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.