Thank you. Support for small business and business in small communities is something we have heard about from time to time. The fact that in our existing environment, once the season begins once a budget is passed, within months the dollars are used up and that’s something we have to look at. I think the track of the Government of the Northwest Territories, to be blunt, has not been very good for how we deal with those who are seeking support in a business environment. We know, for example, traditional banks have difficulty lending in remote communities where they don’t think there is the environment that would foster that growth. That’s where we, as a government, would need to step in and focus the limited resources we have. I think here is an opportunity where we again use the ingenuity that’s out there. We see so

many joint ventures out there by the aboriginal organizations and governments and partners out there, we, as the GNWT, need to learn that and adapt as well. Can we joint venture with a bank and put something out there instead of continuing to trek down the path that we set up? It goes back to the earlier question, if something doesn’t work right do we keep putting money into it? Here is an opportunity for that evaluation and set up a program where those areas that are more challenging, that banks don’t generally enter into, that we could look at somehow subsidizing or giving them the seed money to start the business in that small community. I think as history shows, up and down the Mackenzie Valley and many other communities dealing with diamond mines, if people have an interest and have a will and they find the support, they can become self-reliant when it comes to the business community. So we need to continue to build and work in that area. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. The Chair will recognize the honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, my second question in this Assembly is to both candidates. Mr. Chairman, as we know, there are many territorial organizations out there that call NGOs that fill service gaps in our territorial programming. It’s to no surprise that in this House or anywhere in the Northwest Territories, funding is a problem. I only have to go to the most recent example of the YWCA’s Alison McAteer House where they are on the ropes because of funding and the fact that they have to pay their employees a fair market rate.

Mr. Chairman, my question would like to be to the new Premier. I would like to hear if they would make it a Premier’s directive to initiate a review of all funding and programming relevance to all territorial NGOs to make sure program funding is there, to make sure program relevance is there? This is not a service the territorial government seems to want to take on, so I want to make sure that I hear today will they make it an initial mandate to have this as a directive and find out if we are paying them fairly and if we are getting the job we need done? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The Chair will recognize Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The area of NGOs is one that is critical. There is a partnership between the government and the programs it delivers and programs delivered on behalf of government by NGOs, as well as programs that have developed over years that involve NGOs to a large degree.

I think fundamentally we have to ask ourselves what programs are there to be delivered that we need to be involved with and, at the same time, we do need to look at how we work with those organizations when it comes to planning and stability of their funding that they received. Steps have been taken in that area. I would put it back to the Members on that one specifically before the Members of this House, even though one can be called the Premier, and our style of government is consensus, it’s what this House would feel is the highest priority and we will take that and work with the Members. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this is a critical issue and I referenced it a number of times in this House this morning. I agree that it should be a key part of the zero-based review of programs and budgets. We have to look at how we better incorporate the services that they provide and our recognition and value of that service. We talked about multi-year funding; we’ve talked about building in cost of living increase so they remain competitive. We know there is work done on boards and agencies as well as the government accountability policy and framework. So we have some of the pieces in place, but very clearly this is going to have to be addressed without much further ado because it is critical and I think it would be part of the first order of business as we enter into a zero-based review of programs and budgets. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Any further questions for the candidates? The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Jacobson.

Thank you, Mr. Jacobson. The Chair will recognize Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I was under the impression, or understanding or recollection from the previous Assembly, that arrangements had been made for Sachs Harbour. But what I would say is we know there is a significant pot of money that was identified for a piece of legislation called Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act. I was a proponent, and I still am of it. I say let’s take that money and put it at the community level where the work can be done by the police on the ground or the services required on the ground to actually deal with the issues my colleague from Nunakput has referenced. So we know there was some money put aside in the budget. I think that should be reprofiled and then we have to come out with our vision and long-term strategy; how do we address in the next four years in a measured and careful way the further requirements for policing services in small communities. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Mr. Roland.

Thank you. The issue of policing in the Territories is one that has come up a number of times and it’s an important service of people in our communities. I don’t believe it is good enough, the fact that when somebody in a small community that has no RCMP makes a phone call and it can be five or six hours before somebody is in that community to respond or if the weather is bad, it could be days. One of the things we have to do is as we renew the contract we have for policing services in the Northwest Territories, is evaluate what it would take to ensure that coverage is available to all communities in the Northwest Territories. Some steps have been taken and we need to be able to build on that looking at the smaller communities. Part of the issue, though, comes down to common sense. If we have a commitment for officers in a community but housing is an issue and we have some empty housing within a community, then we should be able to sit down and say let’s make some arrangement and common sense should be able to prevail in those areas. I think we need

to ensure that message is being sent throughout the system. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Mr. Jacobson.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My second question has to do with something my constituents have been asking from this government for a very long time and that is access road 177 to the gravel pit. As the Premier, what would you do to make sure this project is completed within the next four years?

---Applause

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

It’s good to see the Member for Nunakput has heard from his constituents and they are consistent in the fact that they want to see work done in this area. It goes back to the cost of living in communities. In communities where there is no permanent access, we go through months of higher cost for products that have to be brought into communities through air service. So that’s something I know that the community and the region has been pushing for. I think this is an opportunity and this is going to take a partnership approach. We talk about partnerships, but if we are going to make it work, the people have to be at the table, the appropriate people have to be at the table to make it work. Land access initially as well as the GNWT and the federal government can put the right dollars to it. Can it be done in the life of this government? I think if we have to, we’ll both grab a shovel and we’ll start together. It may take a number of years, but we need to get started. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think this could be part of a long-term climate change project. We know in the long term, even presently Tuktoyaktuk is facing soil erosion, rising water levels. Clearly, we are going to have to do more than just look at this road in isolation. I agree that it’s an essential road that should be built and I would support Mr. Roland’s approach. I will even use a shovel myself, but clearly there is going to be a need to look at what’s going to be happening with Tuk and what resources are they going to need, because these issues are going to be tied to other ones. They have already had to move parts of the community. Relocation is not out of the question, as it’s probably going to be in Aklavik. So we have to build this into a plan and not just look at this particular road in isolation. I think we can build a very compelling case to engage the federal government. We are in the middle of International Polar Year. They have scientists over every square inch of the Far North. This would be the perfect opportunity to put their attention to that particular climate change issue. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Any further questions for the candidates? It appears there are no further questions for the Premier candidates; therefore, we will proceed to the next step. Members are now asked to proceed to the Clerk’s table where they will receive their ballot. Members on my right can receive them on the right side of the table. Members on the left can receive their ballots on the left side. Members, please proceed to the voting booths, mark your ballots and then place them in the ballot box located in front of the Clerk’s table.

---Voting Commences

I declare that the voting process is closed. The ballot box will now be taken to the Clerk's office where the ballots will be counted. The bells will be rung for five minutes to bring Members back in once the results are determined.

---SHORT RECESS

---Ringing of Bells

I'll call the Territorial Leadership Committee back to order. I declare that you have elected Mr. Floyd Roland as your Premier-elect.

---Applause

Congratulations.

---Applause

---Applause

Congratulations. The appointment will be confirmed tomorrow by motion in the House. I would now like to give Mr. Roland the opportunity to say a few words if he wishes.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It's a humbling experience. Here I go again.

---Laughter

This won't become a practice.

---Laughter

I talk about tough love, so…It's a humbling experience to have the support of the Members here and throughout the Territories. I think we have a challenge to represent the people to the best of our abilities and I truly believe, as Members of the 16th Legislative Assembly working together and dealing with the

issues that are before us, we can truly lay a solid foundation for our children and our grandchildren to come. It's by working together and looking to the people who have put us here from the eldest to the youngest, from the employed to the unemployed. It's that mix and that fabric we have as Members of the Legislative Assembly, a duty and responsibility to represent them fairly. So I thank you all for your vote of confidence in me as proceeding as your Premier in the 16th Legislative Assembly.

But as I said earlier, it is the Members of this Assembly that have the power and the authority and, I believe, in working together to make a difference. We will have some tough decisions, but we will be working together to make it happen.

I would especially like to thank my wife, Shawna, for saying yes, you can let your name stand, because ultimately it's going to be a sacrifice to the family as well. I thank my family support for their belief in me that I can do this job. As you heard me referencing, the reason it hit such a soft part of my heart when I referenced my father, it was a couple years ago, before he passed away, he asked me, when's the next election. I said it was October 2007. He looked at me as only he could and he said, my boy, one more time, and this time the top job. He

always had a wish that his children would work in an office, and his wish has come true and I thank you all for helping make that a reality. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Roland. I will now adjourn our proceedings for this morning. We will reconvene at 1:30 this afternoon for election of Executive Council.

---SHORT RECESS