Thank you, Mr. Chair. I would first like to start, as well, by congratulating you on your selection to the high office of Speaker. I would also like to extend my congratulations to my colleague, Mr. Kakfwi, on his election as Premier. I know he will do the job that is necessary.
As we start a new century and new Territory, we are in a time of transition politically, socially and economically. It is critical and important for us as a new Assembly to try to do everything in our power to maintain programs and services at the community level, while at the same time deal with the finances and identify new revenues. We also have to ensure that we
foster from the start a very strong, co-operative, working relationship with the aboriginal governments, as we have to work together on issues of resource sharing, settlement of claims and self-government. What we do now is going to set the foundation for the Legislatures to come and the public government that is going to evolve in the new century.
We are the first MLAs in the new Northwest Territories. We have all just come through an arduous, long election process. We have all received a strong mandate from our people to represent everyone in our ridings: the elders and youth, men and women, aboriginal and non-aboriginal. We bring that mandate here with us to the Assembly.
We now have to pick the best possible people for the job to help us at this critical juncture in our history. It is on that basis that I stand here today as a candidate for the office of Cabinet. As a candidate and someone who will also be selecting the Ministers, I believe there are certain qualities that are important in the people being selected, which I believe I share.
We need those that will demonstrate leadership. Whether we can achieve a vision of a strong and healthy Northwest Territories will depend on the leadership we show. As individual MLAs, as a collective Assembly, through the Premier and Cabinet, we are in a process selecting as well, how we work as an Assembly with the other territorial leaders. I believe the public is looking for strong, cooperative leadership. Leadership that is willing to make tough decisions, but at the same time, take the extra steps necessary to protect those programs that are critical to our communities.
I believe I have demonstrated those qualities of leadership, both as an ordinary MLA and as a Member of Cabinet. In the nine months I have been on Cabinet, I have taken steps to try to address the problems dealing with education. I have traveled to the communities to talk to the DEAs, DECs, community leaders, the people, and the students. We have put out a strategic plan that very clearly identifies the priorities we have to deal with in the next five years with education, pupil-to- teacher ratio and special needs. I have also made sure that I keep all the Members fully aware of what is happening in this process.
We need those with a clear vision of what has to be done. I for one have six key areas I think are very critical to us. The first one, as we have all talked about in the last few days, is the need to start the process to renegotiate our tax window so that we no longer have to spend or pay back 80 cents of every dollar to the federal government at a time when we do not have money for the programs that are so essential to all of us.
In the mid-term, we have to actively and aggressively pursue the resource sharing arrangement with the aboriginal governments and the federal government working together cooperatively. The door is open. Minister Nault has said so.
We also have to fully support land claims settlements and self- government talks at the same time supporting the role for a strong, central public government. Settlement of claims will provide tremendous certainty and economic potential for all Northerners.
As a government and Legislature, we have to push for better integration and improved coordination of programs and services so that we can maintain the service levels in the communities. It is clear that much more can be done, both at the headquarters level and at the community level. We have to make the best possible use of existing resources.
A critical area often overlooked in the broad political discussion is the fundamental role of family and strong communities. The family, Mr. Chair, is the foundation of our Territory and of our society. It is where children learn who they are, where they are from, their values, their culture and their heritage. We have to make efforts to, in fact, enhance and support the family so we can give birth to healthy children who are brought up in a strong family environment and are able to go to school and learn. If we do not, we will never have enough money for special needs. There are many self-inflicted problems, FAS, FAE, tobacco, as we have heard. Those are all preventable and we have to focus on working with families and communities so that we can, in fact, move forward as a strong Territory. We very clearly need an economic strategy to go hand in hand with the other strategies we have, with education, with health. As was indicated earlier, the best form of economic development is a strong education, but we also have to fit that into the tremendous development that now faces us.
We need someone who is approachable, open and accountable. I have an open door policy. I have made a practice of it since I have been here. I have pushed throughout the last Assembly for greater public access to committee meetings. I believe we have to step out as MLAs and Cabinet Members and committee members to the communities to let the people see once again what this government can do.
We need someone who understands the need for balance in addressing the needs of all Northerners. We have diverse needs in our communities - small, remote communities, medium-sized communities, and Yellowknife. In my time as Minister, I have traveled to 25 of the communities to visit with the schools and the DECs and DEAs. I am much more aware now of those critical needs.
We need someone who is a team player. Cabinet Members have to work together. They have to be open to positive feedback from each other.
As a Cabinet, we have to strengthen our ability to do broad, strategic planning. Equally critical is going to be the very strong need for an open, pro-active relationship with the committees and Cabinet, to work together to resolve the many critical issues that face us.
We also have to take this approach into the Assembly and beyond with the leaders and communities as we deal with the many issues before us. We also have to have an active functioning strategic relationship with our Member of Parliament and our new Senator. They can be tremendous assets and we should make better use of the skills and abilities they bring to the table.
We need somebody with the background and experience. I spent the last four years in the Assembly, the last year on Cabinet. I have been chair of Caucus, chair of Western Caucus, vice-chair of the Social Programs and also the Government Operations Committee. I have been mayor. I have been town councilor. I have been on the NWTAM, as well as chair of the South Slave Regional Council. Plus, I have extensive government experience at the superintendent and management level. And I bring those skills with me.
We need someone who is open to new ideas and is flexible on how we achieve our collective vision. I do not believe in a "one size fits all" for this Assembly, or that the current system is perfect. We have to be open to new ideas from Members and the communities. We have to be prepared to be creative in how we achieve the solutions, because we have to work together to do this.
We need someone with a sound work ethic who is prepared to put in the time. I believe I have demonstrated that work ethic in the last four years.
We need someone who is prepared to make the tough decisions necessary in a careful, measured, consultative way, in order for us to move on as an Assembly and as a government.
In closing, Mr. Chair, I would just like to reiterate the very critical nature of this Assembly, the tremendous responsibility and stewardship we are expected to provide to the people of the Northwest Territories, and the need to practice the politics of cooperation, a fundamental principle that I have brought to the office of MLA when I first was elected to the 13th Assembly, in which I bring to this, the 14th Assembly. I believe I have the qualities, the personal experience and the demonstrated abilities. I look forward to the outcome of this particular election. I ask if you would consider supporting me for Cabinet for the 14th Assembly. Thank you.
-- Applause