has committed to working in a spirit of cooperation and in working together. I would also like to inform them that I am a team player, and that I will be working hard on the committees that I am selected for. At the same time, I will be supporting the Executive Council. However, the Executive Council must be accountable, they must be open to constructive criticism and, indeed, to opposition at times if that opposition is warranted.

Federal government cutbacks and division are forcing us into a deficit in these coming years. I am committed to deficit reduction; however, the deficit reduction should not be on the backs of those who can least afford it. Social programs have to be available and protected for those people who need them. We also have to create new jobs. New jobs means supporting development, but that development must be orderly. That development must protect the environment and respect land claims and treaty entitlements. At the same time, we must also be committed to education and training. We need education and training to get people off social assistance. Those people can fill current jobs as people vacate them, and they can fill new jobs. That's one good way of getting away from the deficit: getting people who are currently on social assistance into jobs.

But we don't only need a healthy economy, we also need healthy people and healthy communities. So I am also committed to supporting initiatives like community wellness programs, family counselling, marriage counselling, alcohol and drug rehabilitation centres, and alcohol and drug programs.

We all know that division will occur. I'm committed to supporting the creation of Nunavut. I'm also committed to creating a new western constitution. That constitution should be based on mutual respect. It should include the inherent right to self-determination which gives communities and regions true authority, not delegated authority.

Aboriginal and treaty rights must be protected. At the same time, the rights and interests of the non-aboriginal people must be protected. I'm also committed to working closer with the communities, and committed to having more cooperation with the aboriginal governments. That's truly what consensus government is all about.

Our Cabinet Members have spoken about an open-door policy, and having lots of access and respecting everybody's views. While we saw lots of access during the last couple of days when they were campaigning for Cabinet positions, let's hope it continues. Thank you.

---Applause