Mrs. Groenewegen.
Territorial Leadership Committee on Nov. 20th, 1995
Transcript of meeting #1 for Territorial Leadership Committee in the 13th Assembly.
The winning word was chairman.
On the agenda
MLAs speaking
Ordinary Members' Involvement In Decision-Making Process
Nominations For Premier
Election Of Premier
Page 24
The Chair Samuel Gargan
Ordinary Members' Involvement In Decision-Making Process
Nominations For Premier
Election Of Premier
Page 24
Jane Groenewegen Hay River
Thank you for that question. As I had stated in my remarks, I am very supportive of the new committee system that has been proposed. I would suggest that the five ordinary MLAs who serve on those specific committees would meet regularly with the Ministers responsible for the portfolios that are included in the individual envelopes and that Ministers would take heed of what the ordinary Members have to offer in those areas. I think that that system is much more effective. I think it's better for the ordinary ML.As and it's also better for the Ministers. It will keep the lines of communication open.
I would also suggest that when the Cabinet portfolios are distributed, they be given out in such a way as not to have any one Minister assigned a portfolio that crosses over into a different envelope so that we don't, in fact, have the Minister of Health and Social Services also being the Minister o! Finance. That's a stretch but in a case where they would have to be in conflict to pursue the goals of their department, I just think it would be more orderly to try and keep the portfolios assigned in the same kind of groupings as they are in the envelope committee. Thank you.
Ordinary Members' Involvement In Decision-Making Process
Nominations For Premier
Election Of Premier
Page 24
The Chair Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Mr. Morin.
Ordinary Members' Involvement In Decision-Making Process
Nominations For Premier
Election Of Premier
Page 24
Don Morin Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I believe that through the new committee system, if we adopt it, it would be an excellent system in making consensus work. I've always believed that you have to bring ordinary Members into the decision-making. You have to work with them to make the proper decision so that they're carried out on behalf of the people of the Northwest Territories properly. Through that system of consultation with Members and making sure Members are actually involved in the decision-making, Members are then responsible for their decisions as well. It will make our whole system work a lot better. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Ordinary Members' Involvement In Decision-Making Process
Nominations For Premier
Election Of Premier
Page 25
The Chair Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Mrs. Thompson.
Departmental Plans For Division
Nominations For Premier
Election Of Premier
Page 25
Manitok Thompson Aivilik
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have questions for both candidates. I have three questions. Some departments have already begun preparing for Nunavut by identifying and transferring positions. What are you going to do to ensure that all departments begin making plans?
Departmental Plans For Division
Nominations For Premier
Election Of Premier
Page 25
The Chair Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Mr. Morin.
Departmental Plans For Division
Nominations For Premier
Election Of Premier
Page 25
Don Morin Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Consensus government does work. It can work a lot better as long as all 24 Members are willing to put in the time and effort and take the responsibility to make sure it works. That's the key. We have to take the responsibility as Members to work together as a team for the betterment of the people of the Northwest Territories. That's what we're here to do: to serve the people of the Northwest Territories. We can make it work. It's up to us. As far as the comments Mr. Irwin made, I believe that we have to educate him, bring him to the North and explain to him, making it very clear how our system works and the good things about our system.
Party politics is not the answer; not for me anyway. Party politics, as far as I'm concerned, doesn't really work the best for the people it's there to serve. If it did , then you wouldn't have gun legislation going through the House of Commons when the majority of Canadians don't support it. Thank you.
Departmental Plans For Division
Nominations For Premier
Election Of Premier
Page 25
Don Morin Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. One of the processes we will use in this Assembly is to set the direction for the next government. Hopefully we'll be meeting very soon, as 24 Members, to make the direction very clear that Nunavut will happen in 1999. I've been known in the past -- and as I will do in the future -- that once direction is set by Cabinet in this Legislative Assembly, the bureaucracy will carry out that direction. I'll make it very clear to the deputies and I'll work with the Ministers and the MLA's in this Assembly to follow through with that. Thank you.
Departmental Plans For Division
Nominations For Premier
Election Of Premier
Page 25
The Chair Samuel Gargan
Your third question, Mrs. Thompson.
Departmental Plans For Division
Nominations For Premier
Election Of Premier
Page 25
The Chair Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Mrs. Groenewegen.
Departmental Plans For Division
Nominations For Premier
Election Of Premier
Page 25
Jane Groenewegen Hay River
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Although this leadership committee today did not endorse the concept of a ninth position on Cabinet, I still think that it would be a good idea to set up a portfolio to deal with division for all departments. For that Minister who would receive that, as Mr. Morin said, a clear agenda should be set out for what we can start doing now. Anything that we can get done now, ahead of time, we're just that much further ahead when 1999 comes. I would suggest creating a portfolio to undertake identifying the needs and what can be done immediately and set short and long-range goals. Thank you.
Departmental Plans For Division
Nominations For Premier
Election Of Premier
Page 25
The Chair Samuel Gargan
Mrs. Thompson.
Success Of Consensus Style Of Government
Nominations For Premier
Election Of Premier
Page 25
Manitok Thompson Aivilik
My second question has to do with consensus style of government. In the recent News/North, Monday, November 13th, Ron Irwin says consensus style of our government doesn't work. Does it work?
Success Of Consensus Style Of Government
Nominations For Premier
Election Of Premier
Page 25
The Chair Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Mrs. Groenewegen.
Success Of Consensus Style Of Government
Nominations For Premier
Election Of Premier
Page 25
Jane Groenewegen Hay River
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. As I stated in my remarks, I do believe that consensus style of government can work. I challenge people who, like Mr. Irwin, say that it can't work. I think that it takes the will and the determination on the part of the players to make sure that it works. I watch southern jurisdictions with their party politics and it seems that it is the role of the opposition to oppose, whether they really oppose or not. It seems like a futile process and I'm very proud that our government is consensus and I'm committed to it. Thank you.
Success Of Consensus Style Of Government
Nominations For Premier
Election Of Premier
Page 25
The Chair Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Mr. Morin.
Cooperation Of Members In Preparing For Nunavut
Nominations For Premier
Election Of Premier
Page 25
Manitok Thompson Aivilik
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My third and last question is how are you going to ensure the western and eastern Ministers work cooperatively and as a team to prepare for division?
Cooperation Of Members In Preparing For Nunavut
Nominations For Premier
Election Of Premier
Page 25
The Chair Samuel Gargan
Mr. Morin.
Cooperation Of Members In Preparing For Nunavut
Nominations For Premier
Election Of Premier
Page 25
Don Morin Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I believe that, as a Premier, he has to make it very clear to his Cabinet that we are to work as a team. We aren't to work as lone rangers. We are here to work as a team. All eight of us have to work together. You have to set the ground rules the very first days and ensure that your Cabinet works together as a team. They have to talk, consult and work together with Members of the Assembly. It is very clear that as team leader, you have to set the rules. You have to work together on all issues. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Cooperation Of Members In Preparing For Nunavut
Nominations For Premier
Election Of Premier
Page 25
The Chair Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Mrs. Groenewegen.
Cooperation Of Members In Preparing For Nunavut
Nominations For Premier
Election Of Premier
Page 25
Jane Groenewegen Hay River
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I believe that the leadership, whether it is the Premier or the Cabinet Ministers, need to set an example and lead by example. They set the pace and I would like to see very hard standards of respect and cooperation for the Members upheld. When that is done, other people will fall in line. It is a situation where when things go off the rails, it is easy for other people to get caught up in it and start to behave in the same manner. I think we will really be relying on our leaders to set the example and I believe that everyone will live by those standards. Thank you.
Cooperation Of Members In Preparing For Nunavut
Nominations For Premier
Election Of Premier
Page 25
The Chair Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Again, I would like to remind the Members that when you ask the questions, please indicate whether or not you just want to ask one question or all four questions at once. Then I won't miss you. In other words, if you don't say that you want to ask two questions, I might go to the next Member. I would ask the Members' cooperation in indicating the number of questions you want to ask. Mr. Enuaraq.
Proper Use Of Financial Resources
Nominations For Premier
Election Of Premier
Page 26
Tommy Enuaraq Baffin Central
(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Chairman. have one question. I realize that either one of these two candidates will be elected and we have to support whoever gets elected. I have one question. We are in a financial restraint situation. I wonder what their thoughts are on properly using the resources we have left. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Proper Use Of Financial Resources
Nominations For Premier
Election Of Premier
Page 26
The Chair Samuel Gargan
Mrs. Groenewegen.