Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My second question for Mr. Antoine. Mr. Antoine, as leader how would you help keep relations between Nunavut and the western Arctic on an even keel as we move forward into 1999 and beyond with regard to the contracting backup of services and so on? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Territorial Leadership Committee on Dec. 10th, 1998
Transcript of meeting #3 for Territorial Leadership Committee in the 13th Assembly.
The winning word was chairman.
On the agenda
MLAs speaking
Item 3: Election Of Premier
Item 3: Election Of Premier
Page 5
The Chair Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Mr. Antoine.
Item 3: Election Of Premier
Item 3: Election Of Premier
Page 5
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, like I indicated in my statement, we have to really have a close
working relationship with the leadership in Nunavut and the MLAs here as well as the Office of the Interim Commissioner. I think it is very crucial that good lines of communication are in place, I think there is a process in place to deal with it. I think that could even be looked at closer. As a Minister, I am not really involved on a day to day basis on the Division Secretariat but once you get into Premiership, I think you have access to everything. I think that would be explained clearer to me and if I see that there is need for better communications and closer working relationships, then I would seek to give direction in that regard. Thank you.
Item 3: Election Of Premier
Item 3: Election Of Premier
Page 6
The Chair Samuel Gargan
Thank you. More questions, Mr. Picco.
Implementation of Recommendations of Review Panel
Item 3: Election Of Premier
Item 3: Election Of Premier
Page 6
Edward Picco Iqaluit
Thank you. My first question for Mr. Kakfwi. Mr. Kakfwi, how quick will you move to implement any or all recommendations that come out of the review panel struck last week in this House? Thank you.
Item 3: Election Of Premier
Item 3: Election Of Premier
Page 6
Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The work to implement whatever recommendations that come our of that committee or task force, whatever you want to call it, is going to be done with the Members of the Legislature. As I understand the intent of that motion, it is to make sure that Cabinet works in partnership with Members of the Legislature to look into the government and to find ways to improve government and improve accountability, and then in partnership decide what action needs to be taken and how quickly that should be done. I would be supportive of moving as quickly as possible to action those. Thank you.
Item 3: Election Of Premier
Item 3: Election Of Premier
Page 6
The Chair Samuel Gargan
Mr. Picco.
Restoring Confidence in Government
Item 3: Election Of Premier
Item 3: Election Of Premier
Page 6
Edward Picco Iqaluit
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman just a follow-up on that answer of Mr. Kakfwi. I wonder what will you do, Mr. Kakfwi, as leader to help restore confidence in government and elected officials? Thank you.
Item 3: Election Of Premier
Item 3: Election Of Premier
Page 6
Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the motion is intended to signal to the public, to Members of the Legislature, to the civil service and communities right across the north that we agree that our accountability, perhaps our conduct in the way we do business, could stand some improvement, some transparency. This is what the intent of that motion is to address it. I will say that beginning tomorrow morning I would like to begin discussions to look at ways to set it in place, to set up a process where all of us can feel comfortable that we are doing and carrying out the implementation of that motion in the spirit in which it was adopted and drafted.
Item 3: Election Of Premier
Item 3: Election Of Premier
Page 6
The Chair Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Mr. Miltenberger.
Role of Central Government
Item 3: Election Of Premier
Item 3: Election Of Premier
Page 6
Michael Miltenberger Thebacha
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My question is addressed to both Mr Antoine and Mr. Kakfwi. It is a two part question. So I will do it all at once. Do you see a role for a strong central public government in the Northwest Territories and what do you see that role being? Thank you.
Item 3: Election Of Premier
Item 3: Election Of Premier
Page 6
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, going through the process of the Constitutional Working Group and in discussions with the aboriginal governments, the position that we have taken here as a government is that there is a need for a strong central government. I put my support behind that position. I think that in looking at it in reality, even though there are a lot of aspirations out there through the whole process of aboriginal self-government, there is a definite need to have a central government in place, that is strong. The role would be to coordinate programs and services and to have standards that would be applicable to all the regions if we go that direction. I think that we have to work in real close cooperation with the aboriginal first nation because the political landscape here in the west is going to change in the next few years. We are in the process of negotiating self-government arrangements with most of the regions now. Others are ready and poised to start. There is a need to have a central government that would be there to deal with really crucial issues that are going to be rising. Thank you.
Item 3: Election Of Premier
Item 3: Election Of Premier
Page 6
The Chair Samuel Gargan
Thank you. In order to be fair to you, if there are questions directed to both candidates, I will rotate who goes first. Mr. Kakfwi.
Item 3: Election Of Premier
Item 3: Election Of Premier
Page 6
Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu
Thank you. Mr. Chairman, I have started out in the Dene Nation, as I say, in 1974 and we developed a Denendeh Proposal. Later, I revised the proposal that called for a central government to serve all Dene and later, all residents, within what we call the territory of Denendeh. It has been my position since that time that we should always support one government, one territory for all of our people at this time in our history. It is critical and essential to having a strong functioning central government within that system. I have always been a strong advocate of that. Thank you.
Item 3: Election Of Premier
Item 3: Election Of Premier
Page 6
The Chair Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Mr. O'Brien.
What Changes Would be Made to Cabinet If Elected
Item 3: Election Of Premier
Item 3: Election Of Premier
Page 6
Kevin O'Brien Kivallivik
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, my question is for Mr. Kakfwi, and it will be addressed to both candidates. The question is, if elected Premier, Mr. Kakfwi, what consideration would you give, if any, to making any changes to the existing Cabinet?
Item 3: Election Of Premier
Item 3: Election Of Premier
Page 6
The Chair Samuel Gargan
Thank you. Mr. Kakfwi.
Item 3: Election Of Premier
Item 3: Election Of Premier
Page 6
Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Cabinet that I am currently serving is well balanced and all of us in Cabinet are working very hard and effectively in our respective portfolios. Whatever changes we make in portfolio assignments will be done with other Members of Cabinet. It has been the practice and tradition of past Premiers, including Mr. Morin, to consult with his Ministers before making portfolio
assignments, and when making changes. It will be also my intent to consult with Members of the Legislature before making any changes. There will be no dramatic changes being made at this time.
We will be making them in any case, very early in the new year when we will be moving towards setting up a western Cabinet, electing two new Members, which will require changes because the Nunavut Members of Cabinet will no longer be with us and we will need to reassign portfolios at that time. I think the public would want us to maintain some continuity and stability with minimal changes as there is only a year to go at this time. There are going to be quite substantial changes, in any case, because of the termination of Ministers' service at the end of March. Thank you.
Item 3: Election Of Premier
Item 3: Election Of Premier
Page 7
Kevin O'Brien Kivallivik
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My question was directed to both candidates.
Item 3: Election Of Premier
Item 3: Election Of Premier
Page 7
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
Thank you. I do not see any major changes. There should be continuity and the work that existing Ministers are doing, I think they should be in those positions for the time being. We are going to be electing a new Member from among you from the west to fill in a position. This will be a factor. Another factor is whether Mr. Kakfwi or I get in. That will be a factor as well. There will definitely be some changes in that regard. Depending on what happens, there are going to be definitely some changes. The existing Ministers will hold onto their existing portfolios. I do not see any major changes up front.
We will probably have to have discussions on what we are going to have to do once the position of Premier is filled and that of the Cabinet Minister is filled. There is going to be some discussions on that. Later on as we get closer to division and as the Nunavut Members are into the election starting in January and until the end of March, we are a Legislative Assembly until the end of March together. This government will be the government of total Northwest Territories until the last days of March. Prior to that the west, we will have to do a selection process the end of March to identify two more individuals to make up Cabinet for the west. At that time and even prior to that, there is going to be discussion on how the portfolios will have to be lined up. Thank you.
Item 3: Election Of Premier
Item 3: Election Of Premier
Page 7
The Chair Samuel Gargan
Questions. Mr. O'Brien.
Views on Introduction of Party Politics In GNWT