Masi. The Honourable Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I can certainly go back and read the whole section back to the Member, but he's already done that. We are committed to working very hard to try to achieve settlement of all land claims in the 18th Legislative Assembly. We have to recognize there are three unique parties to the negotiations: the federal government, the Government of the Northwest Territories, and the appropriate Aboriginal government. We recognize that there are significant issues and challenges that have led to most of these agreements being under negotiation for over 20 years, 25 years, and it was felt that just making an offer within 45 days would be an empty gesture.

We're working with the Government of Canada. We hired ministerial special representatives to look at the processes, and they came back and made recommendations as to how we could have a way forward. Our negotiators have made offers to the NWT Metis Nation and to the Akaitcho governments, and I think they were well-received. Recently we received a response from the Dehcho. We've met with the federal government, and with clarifications, we're expecting to issue a similar offer. We're also working with the joint Cabinet committee as per the terms of reference, and we will continue to do so. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Masi. Questions to the Premier. I have next on my list, Member Blake.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, there are 27 small communities in the Northwest Territories, including all the communities that I represent. People in these communities face different challenges than people living in regional centres or Yellowknife. Food and power costs more than it does in larger communities, and they don't get the same kind of programs and services that are available in the bigger communities. In my communities, people have to deal with frequent ferry disruption, face significant housing challenges, and an ongoing lack of jobs. I know the Premier comes from a small community himself. I'd like to know what his vision is for making sure that the people who live in my communities, and other small communities in the territory, have access to the same kind of opportunities and benefits that other people in the Northwest Territories do. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Masi. The Honourable Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I know I've made the statement many times, especially to the federal government, that one shouldn't be penalized for where they live. I certainly had great empathy this summer when I was up in the Beaufort, and I saw the clouds of dust on the Dempster. It reminded me of the old days on the Mackenzie Highway.

We see providing services to small communities as a priority. We want the communities to be healthy communities, sustainable communities, and that was part of the rationale for re-establishing the joint Cabinet and standing committee on small communities, where we have six MLAs and three Cabinet Ministers who all work together to improve in those areas. I remember the days going up to Fort Providence where the ferry would be out twice a year for substantial amounts of time. I know it was a difficult period with the increased costs, and I think that's an area that we need to look at, because it affects a whole region.

We talked to the federal government about the fact that we need more investment in the region. If you're going to take away trillions of dollars of oil and gas and leave it in the ground, we need an economic strategy to replace that, and we are working with them on an Arctic framework development policy which will allow us to work together in those small communities in our territory. This is an important area for us, and we're going to continue to work very hard to improve the delivery of programs and services. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Masi. Questions to the Premier. Member Beaulieu.

Marsi cho, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I'm following up on my last question and answer to the Premier. I have a question for the Premier. If a Minister loses the confidence of the house with a secret ballot non-confidence vote, would the Premier direct Cabinet to vote non-confidence and honour the results of the Mid-term Review? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Masi. The Honourable Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. It is a secret ballot, but we operate under the tenets of consensus government, and the pillar of consensus government is Cabinet solidarity. If we lose that, then there will be anarchy. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Masi. Questions to the Premier. I have next on my list, Member Simpson.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. This is the Premier's second term. It's not an easy position being the Premier. You travel all the time. You work extensive hours. To run for Premier twice, Premier McLeod must have a vision for the territory. I'd like to know: what will be the Premier's legacy when we look back in 20 years? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Masi. The Honourable Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I thank the Member for the question, and I've been very clear since day one. The reason I got into politics was because of my family. I have a son and two grandchildren. I grew up here. I want this to be a good place for them to grow up in, to live here, and to work here. That's the very simple answer, Mr. Chair. Thank you.

---Applause

Masi. Questions to the Premier. I have next on my list, Member McNeely.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I commend the Premier on that recent response. The lack of infrastructure is one of our biggest challenges facing the NWT and, more importantly, the communities of Sahtu. For more than 40 years, people in my region have looked forward to the day when they can be connected to the Mackenzie Valley Highway. With isolation, Mr. Chair, comes limited opportunity, dependence and physical burden to the government programs, and elements of depression.

We are tired of waiting. We are tired of paying high prices. We are tired of the effect the lack of infrastructure is having on resource development. The people in my region want the same privileges as the residents of Yellowknife, being able to drive in and out, or the other regions. People want to see the region open for exploration and development and, more importantly, as well, the jobs created to bring home family income. Mr. Chair, I ask the Premier to explain to my residents what his government is doing to help advance the Mackenzie Valley Highway extension to the Sahtu region. Mahsi.

Masi. The Honourable Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. This has been a priority of the government for some time. We've done a lot of work on the technical aspects of it. We've also done a lot of work on developing a business case for the highway. We recognize the important role it would play, and we've been working very closely with the Government of Canada. We make very regular crusades to Ottawa to plead our case.

Ever since the system of winter roads has been in place, we've continued to invest in the Mackenzie Valley Highway. I think they've put in a significant amount of bridges. I think I've lost count; there have been about over 37 bridges put in. We continue to advance wherever we can in that area. We had put in a submission to the Government of Canada. They've come back. They have said they put it on pause now. They've indicated that we can apply in other infrastructure funds. We have put in expressions of interest for funding for not only the Mackenzie Valley Highway. We will advance as much as we can and if we have to, it’s not our preference, but our preference would be to see the whole section built from Wrigley to Norman Wells, but if we can get portions of the funding if that’s available, then we would seriously look at it. We’re very pleased to see the group committee from the Sahtu also helping us work on this important project. I think, together, we can make some important advances. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Questions to the Premier. I have next on my list, Member Thompson.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I’d like to thank the Premier for his previous answer to that or the way there. Today, we had the opportunity to meet with the standing committee of finance, the federal parties, and it was great meeting. I found it very interactive. However, you know, presently, the Cabinet goes down to Ottawa and tries to lobby those people down there. In previous governments, they had GNWT days. All caucus went down there to lobby the federal government to let them understand our concerns and our needs.

In talking with the honourable Members who are part of that finance committee, that’s what they are encouraging. They said, you know, it’s great that Cabinet comes and they’re hearing the message but they need more people to hear it. I’m not looking for more trips. I’m not trying to put more costs on to the government, but we need to get our message to the people of Canada, the politicians down there. Will the Premier look at working with ordinary MLAs so the next time they go down, a number of us go down there with you guys to give our message to work with them as a team so we can make this place, which my children grow up in and my grandchildren grow up in, a better place for the future. I want to grow up old here, so I’m hoping that the Premier will be able to help us on that. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Masi. The Honourable Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I appreciate the comments from the Member and that we’ve learned and recognized over the past that where you’re very focused with some very specific objectives, you can be very effective and I think we need to agree on the most important thing that we need to focus on and certainly, I think we can look into doing it.

In the past, it’s cost some money and the Minister of Finance has indicated that he would be prepared to help us in that regard. I think that this is a very important time, especially with the fragile state of our economy. I think it’d be a good time to go to Ottawa and make our case. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Masi. Questions to the Premier. Next on my list, I have Member Green.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, the City of Yellowknife is the second largest government in the Northwest Territories. It provides services to the largest Aboriginal community in the Northwest Territories to a population that comes from every community. Many of the issues that exist in Yellowknife are territorial issues. They are not City of Yellowknife issues. To that end, I’m wondering what the Premier has done to develop a government-to-government relationship with the City of Yellowknife to address territorial issues. Thank you.