Thank you, Mr. Chairman, colleagues, fellow northerners. First of all, I wanted to indicate that I had a hard time deciding if I was going to run. Like our Premier-elect, it was very difficult to concentrate on my own career when we are still dealing with the Conflict of Interest Commissioner's Report and for that reason I did not have an opportunity to speak to all of the Members and I apologize to those whom I missed; however, of course, I would still like your support.
Mr. Chairman, when I was first elected I did not put my name forward for a Cabinet position. I had spoken to former MLAs and Cabinet Ministers and they had advised me that it would be best to wait until I had some experience under my belt. Upon reflection, I believe that it was the right thing to do. I have now been an MLA for three years. I have served on the Social Programs Committee, which I believe has about 65 percent of the GNWT budget. I also chaired the Government Operations Committee. I believe that I am now ready to run for a ministerial position.
Mr. Chairman, like others who spoke earlier today, I have also worked with the chiefs and aboriginal organizations. I represent Detah and N'dilo, small communities. That has prepared me in many ways for thinking about and caring for the smaller communities.
One of my main goals when I came here and which I still have is for us to have less dependency on Ottawa. First of all, politically there is absolutely no reason why we should have to go to Ottawa, for instance, if we want to change our constitution. Yet that is what we have to do. In this last little while we have seen how that can hold us back. In the area of devolution we failed with the Northern Accord and with the BHP situation we are now hearing that over 25 years they will generate $14 billion worth of revenue and half of that will be profits. The federal government will get over $4 billion in royalties and taxes while the GNWT will get $17 million annually. That has to change.
In other areas, of course, as I was saying the diamonds, we also have oil and gas development, other mining, trapping, fishing. The fishing industry on the Great Slave Lake has almost expired. The only reason that it exists is because we subsidize it. We have the best fish in the world, the best in land fish. That has to change. The NWT Development Corporation, we have to make sure that stays in there so we can continue to put small business into the communities. We also have to continue finding other sources of funds for investments for small business like the Aurora Fund that came through the Government Operations Committee.
In the area of Education, Culture and Employment we need to ensure that all students who qualify and want to attend post-secondary institutions are able to do so. We need to ensure that there is more training to take advantage of our natural resources, the jobs in those areas. We also need to raise the education levels of people in the smaller communities. We know that their education levels are atrocious, grade nine and under. We need more adult upgrading. We also need to lower the student/teacher ratio. We have seen that in Canada-wide testing our students are always the lowest. We need to find a way to put more money into education. In the area of Health and Social Services we need to put a recruitment and retention plan into effect. This should help the smaller communities. Even though that is not enough.
Mr. Chairman, last year when I had the flu I complained because it took me four days to get in to see a doctor. In the smaller communities most of them do not even have a doctor. Those types of things have to be looked at.
Our jails are overcrowded. We are expecting the communities to come up with community justice committees and to work on their own community justice issues, but there is no legal training. We need trained courtworkers, JPs, our own northern lawyers and finally our own judges.
In the area of housing, people need housing, Mr. Chairman. If you are not rested you will not go to school or, if you do go to school, you cannot concentrate and you fall asleep. People without a place to sleep, it is very difficult for them to find a job, even if there are jobs out there.
Finally, Mr. Chairman, every day, every week we are hearing about the youth. Our youth are getting into trouble at home, school and with the law. They have nothing to do. They are committing suicide. They are landing in jails. We have to find something, somehow, to help our youth.
Mr. Chairman, in conclusion, when I arrived here I knew I had a good education, that I was a hard worker and a fair person. Now, with the added experience of three years working on two major committees with my initial qualities, I believe that I am ready to handle ministerial duties. I would appreciate your support. Mahsi.
--Applause