Our Heavenly Father, we do thank you for this day. We thank you for each and every Member that has come to this table. We pray that you would give us wisdom and guidance. As we choose our leaders today, we pray that you would inspire us to work on behalf of all our people. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.

Mr. Chair, I wish to nominate Tony Whitford, the Member for Kam Lake, for the position of Speaker.

Yes, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Chair, I wish to nominate David Krutko, the Member for Mackenzie Delta, for the position of Speaker.

I accept.

Thank you very much for placing your trust in me. I was just instructed by Mr. Hamilton that I am not allowed to use my little whistle to bring you to order. I would like to call this meeting back to order.

Prior to proceeding to the next agenda item, I would like to express my appreciation to all the Members for electing me to

be your Speaker-designate of this Assembly and I will say more on this Wednesday when the House is officially open.

The next item on our agenda is item 6, the confirmation of the process for the election of Premier. At this point in time I would like to open the floor to discussion on the selection of the Premier. The Chair recognizes the Member for Thebacha, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I MOVE that the Territorial Leadership Committee agree that the Premier will be chosen by a vote of all Members in a secret ballot election in this committee.

Thank you. We have a motion on the floor. Is there any discussion on the motion? No discussion on the motion? Question has been called. All those in favour, please raise your hand. Thank you. Down. All those opposed, please raise your hand.

The motion is carried unanimously. Item 7. The Chair recognizes the Member for Nunakput.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I MOVE that the Territorial Leadership Committee agree that the Cabinet will be composed of six Members, in addition to the Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Steen. We have a motion on the floor. Is there any discussion on the motion? No discussion. Question has been called. All those in favour, please raise your hand. Thank you. Down. All those opposed? The motion is carried unanimously.

Item 7b, selection of Ministers. Is there any discussion on item 7b? The Chair recognizes the Member for Mackenzie Delta.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I MOVE that the Territorial Leadership Committee agrees that the selection for Members of Cabinet will be a vote of all Members in a secret ballot election in this Committee.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The motion is in order. We have a motion on the floor. Any discussion on the motion? The Chair recognizes the Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I will be supporting this motion today. I think we have had lengthy discussion in Caucus on various options and proposals that we might look at on how the Premier would select his own Cabinet. I think there was almost unanimous agreement that we should go with the status quo at this time. I respect that.

Several Members took me aside and mentioned they would like to have time to take this to their constituencies and discuss this before agreeing to anything of this sort. There was agreement that this proposal might have some merit, and hopefully we will get a chance to look at this and many other things in the months to come. I respect the wishes of all the Members that we maintain our current format. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. The Chair now recognizes the Member for Great Slave, Mr. Braden.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am also pleased to speak in favour of this motion, although I would like to make some remarks in relation to an issue that both Mr. Bell and myself raised in our campaigns.

This issue was the subject of some attention during the course of the campaign and the days leading up to our business here this morning, Mr. Chair. The commitment that we all have is to seek ways to improve government, to evolve our young democracy, and to build on the strengths of our consensus system. The process we had been exploring was to transfer the authority to choose the Cabinet from the Assembly as a whole to the Premier. The value and the merit of that idea, from my perspective, Mr. Chair, was to create a better, more cohesive relationship between the Premier and the Cabinet.

I would reflect on Mr. Bell's comments that, while the discussions we had were very constructive and vigorous, it related more to a process than to the issue itself.

The requirement that many Members had in order to consider this idea more fully was to take it back to their constituencies, and to hopefully look at this and other ideas in the future that will help us create a better government and ensure evolution in the way we deliver our service.

Therefore, Mr. Chair, I am pleased to speak in favour of this motion. I would like to thank my colleagues for giving this idea due consideration and for their openness in considering this and other ideas in the future. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. To the motion. The Chair recognizes the Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, Mr. Floyd Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. As well, I am in favour of the motion. There has been much discussion regarding this amongst the Members, and within our communities.

We are always changing in our system of government. This shows how new people to the Legislative Assembly is a positive way to bring forth change to evolve into a more representative government.

There has been concern shared by the public about accountability and transparency in our government. We will continue to work in a way that will try and bring that transparency, so the public will retain their confidence in this forum.

As we heard earlier from both speakers, this is an area to look at. I agree we need to have some form of change to make this system more representative and accountable to the public at large. I think there is an opportunity here to work together to make a difference for the people.

I respect the forum we have here, with people bringing new ideas to the table. I must say for the two gentlemen here to come forward and present this has taken a lot of strength, considering they are approaching this as new Members. Thank you for bringing this forward and creating the debate. Hopefully, we can continue to work together as we are here today. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. There is a motion on the floor. To the motion. Question has been called. All those in favour, please signify by raising your hands. All those opposed? The motion is carried.

Item 7c, regional representation. The Chair recognizes the Member for Thebacha, Mr. Michael Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I MOVE that the Territorial Leadership Committee agree that the six Cabinet Members will be chosen on a regional basis with two Members from the northern electoral districts, two Members from the Yellowknife electoral districts, and two Members from the southern electoral districts.

AND FURTHER, that the northern region include the electoral districts of Inuvik Boot Lakes, Inuvik Twin Lakes, Mackenzie Delta, North Slave, Nunakput, and Sahtu;

AND FURTHERMORE, that the Yellowknife region include the electoral districts of Frame Lake, Great Slave, Kam Lake, Range Lake, Weledeh, Yellowknife Centre and Yellowknife South;

AND FURTHERMORE, that the southern region include the electoral districts of Deh Cho, Hay River North, Hay River South, Nahendeh, Thebacha and Tu Nedhe.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. We have a motion on the floor. Any discussion on the motion? Question has been called. All those in favour of the motion, please signify by raising your hands. All those opposed? The motion is carried.

Item 8, the election of the Premier.

Are there any nominations for the Premier's position? The Chair recognizes the Member for Nunakput, Mr. Steen.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, I nominate the Member for Sahtu, Mr. Stephen Kakfwi for the position of Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Steen. Mr. Kakfwi, do you accept the nomination?

Yes, I accept the nomination. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi. Are there any further nominations for the position of Premier? The Chair recognizes the Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Nitah.

Thank you, Mr. Nitah. Does the Member for Inuvik Boot Lake accept the nomination?

Yes, I do.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Are there any further nominations for the position of Premier? There are no further nominations. I declare that nominations are closed.

The nominees are Mr. Kakfwi and Mr. Roland.

Each candidate is permitted to make a twenty-minute speech. The candidates will present in alphabetical order so I call upon Mr. Kakfwi for his presentation.

Thank you, Mr. Chair and congratulations. Good morning to my colleagues and people of the public who are attending in the gallery. I would like to take a minute to thank my constituents in the Sahtu, the women and the children who are up here in the North, the teachers who are on strike, the elders, the youth and the children who all have a stake in the decisions we are going to make today and tomorrow and for the duration of our term.

I want you to know that I am grateful for the privilege of serving the people of the North again, as I have for 12 years. I am grateful for the support from the Sahtu, support from my family, my wife and children.

I visited a friend of mine in the hospital last week. He has cancer. He is under a lot of pressure to decide what to do. He put this all in perspective. No matter what happens today and tomorrow, I have my health, my family, and the achievements I have been able to accomplish today. I have all of that, and that makes me grateful.

This is the third time that I have put my name forward to be Premier. Of course it is difficult to do again. No one likes to lose. It is difficult on family and friends. It is a painful experience. So why do I do it again? I think I am compelled because of the support that many of you have given me. It gives me the courage to not be afraid. Winston Churchill once said; “You can never win if you become too afraid to lose”.

I think it is important. As politicians we are going to face difficult decisions like this in the future. What do we do if we are afraid of criticism? If we are afraid of what people will say when we make difficult choices. I want you to know that I believe in myself. I believe my convictions and principles will serve you well. It is a sincere offer to serve again. I do it with my heart and with my convictions. As someone said, I still have fire in my belly. After all these years, I am not tired. I am not burnt out.

I see an exciting opportunity to lead the North into the new millennium. New and better relationships, and a new, stronger Cabinet; an Assembly in which all of us will treat each other with respect, set some targets and work together to achieve them. That is what I see. The commitment to serve aboriginal people has been my life story since I was 23 years old. I am 49 this year. There is nothing else that I choose to do. This is my life commitment.

I want to thank you for your support. I want to thank you for the words of encouragement that you have given me. When I was 12 years old, I started a life away from home for six years. In many ways I came from a very traumatic, broken life. When I went away to Brandon College, I met a man named Father Pochat. That man was my father figure for six years. I was afraid to go there because of the experience I had in Grollier Hall. He taught me that I should never be afraid. Fear should not prevent me from trying to do things.

I mention him because he was in the hospital earlier this week. I was concerned about him and I thought about the contribution he made to my life. Also, I want to acknowledge Alexie Arrowmaker, a very distinguished Dene elder. He is known from one end of the valley to the other. I want to thank him for simply mentioning me by name at the signing of the agreement-in-principle in Rae. This man is very difficult to get acknowledgement from. In all the years that I have served, I think he has acknowledged me twice. I want to thank him and I want him to know that I noticed it.

I want to talk to the youth. In Deline I heard a young woman rise in frustration, fear and anger to say, "If self-government is not going to keep my family at home, if it is not going to get my people to stop drinking, if self-government is not going to help give me a stable home and if it is not going to do anything about alcoholism and drug abuse and violence, then why do I want self-government?” There is anger out there. They want to know, what is this government going to do for us? Where is this better life? Who is going to work on it? And why is it that they have to choose between this government and aboriginal governments?

I know the women, the children and the youth are the most vulnerable; they need a commitment from us to do something for them. I want to do that. What is my message today? It is that all my life, all I ever wanted was a better life for myself, for my family, my relatives, for the Dene, and it grew to the Metis, to the Inuvialuit and all northern people. That is my commitment. By being in this government, serving as your Premier, I will set some measurable and achievable targets to make life better for all of us: for all women, for our families, for our youth, for our elders, for our children, for our teachers, for those people that work for us. That is how I want to do it. That is what I want to do.

There is a new beginning. Some of us have been elected for the first time; some of us have been re-elected. People should have confidence that we are going to do something, that we will achieve something. I would like to suggest that I have the confidence, the experience, the conviction and the strength to deliver that with you to the people of the North.

We have two women elected to this Legislature. I know Jane Groenewegen from Hay River is prepared to serve as a Member of Cabinet. Capable, strong, determined, principled people like Jane must be given an opportunity to serve. I point her out because she more than anybody has put so much on the line in order to serve people and the public in the last term.

I want all of you to know specifically that this individual has my full support and endorsement. These are the kinds of people I want to see on Cabinet: strong people, people that do not owe anybody anything out there. People that are not going to be patronizing friends, people who are going to work for the interests of everyone. We will be committed to being accountable, and to being strong members of a team. This is what we need. We need to work together so that every community in the valley and region can be assured that we will try to get something for them.

We are not going to come here to just meet and talk. Give us some targets, give us some objectives and we will work to achieve them.

A teachers' strike is pending now. I want to mention a letter I received from a constituent, Jill Taylor, from Norman Wells. It is a very moving letter, a letter that compels me to ask what is going on in the hearts and minds of our teachers? What compelled them to go on strike? What is it? Do we really understand what is going on in their hearts and their minds? Is there something we can do to come closer together again? I just want you to know that I read the letter and it is staying on my desk and I hope we can do something to resolve the differences we have. We do not have any money. We are going into a massive deficit but we still have the will. We will look at the issues and try to come together somehow, to address the needs that we all have.

We cannot abandon each other simply because there is a lack of money. We need to compromise and we need to reach out and try to understand one another. We are prepared to do that in every instance. There is a Minister of Youth. We need to reach out to the youth and let them know there is a portfolio assigned to a Minister. This Minister can find some way to reach out to the youth and to see what it is this incredibly fast growing segment of our population need and want. What is it they see for the future?

Over the years, I worked in many capacities. More than anything, I have always believed that I can do things. I am an ordinary person with some wonderful opportunities that I have seized and wonderful people I have worked with... capable people. That has been the secret: finding opportunities, seizing them and finding the right people to get the job done. And it did not matter if it was in Good Hope, if it was in the Dene Nation, or if it was in the different ministerial assignments that I have had over the years. That has always been the secret to achieving results.

I think we can do that with aboriginal governments. Mr. Antoine has led the way in developing a position, along with Mr. Dent and myself, to agree that we will share lands and resources with aboriginal peoples and aboriginal governments in the North that will embody a Northern Accord. This will give us the agreement necessary so that aboriginal governments will have assurance that when it is time to be established and set up, they will have the respect, the integrity and the financial capacity to be independent and to be equals.

In the meantime, this government must continue to have the respect of people because it is serving everyone. They all elected us here. There will come a day when some of our people will choose to go with aboriginal governments. We must prepare for that as well. I have been there.

I have worked as hard as anyone to get recognition of aboriginal rights. As a strong supporter of claims and self- government agreements, my track record is there. Of course, some of you have said, not everybody is happy with you. That is true.

The Premier will know; people call for resignations on a moments notice. It is difficult to keep everybody happy. One thing is certain, my enemies, if there are any, (and I will not concede there is even one), will always do their worst. But, I tell you; I will always do my best.

There is a need to recognize the support of the chiefs, the Metis leaders that I received. They may not be as vocal as others, but they are there. I have worked for years as president of the Dene Nation. I have served with aboriginal people. I have been elected since 1987 for the Sahtu riding.

I have been elected by each Legislature that I have served on to be a Minister. That tells you I can get the job done, I can get along with people and maybe I do not smile enough. That has been a criticism. People have called me names - called me Stoneface. It is true. But that is the way I am, maybe because of the traumas I have had. Let me tell you, I work hard at trying to smile all the time...it does not come easy. But I am working on it, as my children would say.

There are many things that I know I can do better. But I do have a good record for getting things done. There will be compassion, compromise and moral commitment to sit down with every group in the Territory. People that support the Deh Cho proposal who could sit down and make a commitment. What is it that we can do to help get the respect and recognition the proposal deserves? What about the Yellowknives Dene First Nation? When has anybody ever sat down and said, “Okay, for the next three days, we are going to sit and talk about this until some of your concerns, interests, and issues are addressed.” We need to make some commitments. We need to focus one at a time on achievable results.

There are many other things that could be said but I think the main message today is simple. I want a better life for everyone. I want to work so that we have a good future. We do that through making sure this government is a good government. We make sure this government is accountable, that it has the resources and the lands necessary to be independent and provide the same for aboriginal governments for the day when some of us choose to live under that government. This is what the people of the North expect and I believe that is what we can deliver. Thank you.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi. Members, before we proceed to our next speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize in the gallery the former Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories, Mr. Sam Gargan.

-- Applause

In addition to that we also have Mr. Gargan's predecessor and government leader, Mr. Richard Nerysoo.

-- Applause

We also have the honour of the presence of the current Speaker of the Nunavut Legislative Assembly, Mr. Levi Barnabas.

-- Applause

He is accompanied by two former Members of this Assembly, who are now Members in the Nunavut government, Mr. Kelvin Ng and Mr. Kevin O'Brien.

-- Applause.

Thank you for recognizing the former Members. I would now like to call upon the second nominee for Premier, Mr. Floyd Roland.

Thank you Mr. Chair. Before we begin, I would like to start off with a bit of a tradition. I would like to start by sending greetings back to my folks and my constituents back home in Inuvik. Thankfully, my wife and children are here today to witness this process. To my beautiful wife, Shawna and my children, thank you very much for your support and understanding. Without it, I would not be here today.

To the residents of Inuvik, thank you for your continued support and your sincere encouragement to seek the position of Premier. You put me in this position and I will do my very best to honour your trust and the trust of all Northerners, no matter what the end result is today.

To all Members and residents of the new Northwest Territories, Happy New Year and welcome to the 21^st century. This is an opportunity for a clean new start and fresh new leadership committed to positive change. I hope to have the good fortune of gaining your support so I can provide effective and open leadership with a strong Cabinet team and able Ordinary MLAs.

We need a Premier who is committed to working on behalf of all Northerners. A Premier dedicated to ensuring that it is the residents of the Northwest Territories that benefit from government programs and services, not government or its agencies.

We need a Premier who is open, honest and a straight shooter who will not dance around tough questions with open-ended rhetoric, and who will not shy away when the heat is turned up.

We need a Premier who can build relationships in Ottawa and the provinces.

We need a Premier who can bring all groups together, to support aboriginal groups in their quest for a fair and timely settlement of land claims, self-government and treaty-land entitlement for the mutual benefit of all.

We need a Premier all MLAs and the public can trust and have confidence in and who will instill confidence and enthusiasm in our public servants by providing clear direction.

We need a Premier to create the necessary environment that will help produce healthy communities and attract private sector investment in order to expand economic development opportunities for Northerners.

These are some of the qualities I believe are necessary for the position of Premier.

Although there are many priority issues to be dealt with, the most immediate and the key to our economic viability, in my view, is to ensure the establishment of an intergovernmental process with federal and aboriginal governments that will allow us to discuss issues of mutual concern. Specifically, I am speaking about the issues of economic development, northern control of northern resources and resource revenue sharing.

As you are aware, the realities this government's economic situation demand that we must create new revenues to ensure that we continue to provide essential services, such as education and health care to our residents.

New revenues are essential if we are to effectively manage the current and projected deficit we are facing. This deficit is not sustainable. We owe it to ourselves and especially to our children to take bold new steps to find a northern solution to this difficult problem. It will not be easy. We will have to be creative and take some risks but I believe we can be successful.

A northern solution to this problem is northern control over northern resources. This will provide northern governments, not Ottawa, and Northerners, not Ottawa bureaucrats, control of how development takes place in the Northwest Territories.

This important element, along with a resource revenue sharing agreement, is really what devolution is all about: taking control of our future and taking appropriate risks to increase the economic pie for the benefit of all Northerners.

Unlike other provinces, the management and responsibility for minerals, oil and gas, land and water, remains with the federal government. The only way we are going to be successful in generating more revenues for our government is to reach an agreement with the aboriginal governments and the federal government on northern control of northern resources.

Just as important, we must ensure that a fair resource revenue sharing agreement is negotiated that ensures adequate funding to all governments, be they public or aboriginal, in order to maintain programs and services for our residents.

Agreements dealing with resource issues are being signed between provincial and aboriginal governments across Canada. We in the Northwest Territories have an opportunity to develop a new model that better serves our residents.

There has been a lot of discussion over the past several months on the establishment of an intergovernmental forum,

that would bring together aboriginal governments and the federal and territorial governments to discuss these matters on a government to government to government basis. This forum is a practical means to facilitate these important discussions and as Premier, I would strongly support and participate in this process.

The intergovernmental forum and the results it can produce, in my opinion, will lay the foundation for not only generating more revenues for all governments, but will also provide the required spark for economic development.

The intergovernmental forum provides the opportunity to strengthen our partnerships with aboriginal governments and the federal government. It will provide us the opportunity to begin developing an overall, comprehensive strategy to ensure our economic potential and obtain a greater share of the benefits from the minerals, diamonds and oil and gas, that for the most part, currently only go to Ottawa.

As Premier, I would commit to the development of a comprehensive economic development strategy that takes into account the economic needs of all regions of our Territory. A strategy that respects the environment, that preserves the land, water and wildlife that have sustained our people since the beginning of time.

Economic development, no matter where it takes place, is beneficial for all residents so long as it is undertaken in an environmentally sustainable way. This is not an issue that should pit regions against one another or be seen as pitting urban communities against rural communities. Economic development is NOT about carving up an ever-shrinking pie. Economic development is about increasing the size of the entire pie so as to provide more benefit.

It is about supporting small business. It is about supporting one of our Territory's still underdeveloped renewable assets, tourism, which is about our land and our people.

As Premier, I support tourism because it is something that all residents can participate in. Tourism provides economic opportunities for small business and other important parts of our society, such as hunters and trappers. As a former tourism operator, I know first hand the benefits that this important industry can provide. Tourism is an important means of recognizing all our cultures and the strength that this diversity brings us.

However we need tools to accomplish this. Since the phasing out of the federal government's Economic Development Agreement several years ago, we have been without any federal funding to stimulate economic growth in the Northwest Territories.

The fact that the Northwest Territories does not have access to economic development agencies run by the federal government, such as the Western Economic Diversity Agency or the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, is totally unacceptable. Why is the Northwest Territories excluded?

It is unacceptable that the federal government has not delivered on its budget promise of three years ago to provide some action on this front.

I think we must take a stronger position with the federal government that ensures they provide economic development funding similar to what they provide in other regions of this country. As Premier, I will ensure this issue is forcefully put forth.

We need to take a stronger position with Ottawa and obtain access to funding so that we can plan and be prepared for when the full development actually occurs.

It is apparent that oil and gas exploration and development would provide an economic impact greater than diamonds. Unlike the diamonds, we want to be ahead of the game and be ready with skilled workers and prepared businesses, not reacting and playing catch-up. We need to look and plan ahead and be prepared if we are going to create economic development opportunities for our people.

I would like to give you a brief history of my background.

I am Inuvialuit. While I am proud to be Inuvialuit, I take just as much pride in being a Northerner. I am committed to working just as hard for all Northerners, aboriginal and non-aboriginal, no matter where they come from.

I have a long history of public service in community and regional organizations including terms as president of the Inuvik Hunters and Trappers Association, president of the Western Arctic Tourism Association and councilor and deputy mayor of Inuvik. I have also been a small business owner and a public servant.

I was first elected to this Assembly in 1995. My first three years as an Ordinary Member provided me with an excellent opportunity to view the operation of government from outside of Cabinet. More importantly, it provided me with an appreciation of the important role non-Cabinet Members play in the decision making process.

During my time as an Ordinary Member, I had the good fortune to serve as chair of the Western Coalition. The mandate of the Coalition was to work towards establishing a stable and viable new Territory after division. In many ways, the Western Coalition illustrates what can be achieved when government, aboriginal, business and community leaders work towards a common goal.

As Premier, I would be committed to continue to work with aboriginal, business, and community leaders to create a strong, stable, and more economically independent Northwest Territories.

As Minister of Transportation, I saw first hand the economic benefits and the increase in the standard of life the development of transportation infrastructure can bring to a community.

I recognize the important link between economic development, tourism development and transportation infrastructure. Even small developments such as access roads to small lakes or gravel pits provide benefits. As Premier, I am committed to increasing our transportation infrastructure in order to attract private sector investment and provide benefits to our residents.

As Minister of Housing, I witnessed first hand the one significant problem that raises the cost of our social programs, such as health care and education, the lack of adequate and affordable housing for many residents, especially those in our small rural communities.

Inadequate, over-crowded housing leads to more pressure for our health care and education systems, because many of our children do not have proper shelter.

As Premier, I am committed to strongly pressure the federal government to live up to its obligations here in the Northwest Territories.

The recent federal announcement on funding for the homeless is a tragedy for Northerners. Northerners without a home do not sleep on the streets in winter. They sleep in already over- crowded homes. We do not need money for the homeless - we need more money for more homes. I am committed to making the access to more federal funding for housing a priority.

As Minister of Health and Social Services and Minister responsible for Social Policy Renewal, I quickly came to understand the real meaning of “forced growth” and “sustainability”. I have had to work closely with my provincial, territorial and federal counterparts to deal with many issues, such as a lack of federal funding and a national nursing shortage.

It was against the advice of many people that I requested the Health and Social Services portfolio, perhaps one of the toughest portfolios in government. When I spoke to Premier Antoine, he seemed shocked and relieved at the same time. I knew it would be hard and sometimes unpleasant work, with demands outstripping resources.

As Premier, I would be committed to working in partnership with Cabinet and Ordinary Members to maintain funding for health and social services, education and housing programs. This can only be achieved by re-allocating scarce resources and finding new sources of revenues. However, these are the core services that we provide to our residents and they need to be maintained and improved.

Being a Minister requires a lot of hard work and time away from home and family. The job of Premier will also require a lot of hard work and time away from family. I accept this and my wife and children accept this. In fact, it is for our children that I have committed myself to public life.

Our new government has many challenges ahead of us. We need a new fiscal relationship with Ottawa. We need to further develop our partnership with aboriginal governments and get the intergovernmental forum off the ground so we can get a resource revenue sharing agreement that will spark economic development and generate the revenues we so badly need to provide essential programs and services.

As Premier, I will be counting on the experience of my Ministers and key staff to put together a solid team to lead our government. I will also be counting on the energy and constructive criticism of Ordinary MLAs to keep us on our toes.

I want to acknowledge and continue the good work of Jim Antoine, who stepped into the Premier's job at a very difficult time, yet made tremendous strides in building this government's relationship with aboriginal organizations.

I would like to acknowledge all the MLAs I had the good fortune to work with and learn from over the past four years.

By working together, we can overcome these challenges and take advantage of the opportunities to strike out in a new direction in the 21^st century.

As I look forward to the new century, I do so with great optimism and excitement, as we have before us unparalleled opportunities. Opportunities that can best be challenged by new, vibrant, honest and energetic leadership, and a new Legislative Assembly committed to moving forward together.

I believe I can bring you this leadership. Thank you.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Roland. The next step is to open the floor to questions of the candidates by the Members. Members are permitted to ask up to four questions each of the Premier candidates.

Before we open the floor to questions, is it the plan of the House to take a break and then when we return, we can proceed to the next part? The House shall take a break.

--Break

Welcome back to the Territorial Leadership Committee. We are on item 8, selection of the Premier. The next step is the questioning of the candidates. Each of the Members is allowed to ask up to four questions to each of the candidates. If Members would like to indicate if they would like to ask all four questions or reserve a couple for later, please do so.

I will select Members randomly. The Chair recognizes the Member for Mackenzie Delta, followed by the Member for Weledeh.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The past four years was probably one of the toughest times of this Legislature. Yet we still seem to have major difficulties at hand in the areas of health and social services and the problems we are having with the teacher's strike.

I would like to ask the two candidates running for Premier what are they going to do to change the way government is being developed? How are they going to improve the health and social services and education problems we are currently facing? What is the method they will use to resolve these problems? Do they have a magic wand, or do they have a strategy on how they will do it?

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The Chair recognizes Mr. Kakfwi, then Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The issue of governance was high in the former Legislature. The way we govern ourselves and the issue of self-government.

Fundamentally, our elders, our women, our children, our families, all want good programs as well as fair and equitable

services. I believe that is what those forms of government should strive for.

For instance, in the Territory today we are quickly accepting, as permanent fixtures in the political landscape, regional forms of autonomy. They are called forms of government, but they are there.

In the North, we have the Gwich'in and the Inuvialuit negotiating a form of government for that region. They want resources for it. They want power. They want authority.

The Sahtu has always taken a strong position that they want a form of regional autonomy. They would be negotiating for themselves in a form of self-government.

The Deh Cho proposal embodies that need, that call by aboriginal people in the region to have some form of government for themselves that gives them the autonomy they need to survive as a people.

The Dogribs just negotiated an agreement-in-principle that embodies their desire.

These are regions that are forming, and we have to address that as a government. We have to reorganize internally and regionally to recognize that there are no longer Fort Smith regions and Inuvik regions that we can rationally continue keeping in place. We have to change with it.

In regard to specific things in health and social services, I know there is a report on health and social services, and that a forum was set up. This government and this Legislature has to look at it I believe in the retreat and the Caucus we have in February. One of the things we have to look at is the report on health and social services that was put before the previous government. There is one on education. The new Premier and the new Ministers have to look at that. I think we can put out a plan that will improve on the present situation. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi. I am just going to point out that I am the Chair of the committee, and not the Speaker. We will now recognize the Member from Inuvik Boot Lake, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I think we are going to have to sit down as Members and set priorities. As we have seen in the last couple of weeks, the fiscal outlook today for this government is not a good one. So we need to sit down as a team and look at our priorities. What is important to us? What areas can we continue to work on and expand? What areas are we going to have to look at lowering?

For example, we know we need to get new revenues to keep our programs. That has to be one of the biggest priorities. Residents of the Northwest Territories expect a level of delivery of programs and services that meet their needs.

Now in the campaign in Inuvik, there was a lot of concern over education and health and social services, as I am sure we have heard throughout the Territories. But to meet the demands that are placed on the table today with the existing resources, we will not be able to manage. As Members, your view is important to begin that planning process, to set priorities. We have to set new priorities for the new government. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. The Chair recognizes Mr. Handley, the Member for Weledeh.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I would like to ask a question of both candidates for Premier. The resolution and implementation of land claims, treaty entitlements and self- government agreements, in my view, is critical for all residents of the Northwest Territories. I think finalized settlements will move us along in terms of community wellness, will move us closer to resource revenue royalty sharing, increased economic activity, and provide much needed clarity on a lot of fronts. Some people have said the GNWT is not doing everything it can to facilitate these agreements. I would like to ask each candidate, what you would propose as Premier to facilitate fair and speedy resolution of these agreements?

Thank you, Mr. Handley. I will direct the question to Mr. Roland this time.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. As we have heard many times, it is critical that we bring closure to the ongoing discussions that are happening throughout the Territories.

I believe in a previous government, there were eight or nine tables of the self-government processes or land claims processes that were underway. We need to work and continue to work on the process that we started as the intergovernmental forum.

What are the key issues that we want to deal with first? I believe that if we continue to spread ourselves thin as we have in previous governments, we will still be muddled in mud for the life of this Assembly. We have to set clear priorities.

We know if we are going to get revenue resource sharing, that it is going to take partnerships with aboriginal groups - true partnerships, not ones that are forced. That does not work. You cannot forge partnerships by threats. I think we have to review the role that we have played and sit down in this intergovernmental forum and discuss with the aboriginal governments what their priorities are and see if we can adapt our government to fit that.

We are a government of all people and we have to recognize that. But it is going to be a process where it is a partnership between land claims groups and public government.

We have to continue to push the federal government to have a clear mandate because they are the ones that are setting the mandate, and that further confuses the issue for ourselves in the North. If we are going to make a difference in this Territory, we are going to have to go forward with one voice. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I go on the assumption that aboriginal people will have self-government. It is their right. They will also have land and resources for their government.

When I say I think we could do something for the Deh Cho, when I say we could do something for the Yellowknives Dene First Nations, in those areas where there is no resolution in sight, it is not because I am trying to be outrageous in my commitments. I truly believe it can be done.

What you need is a creative element to the approach, to the discussions, and the resolution to stay there and introduce a political element to the talks, to find some way to keep talking until there is a way to move it. I know it can be done. We cannot let our officials keep making and discussing these things. They need our support. They need our on the spot involvement. I think that is going to be critical and that is the commitment I make today.

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi. Any further questions for the candidates, Mr. Handley?

No.

The Chair recognizes the Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Nitah.

Thank you, Mr. Nitah. Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The big-ticket item that is before this government and aboriginal governments is a desire and a tentative agreement to meet together through the intergovernmental forum to discuss a number of things. One, in my view, is how aboriginal governments and leaders can have input into the direction and priorities that this Legislature has.

I am not sure the aboriginal governments will accept that invitation, but it is one that I have always proposed. The other is that we set up the intergovernmental forum to discuss how to take over the control of our future by creating a better public government and by creating aboriginal governments and making sure they have sufficient land, resources and revenues to build and serve the constituents.

Land claims have to be articulated by the aboriginal groups themselves. I have not been briefed on it recently. I am not the Minister responsible, but I know the type of things that the Yellowknives are immediately faced with are different than those faced by Lutsel'ke, Fort Resolution and Fort Smith.

There are different ideas and processes underway and the first thing to do is make a commitment to sit down and really understand what it is that they are trying to do, what is it that they want and see if there is any way that we can help to create some momentum. If there is an impasse, we will try to break that so everybody feels there is some movement and support for the things they are striving to do. I think that is something that is new. That is what I would do. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi. Would you like to ask another question, Mr. Nitah?

Thank you, Mr. Nitah. I think there is a question for each of the candidates. I will allow Mr. Roland to respond first.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. As pointed out by the Member for Tu Nedhe, land entitlement treaties was an ongoing issue for the lifetime of previous governments as well. For example, in the 12^th Assembly they had the CDSC process where a number of recommendations came out to the government to follow and implement. In the previous Assembly, we had the Constitutional Working Group.

In both of these it was very clear that if we wanted to see movement and partnerships develop here, it would have to be done in the true meaning of partnership, where we would see the land claims situation move parallel to this government.

They have to do some catching up and get settled before they are in a position to make decisions. I think we have to review the recommendations from previous governments and see what we can accomplish sitting down together with the aboriginal groups through the intergovernmental forum.

To go through a priority listing to ask ourselves what are the first things we can achieve within the life of this Assembly, and move forward on that basis. But I do not believe we can move forward in the same fashion that we have in the past, where we have sat down, talked with groups, and at the end of the day they walk out of the room feeling like they have been misled one more time.

There is a real feeling out there by groups that previous governments have not been trustworthy. They have said one thing and done another. I understand fully where they are coming from.

We are going to have to sit down with them. I believe the intergovernmental forum is the place where we start those discussions. It has been in the works for awhile, and I believe that is the proper way to go, where we sit government to government and nail out the priorities, and we can start building from those priorities. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. It is important to speak directly to aboriginal governments and aboriginal leaders. I think that is the most important thing, in response to Mr. Nitah's question. I made a commitment to meet with the Yellowknives and Deh Cho leaders to hear from them directly on what it is that they are setting as their goals and objectives. I would get briefed from the government's side.

That is the way to proceed. We hear directly from each other, and there is a commitment to meet for two or three days with each party to be clear and to assure them we have really heard what their position in division is. We have an opportunity to ask questions, for them to discuss ways in which these can be achieved and move along. That is what the commitment is, and that is the way to start.

There is a firm belief and support that the aboriginal leaders also support the intergovernmental forum. It is a forum where aboriginal governments will sit with the territorial and federal governments to discuss issues between governments.

I think it is a tremendous idea, and it will set the basis for establishing the relationships we all want to see developed. That is the forum that is going to do it. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi. The Chair recognizes Mr. Nitah.

Thank you, Mr. Nitah. Mr. Kakfwi.

Akaitcho government. I said it.

--Interjection

You are not detecting anything. I am just trying to respond as positively as I can. There is no reluctance on my part at all. I am excited about the prospects. I am trying to suggest, if I am elected Premier, I will commit to work with you. You are the one who has goals and aspirations. You have to give me that opportunity. There is nothing in the tone of my voice or my expression that should lead you to think otherwise.

I am interested. I want to be supportive. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi. Thank you, Mr. Nitah. The Chair will recognize the Member for Yellowknife Range Lake.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have a question for both candidates with respect to the land claims and self-government issues.

I ask this question with the understanding and appreciation that a speedy settlement of land claims and self-government negotiations are desirable, not only for aboriginal people, but for non-aboriginal people of the Northwest Territories as well.

I also ask this question with the recognition and appreciation to address and recognize the rights of aboriginal people, and an appreciation of the outstanding obligations to the aboriginal people of the Northwest Territories.

I believe this is also important in order to create certainty in our economy and for all of the people in the Northwest Territories, in particular for the business community. My question to both candidates is; I would like to know what your vision is as to how the public government fits into the process, and how the non- aboriginal people, who have no direct claim in the process, but obviously have great stake in the process, fit as well, understanding that we all have to have a place and future in the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Lee. I will go to Mr. Kakfwi first, then to Mr. Roland. Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. It has always been my view, due to the demographics, that it is not possible at this time to see a proliferation of governments. It is my view the people of the Territories are being well served by the Government of the Northwest Territories.

Many of us set out in the early 70s' to gain recognition of our rights as aboriginal people. Our right to self-government. I have been there through the years and I have held at the highest political level of government in this country that the right to self- government is in the Constitution of Canada. I was there to help achieve that, because I support my people when they say they want to have the right to set up their own government.

But I also support and respect those people who choose and elect people like myself to represent them in this government. We have to make sure this government serves those people that elect us in the best, most efficient way possible.

We also have to support aboriginal leaders who strive to obtain funds of aboriginal government negotiated, recognized and implemented, so they too can provide an option to the people. Those people who elect to live under an aboriginal government should have every right to do so. They should be respected, recognized and given the proper resources to do that.

How do they all fit together? At this time, it is all starting to grow from the community level. Maybe there is an Akaitcho government. I do know the people in Lutsel'ke will have a community government. Fort Resolution will have a community government. The Yellowknives will have a community government.

The community governments have the inherent right to choose to put it at the regional level and the territorial level. That is their business. That is what the process of negotiations is going to be. There may be a regional Akaitcho government. Aboriginal governments may elect to be part of a larger, central government. How they are going to fit together is what they are going to work on.

There is some order and logic to the process, even though it has not really unfolded yet. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi. The Chair now recognizes Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I think we simply have to look at our recent election. People across the Northwest Territories voted for who they thought would best represent their situation. It was not biased, and will not be in the future, on what your status in the Northwest Territories is.

We have to build on a true partnership. Partnerships start, I believe, from the ground level up, and start with integrity. We are going to have one, large task to show the aboriginal governments of the Northwest Territories that we mean business this time around.

We do not have a lot of control over some of the issues that are facing this government, mainly because we do not have control over the decision making process that comes directly out of Ottawa.

I know there is a reluctance for the aboriginal governments to recognize this government as well, and that is based on past relationships.

For example, when people come into my office in Inuvik, I do not check them off the list as being a Gwich'in, or an Inuvialuit, an immigrant, a non-aboriginal Northerner. I believe we are here to represent everybody equally.

In doing that, we must also show the land claims groups and aboriginal governments are equal partners to us. How do we do that? That is going to be one of the things we are going to have to wrestle with.

As it clearly shows in previous governments, there is no magic answer to pull out of the hat. I believe we have to start building on respect and trust with one another. How does that occur?

That starts when our first meeting with the intergovernmental forum, or the aboriginal governments one on one. When we make a statement to them, we have to stick with it.

All of us have to be involved in the process as well. I do not see this as being a portion of this government going out and doing something, and coming back and updating the rest. If we are going to build true partnerships and unity in the Northwest Territories, it has to be done with everybody having equal participation in the process.

That is where the intergovernmental forum comes into play. How do we do that? We truly need to address that. As rich as we are in the Northwest Territories for our minerals, oil and gas, we are considered by the large corporations as being one of the most unsettled areas, so much so that they are afraid to come and invest in the North. They are not sure what is going to happen. That hurts everybody.

That is why our hand, as I see it, is being forced here, which is good. It is time we sit down as public and aboriginal governments and set out our priorities. If we fail, both groups fail.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Next on my list is Mr. Braden, the Member for Great Slave.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. To follow up on this very useful discussion about public government and the way we are going to integrate the systems as we know them now with the emerging constitutional rights of aboriginal governments, I would pose a question to both candidates to see where they would come to the floor in helping to bring Ottawa into the picture.

The perspective I have, Mr. Chair, is that both the Government of the Northwest Territories and the aboriginal governments are coming from positions of weakness. There is not a level playing field in terms of where we stand with Ottawa. I am encouraged with the expectations that we may see in the intergovernmental forum scheduled for just a few weeks from now. But would the candidates please advise us as to how they see us getting the federal government to really take some ownership and some partnership in truly developing the North for aboriginal and for non-aboriginal people.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. The question will be directed to Mr. Roland first and then to Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you Mr. Chair. One of the largest hurdles we are going to have to cross is how do we in the North deal with Ottawa. Mr. Braden's statement is quite correct. We come from a point of weakness as long as we continue to work and walk down our own paths.

I see that we must first come to some agreement in the Northwest Territories and build on a position of power: where we have all peoples speaking together, where we recognize our differences and realize that our differences make us stronger, not weaker.

I am fairly new to this. For example, in my role as Health and Social Services Minister and Minister of Social Policy Renewal, I see the meetings we go to with our federal/provincial/territorial counterparts, as critical. At those tables, we need to express our concern and express them, I believe, a little stronger than we have.

In previous governments, we have tried to work with the federal government. We realize they hold a large hammer because they are sending the budget down our way. But there comes a time in history, and I think the evolution of the Northwest Territories, where we must stand together, to be counted together and build on our strengths, not knock each other down and create weakness.

Yes, I believe it is important to bring Ottawa into the picture. Minister Nault has come to the North a number of times and shown that he seems to be open to the idea of this process of working together. We have to expand on that. But we have to start from a position of power in the Northwest Territories and that means going to Ottawa in true partnership, not one pitted against the other.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you. I know many of the things that we need addressed by our aboriginal people and aboriginal governments, as well as the Government of the Northwest Territories, requires that we know how to deal with Ottawa. That tells me one thing. We need someone with experience, someone that knows how to make deals, someone that knows how to address the issues of aboriginal people and aboriginal governments.

I believe I can do that, because I have done it before. To give you an example: during the constitutional talks for the Charlottetown Accord, we dealt with every national aboriginal organization across this country: the Inuit, the Inuvialuit, the Metis, the First Nations and every provincial government, every territorial government, plus the federal government for six months. We were able to get them to agree it would take a leap of faith and say we do not know what it is, but the inherent right is in the constitution. That is what we accomplished.

So being confident and having the experience in dealing with Ministers and Premiers, and other governments is required. I have done it before and I can do it again. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi. The Chair now recognizes the Member for Yellowknife South, Mr. Bell, followed by Mr. Dent. Mr. Bell.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I would like to pose a question to both candidates. I think that everybody in this room, and all citizens in the Northwest Territories, would agree and realize that we are faced with serious health concerns. We hear that 20 percent of expectant mothers consume alcohol during their pregnancy. I think this is a staggering rate and scares us all. One of the key things we have to realize here, and probably all of you agree, is that we have an education problem, which is leading to a health problem.

We are all very focused on stimulating economic development in the Territories. But I worry that as we continue to stimulate economic development, we continue to lose employment to southerners who are trained. I would like both of you to answer this question; how does your government intend to make education a priority for Northerners so that we might curb some of the health concerns we are faced with and so that we might train Northerners for northern jobs? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bell. The Chair will recognize Mr. Kakfwi first.

Thank you. We know that quality of life in the communities in the North is tied to education and ability of individuals to provide for themselves. That has been, I think, accepted by all of us. But what we require is a commitment to find ways to improve the lives of all our people. If there are people without jobs, we have to strive to give them jobs.

There are people who require higher education. We need to make a commitment to provide education. There are no quick answers, only a commitment. There was a forum set up by the Ministers Forum on Education. Many of us need to look at it again, especially the Caucus and the new Premier and Cabinet that meets in February. What does that forum say? What are some of the suggestions? We need to understand why our teachers are on strike. What are the issues they feel we need to know more about?

I do not have solutions; this is a commitment. We will work at it, talk about it and try to find some way in which we can provide better services to everyone. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi. The Chair recognizes Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The one thing I have learned, as a Member of the 13^th Assembly, is that previous governments' idea of how programs and services are delivered in communities is not working. We have departments with policies and programs that are developed in their own area. Stovepipe mentality is what I would call it.

It shows that the system is not working. We can look at our statistics. Our graduation rates are not good in the Northwest Territories, especially amongst aboriginal people. How do we make the system develop or change into something that is more productive? That is where we get together again and look at our priorities. If we look at all that we spend today in the area of education, the area of health and social services, we find we have a lot of non-government organizations out there that are trying to do similar things. Whether it is life skills or adult education, we have a lot of areas dealing with the aftermath of how our kindergarten to grade 12 system has not performed as it was first developed.

I think we have to go back and ask ourselves as Members elected to represent the people, how are we going to change the system to make sure the dollars we are spending are spent on quality, not quantity?

If our people are going to be trained to take jobs, they have to have a quality education. There are a lot of good teachers who put in a lot of time to teach children, including my own.

We find ourselves in a system we have tried to patch up and band-aid for many years. We have to ask ourselves, what are our key priorities? How will we make sure the system is going to start to work? For example, are we going to take more steps in the preventive area? We know that a child's life is formed within the first five to six years. If we do not take advantage of those years, we are going to pay for it in the long run. That is where the dollars start to pour in.

Are we going to put priority on early prevention, and start early intervention from kindergarten up to grade three? Will we focus on those areas so we can ensure the next generation is adequately prepared? That is why I say we need to have an overall policy, one that fits the economic sector.

As I stated in my speech, we have done things piece-meal. We have had to run to catch up with the development that is happening, and often, we have lost out. In some cases, with the hard work of previous Ministers, we have pulled it off.

But trying to catch up from behind takes a lot of energy. Let us get ahead of the game, and that means looking at the preventative side. Those are the hard decisions we are going to have to make. That is where I will count on the wisdom of all my colleagues around the table. Everybody has to have input on the priorities of this government when it comes to health and social services. Sustainability is a key area. I believe we have one of the better systems when we compare ourselves to the rest of Canada, but it is stretched to the limit.

We saw signs of it this past summer, where health centres were closing down. We cannot continue the way we are. We have to look at our priorities. How can we sustain these areas?

I look forward to sitting down with colleagues and looking at these strategies and forums to take some of their recommendations and implement them. The people have spoken at those forums. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Mr. Bell, do you have another question?

No, that is it.

The Chair will now recognize the Member for Yellowknife Frame Lake, Mr. Charles Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. My question is for both candidates as well. This government depends on civil servants to deliver critical services to people in every community. With job cuts, restraint, and knowing the fiscal forecast, morale in civil service across the Northwest Territories is low. I was wondering if the candidates could tell us if they thought of plans or ways they would propose to improve morale among civil servants?

Thank you, Mr. Dent. The Chair will recognize Mr. Roland first.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. It is something we have often overlooked in previous governments. The people delivering the service in the communities are critical to the success or failure of the programs and services that are developed, whether it is developed through our own system or in partnership with other groups. We know through our experience in the 13^th Assembly that we have lost a lot of confidence, and our civil servants are quite worried. As the fiscal forecast has been painted, there is a lot of nervousness out there. What steps are we going to take as a government?

In order to rebuild some confidence, we are going to have to look at doing a little bit of investment. Right now, there is a concern that government programs and departments are doing all their own work, and missing out on working together as a whole government. I think this is where the role of a public service commission could be important to our civil servants, and that should be at arm's length from the government. They could raise their concerns directly with that group, and the results could come back to us. We would have to seriously look at these concerns and it would not be piece-meal.

I think we have to seriously look at that, and again, that falls in with priorities we set as a government. I would like to put that idea out there. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. The Chair will now recognize Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The people who work for the government in the departments across the North are the people we expect to carry out the direction we set out.

It is true in some quarters that morale is not as high as it should be. The government has gone through some traumatic changes. The previous government went through a conflict of interest inquiry where there were allegations of wrongdoing because of issues like the Lahm Ridge Tower. These affect the people who work for us.

Anything that brings an aura that something is not right, or not above board, that there is hesitancy, that there is no consistency and decisiveness, creates morale problems.

I think it is important to keep a very strong line of communication open with our workers through the union negotiations, but also, as Premier and Ministers, we need to make a commitment that we will respect the senior managers who work for us, the deputy ministers. I have always told my staff I do not want them to agree with me because it is the easy way out. Every one of them is expected to present their views and to disagree with me when they think I am wrong, or when they think I am making decisions based on incomplete information.

That has been part of the secret of my success, if I have had any. My staff are always told to be strong, clear and independent in their thinking. At the end, we will come to a decision we all support.

It is important to have staff that can stand up to you, and are not afraid to say, “I disagree with you and here is why”. It is important they have the confidence to do that without fear of losing their jobs. To have staff that can say, “Yes, I know this is your relative and you would like to do something for them, but it is wrong.” Staff that can say that without feeling there will be some retribution later down the road.

That is what we need. Once we get that type of message out to all employees, once we say we need this job done, how much can you realistically accomplish? We need to have their input on things like that. I think that would greatly improve morale. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi. Mr. Dent, any further questions? What is the pleasure of the committee? We are approaching 12 o'clock. As we had agreed, this would be a good time to take a break for lunch. We can reconvene at 1:30 p.m. When we reconvene, we will hear Mr. Ootes, Mr. Antoine, Mr. Steen, Mr. Delorey, and Mr. Krutko.

We will reconvene at 1:30 p.m.

--Break

Welcome back. The item on the agenda is the question period for the Premier candidates. When we took our break I had on my list Mr. Ootes, Mr. Antoine, Mr. Steen, Mr. Delorey and Mr. Krutko. Mr. Ootes is going to delay his question. Next on the list will be Mr. Antoine, the Member for Nahendeh.

Thank you, Mr. Antoine. The question is directed to both candidates. We will begin this round with Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. There are some immediate things that would need to be done. First of all, there is a transition to be made from the existing Cabinet to the newly elected Cabinet. A transition team would need to be put in place to establish a plan for transition.

It would require input from the Ministers. There will be staffing positions that need to be in place. There has been some thought given to those already. I am not at liberty to discuss them, because at this moment it is still a hypothetical situation.

I just want to assure Members that I have spent a lot of time thinking about it. In my mind there is a way to proceed from here on, if I am elected. I would be very happy to share that with the Ministers, and include as much of the Caucus as possible as we proceed.

Town hall meetings are a great idea. I think meeting with only certain individuals, certain leaders, is in many ways not fair. We need to give equal opportunity to everyone. Every community has people that no one listens to, people who never speak up, people who need to be heard. Sometimes it is the elders, sometimes it is the women, sometimes it is the youth. Town hall meetings will be one forum that will be required.

I think it is also important to have meetings on a regular basis with every MLA in this Legislature, so no one is favoured, no one is forgotten, and no one is ignored. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi. The Chair recognizes Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The way I see it, we definitely need to continue working as a group to set priorities, as I have stated a number of times earlier. There is a need for Caucus to get back together, the need for the formation of committees, as well as Ministers being set up with new portfolios, or taking on different roles.

That area is short term. In the long term, one of the things we need to do as a Legislative Assembly is to go out to the different areas and regions and get a taste of what it is like in the smaller communities. What I found in the 13^th Assembly was the majority of meetings which took place took place in Yellowknife and the larger regional centres.

I think to get a proper picture and perspective of the impacts of our decision making we need to go to some of the smaller places and see how they get by day to day. That is an important issue that we need to look at. It might cost a little more but I think it will be valuable to our decision making process. Part of going to the smaller communities is the people

will actually get to see their government again. They would not just see it on the TV or hear it on the radio; they might be able to take part in the actual meetings. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Next on my list I have the Member for Nunakput, Mr. Steen.