Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to detail a small selection of the contributions to the public service made by someone who, until quite recently, was a Yellowknife South resident.
Mr. Steven Loutitt is a proud Metis originally from Fort Smith and who has been working for the public service, in some form or another, for over 37 years in various roles to support program delivery for people of the Northwest Territories.
Mr. Speaker, Mr. Loutitt loves session. He revels in the thrill and in the excitement it creates, and he had timed his retirement in a way to ensure he would support his team at infrastructure through session. Tomorrow is his official retirement. He is very sad that today is our last day.
Mr. Loutitt began his public service career with the city, then with Transport Canada, and then when the federal government devolved the airport responsibility to the GNWT, he became a GNWT public servant way back in 1995. He was a firefighter, ultimately fire chief, and if you have the opportunity I would highly recommend asking Mr. Loutitt what it was like to be the officer-in-charge when a missile fell off of a CF18 onto the Yellowknife golf course and also what it was like to be the officer-in-charge when there was an aborted landing two days later.
Fun fact, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Loutitt's father was presented with the Fire Services Exemplary Service Medal in June of 1988. Mr. Steven Loutitt was presented with the very same honour by the Governor General of Canada in February of 2009.
Mr. Loutitt eventually became the YZF airport manager, later the director of compliance and licensing, and before taking on the role of ADM for regional operations and eventually assuming his current position as the deputy minister of infrastructure in 2020.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Mr. Loutitt for his work that is not always publicly visible. It is the personal attention that he pays to his team. The size of the team for whom he was responsible has obviously grown significantly over the last 37 years of his career. But his care and his attention for every member has never wavered. I'd like to give a brief example, Mr. Speaker.
The Department of Infrastructure had lost a member of our team not long ago. It was a difficult loss for many. And very shortly after that, Mr. Loutitt and I were on duty travel to one of our regional communities. He asked if I would mind if he stepped away to spend time with some of the members of his team. He thought there were some who might have a particular connection to the event. These were not his direct reports, not even close. They were not staff that I believe he knew very well, but Mr. Loutitt had an instinct that they needed extra support. And he was right. Not only did he take time out of the day, he then arranged extra time and made additional effort to ensure supports were able over the coming days for this member of the team and for others. And it's come back to us, Mr. Speaker, that this was extremely meaningful for those involved.
It might seem like a small thing but, Mr. Speaker, I know you know the constant barrage of demands on a deputy minister on any given day can be immense. There are always ongoing expectations to keep large projects moving, find solutions, and endless series of crisis, and a few demands from Ministers. And, yet, Mr. Speaker, throughout my year in this role, never once has Mr. Loutitt lost sight of the fact that it is the people around him who should be receiving his unwavering attention. He always knows what's going on throughout the entire huge diverse Department of Infrastructure, but he has also shown me that sometimes the most confident thing that a leader can do is to empower his team to shine.
Mr. Speaker, I want to issue and give my thanks, my congratulations to Mr. Loutitt on the eve of his retirement, and on his resumption of full-time duties as a proud father to Drew, Ellie, and Emmy. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Well done, Member from Yellowknife South. Members' statements. Member from Frame Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to request unanimous consent that we move item number 6, recognition of visitors in the gallery, up to item number 4, please. Thank you.
