Transcript of meeting #1 for Territorial Leadership Committee in the 17th Assembly.
The winning word was work.
Call to Order
Call to Order
Tim Mercer Clerk Of The House
Good morning, Members. You can be seated for now. As Clerk of the Legislative Assembly, it is my duty to call the meeting of the Territorial Leadership Committee to order and to preside over the election of a Speaker this morning.
Prayer
Prayer
Tim Mercer Clerk Of The House
I would like you first to rise and I will ask Mr. Moses, the Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, to lead us in an opening prayer.
---Prayer
Prayer
Prayer
Tim Mercer Clerk Of The House
Thank you, Mr. Moses. Before we begin today, I’d like to take this opportunity to recognize some important guests in the gallery today.
I’d like to recognize the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly and the former Member for Hay River North, the Honourable Paul Delorey.
---Applause
I’d also like to recognize the Premier of the Northwest Territories and the former Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, the Honourable Floyd Roland.
---Applause
I’d also like to recognize the Minister of Transportation and the Minister of Public Works and Services and the former Member for Deh Cho, the Honourable Michael McLeod.
---Applause
Welcome, gentlemen. It’s good to see you in the gallery this morning.
Review and Adoption of Agenda
Review and Adoption of Agenda
Tim Mercer Clerk Of The House
All Members have a copy of the agenda in front of them. The next item on the agenda is the review and adoption of the agenda. Are there any additions or deletions to the agenda? Seeing none, is the agenda for the Territorial Leadership Committee meeting agreed?
Review and Adoption of Agenda
Review and Adoption of Agenda
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Opening Remarks by the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly
Opening Remarks by the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly
Tim Mercer Clerk Of The House
Thank you, Members. This is the first meeting of the Territorial Leadership Committee for the Members of the 17th Legislative Assembly. In front of you, in
addition to the agenda, is a package of information and various forms including the guidelines and procedures for the selection of your Speaker, Premier and members of the Executive Council. There are several items that will assist Members in addressing how they are to conduct their proceedings in this committee today.
The process for the election of the Speaker will begin with self-nominations from the floor. In accordance with your agreed upon procedures, I will ask Members to indicate whether they wish to allow their names to stand for the Speaker’s position. Once Members indicate their interest, each candidate will be permitted to make a five- minute speech. The speeches will be made in alphabetical order by surname. Questions to the candidates will not be permitted. Voting will then commence by secret ballot. If only one nomination is received, the Member shall be acclaimed. Are all members of the committee in agreement with this process for the selection of the Speaker?
Opening Remarks by the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly
Opening Remarks by the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly
Some Hon. Members
Agreed.
Opening Remarks by the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly
Opening Remarks by the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly
Tim Mercer Clerk Of The House
Thank you, Members. Once you have chosen your Speaker-elect, that individual will assume the chair of the Territorial Leadership Committee and will preside over your proceedings for the balance of the day.
With regard to some technical matters, Members should be aware that you are not required to turn on your microphones, to turn them on or off. That will be done automatically for you by our sound technicians.
Also in front of Members and built into your desks are the timing mechanisms. When speeches are being made, the clocks will count down the time available to you, and you are asked to be mindful of
the time limits that have been set and agreed to by all Members.
I wish to make Members aware of the fact that portions of your proceedings today are being broadcast live on the Legislative Assembly Television Network throughout the Northwest Territories. They will be rebroadcast this evening. Our proceedings today are being simultaneously translated into the Tlicho and South Slavey languages. Tlicho is on Channel 2 and South Slavey is on Channel 3. The language of the floor is on Channel 1.
I would also like to remind Members that this is a less formal committee meeting than the House itself. When Members do wish to speak, they have the option of remaining seated or standing.
Election of Speaker
Election of Speaker
Tim Mercer Clerk Of The House
The next item on the agenda, Members, is item 5, the election of a Speaker. You have the Speaker selection guidelines in your packages. As per the guidelines, my first duty is to ask all Members that wish to allow their names to stand for the position of Speaker to rise in their places.
I have Mr. Jacobson, who has risen to allow his name to stand for the position of Speaker. I have no other names. As such, I now declare the nomination process to be closed and it is my duty to advise you that you have elected by acclamation Mr. Jackie Jacobson, the Member for Nunakput, as your Speaker-elect. Congratulations, Mr. Jacobson.
---Applause
Results
Election of Speaker
Tim Mercer Clerk Of The House
The appointment will be confirmed by motion in the House tomorrow, and at this time I would like to ask Mr. Jacobson to assume the chair of the Territorial Leadership Committee.
Speaker-elect Assumes Chair of Territorial Leadership Committee
Speaker-elect Assumes Chair of Territorial Leadership Committee
The Chair Jackie Jacobson
Thank you, everyone. I’d like to thank you all for the trust you have placed in me. As your Speaker-elect, I’ll have something more to say tomorrow when the 17th Legislative Assembly officially opens.
Election of the Premier
Election of the Premier
The Chair Jackie Jacobson
The next item on the agenda is the election of the Premier. Our agreed upon procedures will see us call for self-nominations for the Premier position. I will ask Members to indicate whether they wish to allow their names to stand for the Premier’s position. This will be followed by speeches from the
candidates and a series of questions to the candidates. I’ll ask Members who wish to allow their names to stand for position of Premier to please rise in their place.
Mr. Menicoche, Mr. Bob McLeod, Mr. Miltenberger.
Thank you, Mr. Bob McLeod, Mr. Menicoche, Mr. Miltenberger. Mr. McLeod, you have 20 minutes on the clock.
Mr. Bob McLeod’s Candidacy Speech
Candidates' Speeches
Election of the Premier
Bob McLeod Yellowknife South
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Colleagues, first allow me to congratulate each and every one of you on your election to the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories.
I stand before you today to seek your support as the 12th Premier of the Northwest Territories. The
road here is not always an easy one and I will look forward to working with all of you in the years to come. The people of the Northwest Territories are relying on us to work together and we will not disappoint them.
There are many important issues we need to discuss immediately to ensure each one of us has the opportunity to set the priorities of the 17th Assembly. We must seek to understand one another to achieve a strategic vision for the Northwest Territories. Many of us have heard the same issues from our constituents: the need for infrastructure investment, a strong economy, employment opportunities for Northerners, a balanced approach to development, environmental stewardship, the need to address the cost of living in all communities, to address issues of poverty, housing and, our most critical governance issue, devolution.
As Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Human Resources, and Minister responsible for the Public Utilities Board in the 16th Assembly, I’ve had
the privilege of working with many of you directly to complete a number of significant initiatives for our territory. Some of these initiatives include establishing a customer service focus for the delivery of human resource programs and services, focusing on energy initiatives through the Ministerial Energy Coordinating Committee to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels to renewable and alternative energy, and perhaps the one initiative that best embodies our ability to work together is the electricity rate reforms that have lowered the cost of electricity and lowered the cost of living throughout the Northwest Territories. We should all be very proud of our ability to work together on that strategy and fulfill our promise to reduce the cost of living in the small communities.
If elected Premier, I will continue to collaborate with you to fulfill the strategic goals of the 17th Assembly. We should acknowledge the continuous improvements we have made in education and opportunities for our youth. Over the past five years we’ve invested hundreds of millions of dollars in new schools and school-based community infrastructure like gymnasiums that double as community facilities. We’ve made these investments to ensure that all youth have an opportunity to get an education close to home.
The next step for our young people is jobs. The Northwest Territories Mine Training Society has successfully trained and placed more than 800 Northerners in our mining sector. Over the next five years the Northwest Territories mining industry will need 1,400 more employees. Once the Devolution Agreement is successfully negotiated, many professional positions will be transferred from the federal government. We’ll be in a position to offer some of these jobs to young Northwest Territories graduates. Many workers will be in demand and we must continue to prepare our young people for employment opportunities. Working together, the 17th Legislative Assembly can continue to support
our youth and help develop the next generation of Northwest Territories leaders.
The most critical governance issue facing the 17th Assembly is devolution. In my view, we should start thinking about this initiative as evolution, not devolution. It’s the next logical step in the evolution of our territory and the evolution of our place in Confederation. Our task will be to gain control of subsurface rights for the people of the North so that we can better manage the pace and conditions of development and, to the extent we do so wisely, enjoy the benefits of that development. For too long as a government we have borne the responsibilities of government without its full benefits, without the revenues needed to maintain our territory and support our people.
I believe that the agreement-in-principle offers many benefits: $85 million annually for 350 jobs transferred from the federal to the territorial government. The AIP also grandfathers environmental liabilities that will be borne by the federal government. We will not be liable for the hundreds of millions of dollars of mitigation that must take place. Fifty to sixty million dollars annually in additional financial transfers. These transfers represent new employment opportunities in the Northwest Territories and will relieve pressure on the debt cap that may limit our ability to forge ahead with new capital projects.
We will seek to share this new revenue with Aboriginal governments throughout the Northwest Territories and we must work with them. Together we will find a way to make this happen. I have a track record of successful collaboration and I will seek to work with Aboriginal governments to determine how best to share the revenues and the
new responsibilities we gain back from Ottawa in a way that builds on our individual strengths while not further splintering our already limited capacity. I ask all Aboriginal leaders to enter into these discussions with a clear understanding that we are all stronger together than we are apart.
At this time, perhaps more than any other in the history of the Northwest Territories, we have the opportunity to guarantee the future health and prosperity of Northerners. With devolution we will see the control of our land and water in the hands of Northerners where it belongs. We need the opportunity to invest in our people, to put funding in community programs that will best support residents, and to allow us the opportunity to invest in the long-term needs of this territory.
Devolution is evolution. It is the natural change and growth that this territory needs. To critics on the sidelines who say it can’t be done I say it must be done. We must acquire full decision-making rights for our future or be subject to a distant master with other priorities. Working together, the 17th Legislative Assembly can secure the future of the Northwest Territories.
While the discussions about devolution will take our time and energy, we must also consider how we will bring a renewed focus to the economy. We often talk about the vast potential of resources in the Northwest Territories. There is probably no disagreement amongst Members of this House that there is indeed vast potential. The question we must ask ourselves is: what do we believe must happen with those resources? Let’s find an answer to that question, an answer that considers that we must create employment, we must seek to control the cost of living, we must invest in cleaner energy solutions, and we must remain vigilant in the sustainable use of our land and water.
There is a need for an economic strategy, responsive to changing economic conditions which will be critical to our ability to invest in and stabilize the northern economy. I have heard calls for a resource development strategy. I have heard concerns about exploration investment declining in the Northwest Territories. I have heard calls for increased environmental stewardship. My response is simple: we must take a balanced approach; not a high-wire balancing act where the impacts of a development could be catastrophic, but a solid, balanced approach that allows economic growth, employment for Northerners and conservation of our land.
As many of you know, we have opportunities in other sectors including manufacturing, agriculture and tourism. I am particularly excited by the vast potential for diversifying community economies, providing employment and highlighting aspects of
Aboriginal culture and languages that the tourism sector offers.
The Northwest Territories is not immune from the volatility of the global economy, and now, more than ever, our fiscal situation requires that we quickly agree how this government will continue to provide the level of service that our constituents have come to expect. I won’t sugar coat this: we are in a tough situation.
Without increased revenue we will have to decrease our spending. However, if we are able to act quickly and come together on the devolution file, I believe we may be able to stabilize our fiscal situation and minimize impacts on residents of the Northwest Territories. There will be some short- term fiscal challenges we must address, but I believe we can do that in the responsible and considered way.
We also need to undertake a focused initiative to convince the Government of Canada to increase the federal northern resident income tax deduction. As Northerners, we are entitled to a standard of living similar to southern Canadians and we should not be unfairly penalized for choosing to live in the Northwest Territories. We need discussion about the impact of taxes on the cost of living. Our economy is a small one but one that directly impacts the lives of Northerners. It is an economy that, I believe, as Premier I could help lead to better times for all of us by working to expand each of its many elements.
During my four years as Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment I have made valuable inroads with industry leaders and decision-makers. I would, as Premier, get to know them even better and work with their representatives to build a strong northern economy. As we were told by the National Energy Board in its written decision into the Mackenzie Gas Project, it takes a good economy to take care of the land and the people.
In addition to growing our economy, we must strive to keep more of its benefits here in the North. Resource revenues do us no good when they flow to Ottawa while we bear the costs of the development activity. Our people want and need to know that prosperity, jobs and property values are secure for the long term. I want that too.
Our diamond mines have been the engines of prosperity for a decade. They will begin to wind down over the next eight to 10 years. We must work together to ensure other environmentally sustainable resource projects have the ability to fill the economic void. The Conference Board of Canada has identified eight new mine projects that will come on stream over the next 10 years. To make them a reality, a secure and prosperous future, we must clear a path for them to succeed.
I say that if our neighbours to the east and west of us are able to streamline regulatory processes without giving up control, then we can too. Devolution will put more of that oversight in our hands and enable us to move regulatory reform forward so that investors can return to the Northwest Territories with certainty, and our people can look ahead with confidence. Working together, the 17th Legislative Assembly can ensure future
prosperity for the Northwest Territories.
We cannot talk about the economy without talking about critical infrastructure. Over the past several years we have invested heavily in education, community facilities and airports. These are investments in the future of our people. Over the next several years we need to invest in projects like the Tuktoyaktuk-Inuvik highway and the Mackenzie Gas Pipeline. These projects have the support of the federal government and we need to work together to push both of these projects to the finish line.
In my view, other projects like the Mackenzie fibre optic corridor and the Mackenzie Highway need to get off the drawing board. We can’t afford to do everything at once, but if we work together, we can build critical infrastructure that binds our territory and our people together in a way that’s never before happened in our history. Greater infrastructure will be the key to reducing our costs of living. It’s time to get down to work on the critical infrastructure that will support our long-term prosperity.
As Northerners, we have a deep and unique connection with the land. The land and environment is a constant presence in our lives. I believe that to protect the land, water and wildlife is to respect land, water and wildlife. By respecting our vast and spectacular wilderness, we are able to ensure that we use the resources wisely that have been provided to us.
As I said earlier, there is no room for an uninformed approach to development. We must consider all factors and ensure we take the balanced, sustainable approach. We can do that through many initiatives including ongoing investment and increased focus on developing alternative energy sources. If we are to protect and respect this land, we must move away from our dependence on fossil fuels. The costs of not investing in alternative energy sources are just too high for future generations to bear. Working together, the 17th Assembly can ensure a balanced and sustainable approach that secures a healthy environment for future generations.
As Northerners, we enjoy the lifestyle and much of our current prosperity because those before us paved the way. I’m talking about our elders and our senior citizens. They represent the segment of our
society that has earned our support. I know that many of them are concerned with the continuum of care, supplemental health benefits and future availability of seniors housing. As we age, our care needs become more complex. We don’t have the resources to fully implement an end-to-end continuum of care immediately, but we can continue to bridge the gaps one step at a time. Supplemental health benefits shouldn’t be an issue for our seniors and elders. Working together, the 17th Assembly can help ensure our seniors and
elders are taken care of.
Many people in communities across the Northwest Territories continue to struggle with maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Substance abuse, mental health and addictions are eroding the fabric of families and communities. We need to address issues of wellness, poverty and addictions. This is not something this government can do alone, and I am calling on the Members of this House to seek alternative solutions to address issues of poverty and wellness in our territory. As Premier, I would want to see this government seek the counsel of elders, youth, Aboriginal governments and social agencies to develop a strategy that will help us address root causes of poverty. This includes homelessness, a review of income support and identifying ways to provide individual support closer to home.
I believe strongly that a poverty reduction strategy needs to link closely to the economic development and resource development strategy I spoke about earlier. I believe we must address issues of addictions at the same time as we are seeking to keep our homes and communities safe. The police play a significant role in ensuring public safety, and I will continue to advocate for resources and support that allows the RCMP to focus on community-based policing.
Our health care system is one of the best in Canada, but the system is under pressure. That is why I believe we must continue with the vision laid out in the Building on our Foundation strategic plan that includes the high level reform initiatives we must address to ensure the long-term health and well-being of our residents. This, along with renegotiations of critical health care funding agreements with the federal government, will ensure the 17th Assembly maintains a strong
commitment to a high quality and responsive health care system for our residents.
There is important work to do in the 17th Legislative
Assembly. We must seize opportunities, resolve issues and get the job done. There is only one way we will succeed, and that way is through collaboration built on a foundation of trust that’s been forged in a long-term relationship.
I was raised in the small Northwest Territories community of Fort Providence and have stayed in touch with my roots. As a civil servant, I worked through many important processes with our Aboriginal leaders past and present. The greatest attribute I can bring to negotiations with our Aboriginal leaders is trust that is built on many years of working together. Federal relationships are no less complex. I have the ability to communicate effectively and develop relationships with all levels of government. These relationships and my understanding of the federal arena are assets that I will put to work if given the honour of becoming your Premier.
My personal style is to be inclusive, to be open to new ideas – your ideas – and to work in a transparent way to bring your energy, commitment and ideas into real benefits for the people we represent. We have real challenges ahead of us. We also have opportunities. We need strong- minded leaders to address those challenges and aspire to great achievements.
To Members of this House, I ask for your vote, not as the Premier of the Northwest Territories but as Premier for the Northwest Territories. We are all in this together and together we will always find a way. Thank you.
Candidates' Speeches
Election of the Premier
Mr. Menicoche’s Candidacy Speech
Candidates' Speeches
Election of the Premier
Kevin A. Menicoche Nahendeh
Thank you, Mr. Chair. MLA colleagues and NWT residents listening, I am grateful and humble to be re-elected for a third term and the opportunity to stand my name for premiership of the Northwest Territories.
As the MLA for Nahendeh, I have represented six communities for eight years, with commitment, dedication and energy. I would do the same for all 33 communities and Members of this Assembly.
Earlier this week I put an ad in the newspaper, calling on all people of the NWT to get involved in this Premier’s race. This is the kind of creativity that I will bring to this office. I am not afraid to think outside the box. I am not afraid of change. I don’t think you are either. I believe in a new, vibrant, forward-looking Premier and Cabinet that can engage all residents and stakeholders in our North. I am committed to this change.
I believe that I can bring change to this Assembly and my vision is a strong, united North that everyone wants: a North for this Legislature, Aboriginal and community governments and the people of the NWT working in partnership to create a place where we respect each other, the environment and the land; a North where large and small communities can prosper; a North that values
individuals, their uniqueness; a North that meets the needs of its residents by providing quality health care, good housing, transportation infrastructure and excellent education.
To accomplish this vision, we need to have a strong Legislature with a strong leader, one that works together in a positive way to build consensus and move forward within this Assembly. I believe I can be that next Premier of the NWT. I have proven myself to be a team player and a consensus builder during my term as MLA.
For the past eight years Premiers have come from the larger centres in this Northwest Territories. I believe that a Premier from the region will bring the small communities’ perspective into the governing affairs of the Northwest Territories and it is healthy to do so. I also believe that our consensus style of government demands that we do have alternate premierships from the regions and small communities and balance it off for the larger communities.
Consensus government is a unique system, one that is our own, and as MLAs, we all need to believe and work together to make this style of government work for us and the Northwest Territories. My approach as Premier will be to bring the issues to you – the Members of this Assembly – whether it is health care reform, the requirement for legislative change, or the need for new programming or fiscal restraint. You all have to be part of this solution. I will listen to your recommendations and implement decisions based on the agreed to approach. Communication is a two-way channel. The Premier and Cabinet need to properly listen to your concerns and those of your constituents, and in turn Cabinet and Ministers and the Premier must provide you with timely and proper information.
My vision: my team includes all 19 MLAs working together for the common good. I look forward to that.
During the 16th Assembly I raised an issue about
the lack of consultation on the Devolution Agreement-in-Principle, and now it is one of our main issues as we move forward. I do believe that devolution is good for the Northwest Territories and our residents. However, an agreement-in-principle that does not involve our Aboriginal governments is destined for failure. We have to build on the meeting of last week wherein our Caucus and the Aboriginal governments met. I am committed to work with Aboriginal governments and to recognize them as governments. However, an agreement-in- principle without the input of all our Aboriginal governments will further erode the relationships between this government, the communities and the people of the Northwest Territories. We all need to work together, this Assembly, Aboriginal
governments and people of the NWT. Only then we will see success and reap the benefits of our lands and resources.
To facilitate this process, I am proposing an Aboriginal devolution commission established within 120 days of the new government. The purpose of this commission would be to bring Aboriginal governments together to review the agreement-in-principle, propose recommendations, provide input, and I believe that this process will allow our Aboriginal governments to know that they have our respect that we can work with them. Having them at this table would allow us to move forward on this important initiative of devolution. I am also further proposing an Aboriginal liaison officer working directly with Cabinet to achieve this goal.
Our fiscal reality will mean that we need to look at costs, effective and efficient programs and services to meet the needs of our residents. This is a significant challenge for us. As a government and for the people of the NWT, we will need to ensure that the funding we approve for programs and services will accomplish our goals set out. We need to maximize the benefit of every dollar spent. I am committed to working with you and the public service to ensure that investments are making and are paying off, and that we are getting the expected results from each of these programs and services. We simply must instill a mindset of continuous improvement in all of our affairs in government.
Poverty is one of the big issues facing our residents. Questions around what Members would do to reduce poverty in the NWT were prevalent throughout the NWT elections. We know that this single issue is foremost in many MLAs’ minds. I believe a new government needs to make a commitment to action on this issue. I believe solutions to poverty in all of our communities must involve everyone: businesses, industry, non- government organizations, Aboriginal and community governments, the Government of Canada and the people themselves. I am committed to working with each of you to come up with solutions. I am further committed to resourcing these solutions and to working with other organizations to find ways to reduce the cost of living and increase the quality of life for the people of the NWT. Together we can find sustainable solutions.
In the 16th Assembly a lot of NWT residents were
upset on how government managed the review and creation of the new and revised Wildlife Act. We all agree that this act needs to be reviewed and revisited in this 17th Assembly. However, I want this
act to go through an extensive and open consultation so that all residents and stakeholders are involved from the start and ensure a transparent process.
I also agree and see that the GNWT must do more to reduce its carbon footprint. I would like to see an implementation plan and the creation of a taskforce recommend to this Legislature actions stemming from our greenhouse gas reduction target strategy. Not all can be achieved, but we simply must keep up with the rest of the world in this regard. In order for our residents to reap the benefits of our economy, we need an educated and trained workforce; a workforce that is best in the world when it comes to knowledge, skills and abilities. This means that this Assembly will need to examine the programs currently being offered to our children, youth and adults to ensure that they are meeting the needs of the people and employers of the NWT and beyond.
I propose that increasing our graduation rates in our schools is a first big step, and it is a measurable and attainable goal, colleagues.
I believe in better development. I further believe that we need to ensure that our environment is inspected and the people of the North benefit from the non-renewable resource extraction. Sustainable, planned and manageable development is the key to development of the Northwest Territories.
I have been a strong advocate for the Mackenzie Valley Highway extension including a fibre optic link as necessary, and supportive of the Mackenzie Valley Gas Pipeline Project. I also strongly support the federal initiative of the Inuvik-Tuk highway, which will make northern communities less isolated, create jobs and be open for more positive development. We need to come up with a balanced approach to sustainable development, one that protects the lands and the people but also encourages continued participation of industry in our territory.
Every Assembly has struggled with roads, schools and housing for our residents; this Assembly will be no different. We will be asked to find solutions to our infrastructure in our territory. This is a sizable issue, but with your input and your collaboration, we can find solutions. For example, in our biggest community, Yellowknife, we have Northland. It’s not really part of government, but government can play a part in that, as well as in Norman Wells where we’ve got gas issues and have to change everything over. I believe we can look at solutions. Together we can identify and meet the needs of our residents. We can do it.
The Government of the Northwest Territories needs to promote a healthy lifestyle for all our residents. We need to educate our residents about the benefits of living a healthy lifestyle and the benefit it will also have to our health care system. To do that, we must have our government strategy for the promotion of a healthy lifestyle.
We do have the current Foundation for Change strategy, but we must continue to believe in it and continue to implement its goals and objectives, and I ask you all, we must make this decision.
In addition, I know and see the need to improve the delivery of health care to smaller remote communities, and return central programs and services so that it can properly serve all the residents.
As Premier, I would expect all my Cabinet Ministers to conduct tours to each constituency within the first two years of their mandate, to listen and understand the reality of the Northwest Territories communities and regions. As Premier, I intend to lead by example and commit to do that as well. In addition, I will commit to visit and meet with all Aboriginal governments within the first six months of office. This will contribute to creating strong partnerships between the Government of the Northwest Territories and Aboriginal governments.
On the same token, we also need to improve our lobbying effort and relationship with the federal government. I will properly staff our NWT bureau in Ottawa and make this part of an intergovernmental engagement strategy, which will include all Members of this Assembly, to raise the presence of the Northwest Territories in Ottawa and influence positively legislation and policies to reflect the Northwest Territories needs.
Together we are a strong team, a team that can move forward towards a strong and united North. However, in order to do this effectively, we will need a strong and focussed Premier who will be able to rally support, seek consensus and effectively communicate the government vision to our fellow Northerners, to our partners, Aboriginal governments.
With my dedication, commitment, leadership and energy, I strongly believe I can be the leader of change in the 17th Assembly.
The people of the NWT are unique. NWT is a unique territory, one that is rich in culture and heritage. As a government, we need to sustain its uniqueness by protecting and encouraging the people of the NWT to revitalize the languages and cultural practices that make us unique.
We need to support the revitalization of the Aboriginal languages. We need to improve our youth’s understanding of our traditional ways. We need to support artists, our writers, filmmakers, song writers. It is through these endeavours that we will showcase the NWT as a strong and united North that is rich in culture and diversity, a North we all can be proud to call home.
More so than many of the Assemblies that have come before us, we need to be strong and
focussed, and consider all the impacts of any decisions we make. As the old sports proverb goes: “There is no ‘I’ in team.”
Individually we cannot do this, but as a team we can be change agents for the Northwest Territories. I’m committed to working as a team to bring the Northwest Territories – your home, my home – forward towards a strong, united North. As your leader, I know I cannot do this alone. We all need to work together effectively and cohesively to accomplish what lies before us.
I am a team player. I listen, I work well with others and I am a consensus builder. I also strongly believe that communication is a two-way process in which we must be genuine and respectful. By doing so, we will build a strong Northwest Territories and this team will be ready to face any challenges put in front of this Assembly. This Assembly and the people of the NWT want a change in the NWT, because if nothing changes, nothing changes.
I am glad for your open minds and hearts as I made my speech to you today. When you vote later today for your Premier, vote for commitment, dedication, leadership, energy. Vote for a Premier who will commit to you to make the NWT strong and united. Vote for a Premier who believes in change and is not afraid to think outside the box. Vote for Kevin Menicoche. Mahsi cho.
Candidates' Speeches
Election of the Premier
Mr. Miltenberger’s Candidacy Speech
Candidates' Speeches
Election of the Premier
Michael Miltenberger Thebacha
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Congratulations. Colleagues, welcome to the Assembly. People of the Northwest Territories, thank you for joining in, listening and watching.
The Northwest Territories, our collective home, is a place of tremendous natural beauty. It’s a place of great wealth in natural resources. The diversity of our people is one of our greatest assets. We have a relationship as a public government with Aboriginal governments that does not exist in any other jurisdiction in this country. Our capital city, Yellowknife, is one of the most recognized progressive cities in the country. This is a land of great opportunity. It is a land where we have unique northern lifestyles in our communities.
We do, as well, have a very high level of services, but it is not without challenges. We have cost of living issues; we have a disparity between large and small, north and south. How do we deal with that? We have housing issues, as every Member knows. We have issues with health. We have issues with education, employment, infrastructure. We have issues in terms of the balance between land, water and animals, and resource development. We have this issue because we do
not have control over the decision-making that would allow us to control those very critical processes.
We face the challenge of time. We started this Assembly with 1,460 days. We are now at 1,434 days; the clock never stops ticking. We have challenges with money. What is the way forward?
People need and ask for control. They ask for decision-making in the North. Since 1967 – 44 years – we have been on a path to political evolution, to greater responsibility. Not only the public government but the Aboriginal governments. Land claims have been settled: Inuvialuit, Gwich’in, Sahtu, Tlicho. At the same time we have taken over education, forestry, health. We managed our way through the division of the Northwest Territories; the last partitioning of Canada that will ever occur in our lifetime. Now we are at the next step, the final piece of the devolution process: taking over the decision- making for land, water and resource development.
People tell us we don’t have enough money. We need infrastructure. We need programs. We need resources. People tell us we want to be able to have the final say in what our regulatory regime is going to look like. They tell us they want to have a say in how our water is going to be protected and what we’re going to do with the animals. Then the way is clear. As my colleague Mr. McLeod pointed out, devolution is the single biggest political priority in the life of this Assembly. It will bring money to the North. In the last five years we’ve left over $300 million on the table just on the resource sharing part, $65 million a year to our A-base for operations, 175 jobs to come north that we will commit to move out to the regions and to the communities in discreet operational pieces that make sense but that will spread the wealth of devolution around.
We need the political control. We’re the last two jurisdictions in the country that do not have the right to say how the land, water and resource development will happen. We have to wait for the distant master in Ottawa.
To do this we need to conclude this process. We need to look at our land use framework that was to be done in the 16th Assembly that was not done.
We need to do the work in a way that allows us to collaborate with our most natural allies, the Aboriginal governments.
The body that we collectively as Northerners face and negotiate with is Ottawa. It should not be with each other with Ottawa watching us. We have to collectively, through the path that we have learned works, through the Water Strategy process, through the Wildlife Act strategy process, through the process we used with the Species at Risk Act where the Aboriginal governments and working
groups with public government collectively got a Water Strategy that is held in high regard across the land, a Wildlife Act that, with all its problems, demonstrated that we can work together and deliver world-class legislation. The Species at Risk Act is another process. Working with the Aboriginal governments, hands on the pen, we can do this.
We cannot turn our back on the political levers; we cannot continue to turn our back on all the money that is not going to be retroactive that we’re never going to get back; not when we will all stand up in this House and we will all say we need more money for housing, for health, for education, for roads, for libraries, for schools, for food programs. We have to be consistent. We have to be collaborative. We have to get this piece done.
Another important piece we have to conclude, tied to devolution, is we have some very, very important transboundary water negotiations that are currently underway with Alberta, Saskatchewan and British Columbia. The headwaters of most of our rivers are in other jurisdictions. Water has been identified as one of the biggest single concerns that unify Northerners. Those negotiations are critical to conclude. They have to be legally binding and they have to offer the protection that all our constituents tell us that they want as we look at the concerns of the development that is happening in other jurisdictions and us, the Northwest Territories, being the downstream jurisdiction that is the recipient of the results of a lot of that decision- making.
As we look at all the challenges ahead of us, the most immediate ones are going to be the managing of the budget, the $1.3 billion that we spend yearly on behalf of our constituents. We are now at a time where we have to approve a capital plan where we know infrastructure needs exceed our ability to pay, that there is constant upward pressure on all the services we provide.
We have borrowing limit negotiations underway with the federal government that have to be concluded. We are very confident that we will have a successful conclusion to that, but we have to get that piece done if we are going to give ourselves the fiscal flexibility as a new Assembly to do the very many things that we are collectively going to say need to be done as we finally establish our priorities.
We do have to revitalize our Ottawa office. We have to have a closer working relationship with the federal government on a daily basis. We need feet on the ground in Ottawa with capable resources that know our priorities, that will open doors, that will push our message when we are not there, that will help us arrange meetings for when we go on our very many travels to Ottawa to push our priorities. We have to have, as well, a very good
working relationship with our Member of Parliament, duly elected by the people of the Northwest Territories, who is there to represent us. We have to look at every opportunity and avenue in Ottawa to advance our interests.
As I’ve indicated, we have to sit down with the Aboriginal governments and work out our relationship. We have to remind them of the good work that’s been done with the Water Strategy, the Wildlife Act, the Species at Risk Act, that we can do this. Collectively we can do this. We have done it; we know we can do it. The pressure is on us on this, our single biggest political priority.
Another key area of concern is the maintaining of programs and services. The whole range from those yet to be born, to our seniors. We have to look for government efficiencies to see where we can do the job better. To see where, if necessary, we can re-profile money. We know right now we are in the process of having to negotiate four collective agreements in a time of fiscal restraint, in a time of cost cutting across the land; we have to do that in a fair way that recognizes those realities.
We are spending 65 cents of every dollar on social programs. Health costs are an immediate continuing pressure. There are things we have to do. We have to try to continue to push – and this has been an issue for me in my 16 years in this Assembly – we have to be prepared to continue to push Northerners to start making the right choices when it comes to personal choices: smoking, drinking, diet, exercise; four simple things that would free up for us as a territory resources to put to use that are now going to be consumed addressing those issues. We have talked about prevention over the years but we have only managed to put less than a percent of our health budget towards prevention. I would suggest to you that as an Assembly that we should be targeting that number to increase over the life of this Assembly to 2 percent so that we can do the work that we say needs to be done in health, education, MACA, working at the front end with the children and the youth to help them make the right choices, to create the environment for those right choices to be made.
We spent a lot of the last Assembly talking about an Anti-Poverty Strategy. This is an issue that is work undone. I suggest once again, given all the time that we’ve already had this on the government table, on this legislative table, that we should say within six months we want an Anti-Poverty Strategy on our table that we can move forward with, that we can start to address the very many wide ranges of issues that have to be done.
As we look at our struggles and our challenges, infrastructure is there. The biggest one to me that has the potential to benefit most immediately
Northerners is the fibre optic link from Inuvik down the valley, hooking in all the communities along the way that will make Inuvik one of only two sites in the whole world that has a remote sensing capability that will give Inuvik a non-renewable resource-based economy. It will bring significant resources into the Beaufort-Delta. It will allow every community up and down the valley to have the best communication systems so that telehealth works, so that the children can use the libraries, so that businesses can do their work in the communities knowing that it’s economically viable. There will be no excuse not to move jobs outside of Yellowknife because we don’t have the capability and services outside of Yellowknife. I speak specifically of those jobs from devolution.
Pending a successful conclusion of the borrowing limit, we have to be able to look at the Tuk-Inuvik highway to conclude that. It’s a national priority. We have to find a way to do our part to make this one go ahead.
We have to look at how we do our capital planning. Once again pending a successful conclusion with our borrowing limit discussions. We have about half a billion dollars of health facility work that needs to be done, not to mention all the other capital needs: Stanton, Hay River, Norman Wells, Fort Simpson – our four facilities that either need to be replaced or renewed. That challenge alone is going to require us to look at all the possibilities and options that we have available to meet those needs. At the same time, to continue to address the broader needs in all the other areas where capital infrastructure investment is required.
The Mackenzie Valley Highway remains a very significant piece of work for us as a territory that will help open up the valley, hopefully tied at some point to the pipeline, which will in fact be the biggest game changer of them all. As Mr. McLeod indicated, the signs that we are hearing seem very positive that this in fact may become a reality.
Those capital infrastructure needs and all the other ones that we have before us challenge us, but it is doable. We have to manage our way through this collectively. We have to do the things necessary to try to realize this and look at how we do our capital planning process. Those are some of the key areas that we have to work on that we, I think, all collectively agree are issues of concern. The path today is to pick the person best suited to do the work; do the work with the Assembly, do the work with the communities of the Northwest Territories, do the work with the other levels of government.
You have been taking our measure. Now, for some you’ve taken the measure of myself. For 16 years I’ve been in this House. We’ve spent the last two weeks together in very intimate, close contact, finding out once again the measure of the people
that are putting their names forward both for Premier and for Cabinet. In my case, 16 years in this Assembly, 10 years in Cabinet. I have had portfolios that are challenging: education, health for five and a half years, environment for five years, Finance Minister for three, workers’ compensation. Looking at those, you add up the issues of experience, you want to look at the issues of work ethic, you want to look at the issues of are we and will we be, individually and collectively, the role models that we have to be for the people of the Northwest Territories in terms of how we do work. As we tell people to make the right personal choices, we have to be prepared to do that as well.
My record is there for observation. It’s there for scrutiny. Can I get things done? I will say yes. If I look just at this Assembly alone, some of the things that have happened that I have been responsible for are the Water Strategy, the Species at Risk Act, the Wildlife Act, the Greenhouse Gas Strategy. We’ve come out with three good budgets in a time that has been labelled the worst economic time. We brought forward a Heritage Fund. I was instrumental in bringing forward the $60 million that we needed for the alternative energy initiatives that I think we all agree have to be brought forward and continued in some way. Wind, biomass, solar, recycling, a balanced budget so that we have enough money to do the work. We’ve avoided program cuts, we’ve avoided layoffs. That’s because collectively we’ve made the choices necessary, and in that case we came forward with a budget that was accepted by this Assembly after all of the discussions.
So today the challenge is in the next few minutes to make a decision which of us is best suited after having taken our measure to represent the people of the Northwest Territories as Premier, to move the priority list of this Assembly and of the people of the Northwest Territories forward to get things done. That will be our challenge, that will be our task collectively in the next few minutes, and I thank you for your time and it’s been an honour to be here. Thank you.
Questions By Members
Election of the Premier
The Chair Jackie Jacobson
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Members, now we’re permitted to ask a maximum of two questions that are directed to the Premier candidates. The floor is now open for questions. Mr. Abernethy.
Questions By Members
Election of the Premier
Glen Abernethy Great Slave
Thank you, Mr. Chair. My first question is about an Anti-Poverty Strategy in the Northwest Territories. I know that the three candidates did touch on it, but I was wondering if I could just dig into a little bit more detail.
Without question, it’s going to take everyone to help break the cycle of poverty in the Northwest
Territories: the federal government, the Aboriginal governments, community governments, territorial government, social advocates, NGOs, as well as business. An effective Anti-Poverty Strategy must address housing, health care, education and the economy.
I’m wondering if I can get each of the candidates to tell me what they’re going to do specifically, and with some detail what they’re going to do as Premier to combat anti-poverty in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Questions By Members
Election of the Premier
Questions By Members
Election of the Premier
Kevin A. Menicoche Nahendeh
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. Thank you very much for that question, Mr. Abernethy.
I believe that we do have to first get together, and once one’s government is selected and the committee structure set up, we do have to make that commitment and focus on the Anti-Poverty Strategy. I’m further committed to have Cabinet, at the executive level, find the resources to make it work. There are some internal resources now, but I would do more than just create a strategy; I would provide some resources to it. I’m not too sure what it would be, but that would get the strategy right off the ground.
Also, I do really believe, like many of our strategies out there in the past, we don’t have an implementation. So I believe that we should also include that as well. Thank you very much.
Questions By Members
Election of the Premier
Questions By Members
Election of the Premier
Michael Miltenberger Thebacha
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This is unfinished business from the 16th Legislative
Assembly. It’s work that we can complete I believe in six months. It has been said in this House it’s not necessarily an issue of a lot of new money. It’s an issue of coming out with a plan that links all the different parts of government that have a role to play with poverty; the health, education, housing, MACA, those type of connections. We need to lay that out. Six months is when I think we can have this done.
What I also think we should do from the Anti- Poverty Strategy and those other issues that cross departmental boundaries is we should set up a committee of Cabinet that is going to reflect the structure of the Social Programs committee so that when we sit collectively at the table, we can talk about the same issues and not have to say you can’t talk to me about that because that’s a housing issue and I’m the Health Minister, or I can’t talk about that because I’m not the Education Minister. We have to set up our systems to allow us to be
efficient, and we can do that, and I believe we can do that in six months.
Questions By Members
Election of the Premier
Questions By Members
Election of the Premier
Bob McLeod Yellowknife South
Thank you, Mr. Chair. As I indicated in my speech, this is something that can’t be done by government alone. We do have information that’s been provided to us by the voluntary sector and I think that very early on we have to make this a priority of this government, we have to bring together other groups, elders, youth, social agencies, industry to all agree on a way to go forward.
Yellowknife has been dealing with the homeless and has become recognized as a leader in how to work together. I think we will develop a coalition. We do have steps to go forward. Also, we need to identify what the government has to do to make it happen. We have to pass legislation for whistleblower legislation so that we can have people that can present us with ideas to go forward, and I think that an Anti-Poverty Strategy is indicated in your question a process of quite a variety of ministries – Housing, Education – and I believe that education is a single key factor that helps people get out of poverty, and of course they need economies where they can get jobs.
When Senator Eggleton was up here to talk about what the Government of Canada has done and outlined steps forward, certainly I agree with most of what he said, and I think that by working together we can have an Anti-Poverty Strategy within six months to a year. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
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