Thank you, Mr. Chair. I congratulate you on your election, and Mr. Kakfwi. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Member for Thebacha, Mr. Miltenberger, for his nomination. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the voters back home for giving me this opportunity to represent them again, and to possibly serve on Cabinet again.
Mr. Chair, along with everyone else, I too agree that we have very large challenges facing us, such as trying to improve our health and social services, our education, and our general economic situations across the Northwest Territories. We have our priorities that we have to work together to identify in the next days or the next few weeks.
However, I believe of all the priorities we have to face, the most serious one is to try to vest control of resources from the federal government so that can assist us to address our fiscal situation. If we can do this, we then have the capabilities to improve our health and social services programs and education programs as well. We would also have the capability to improve our transportation infrastructure, community infrastructures, and provide jobs and opportunities for our residents.
Mr. Chair, I think the aboriginal groups have indicated they are willing to share the resources with this government and with the federal government. But more importantly, they have also indicated they are willing to share. In some cases, they have indicated they want to take over the programs and services that we are currently delivering to them on behalf of the federal government.
I believe we should not be a roadblock to them obtaining this opportunity from the federal government. We should support them. This can be done either through partnership groups, partnership governments, or it can be done simply by passing the responsibilities back to the federal government so they in turn could pass it on to the aboriginal groups through their self- government agreements. Mr. Chair, I believe these people are capable of doing this, and it would help to relieve some of the strain we have on our fiscal situation.
This is one of the prime reasons I have chosen to again run for territorial council and put myself available to Cabinet. I believe I could support this type of movement on behalf of this government, and it would go a long way to working out a better working relationship with the aboriginal groups.
Mr. Chair, I am letting my name stand for a position on the Executive Council because I believe I have proven that I have the potential and capability to serve the 14th Assembly over the next four years. During the last 10 months, I have gained valuable leadership experience as a Minister. While serving as Minister of Transportation, MACA and DPW, I have followed through on the mandate of the three departments to ensure the business plans as approved by the 13th Assembly were implemented to the extent possible with available resources. This included keeping capital projects on schedule by working with affected client departments, or with other stakeholders in the communities. In my capacity as Minister, I have met with and lobbied federal, provincial and territorial politicians and officials to encourage the future development of our transportation and community infrastructure, including the national and territorial highway systems. I have made myself and my department officials accessible to other Ministers and to the Members. When there was a requirement to address issues and concerns, I insured my department was available either directly to the public or through MLAs.
As I have done in the past, I am committed to work towards achieving the goals and objectives we set as Members of the 14th Legislative Assembly, and I am prepared to work with other Members of Cabinet and with the new Premier-elect, Mr. Kakfwi.
I have a personal style of management that includes an open- door policy for Ordinary Members and Cabinet Ministers, a strong integrity with commitment for accountability to both the Members of the Legislative Assembly, the Premier and the public, and the making of practical and fair decisions using logic and common sense.
I believe I have carried out my share of the Executive Council's workload in an efficient manner over the last seven months. I also believe that I am a strong team player who obtained the
respect and cooperation of other Ministers, the Ordinary Members, and my department officials and staff. I hope to be given the opportunity and mandate by you to continue my role as a Cabinet Minister of the 14th Assembly. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
-- Applause