Speaker-elect, Premier-elect, colleagues, I appreciate this opportunity to speak to you and to share my ideas on what I would like to bring to Cabinet with your support.
My entrance into politics four years ago was a surprise to many and a not unexpected turn for me. I would even say that I am not a natural politician. But this is my home and I am totally committed to our people and this land. I have been motivated by wanting to contribute to change and wanting to draw out the connections between decisions that we make on the economy, our social fabric and our environment.
I emphasize the incredible opportunities we have to do things in ways that will benefit our varied cultures and communities, our relationships with our Aboriginal partners, our land, and our engagement of the public. These benefits can also help reduce our costs. As most of you know, I am passionate about this work and I fully appreciate the privilege of working with each of you on behalf of all residents of the Northwest Territories.
Some comments on my background. My education in wildlife biology enabled me to work throughout the Northwest Territories with all cultures, with elders and youth on the land, using both traditional and scientific knowledge. My interests have allowed me considerable experience in the voluntary sector and I have had a lifetime of business experience, beginning with the family hardware business and including 10 years of running my own business until my election in 2007.
As MLA for Weledeh the past four years I have worked on standing committees on Priorities and
Planning, Economic Development and Infrastructure, and Social Programs, as well as the Joint Committee on Climate Change. Throughout I have a record of speaking clearly on issues and perspectives, of being a team player, and of working hard for both my constituents and all people of the NWT.
These are indeed challenging times, fiscally, economically, socially and environmentally. The issues we face demand new and more effective responses. We are up against our debt limit, the global economy is uncertain, the measurements of our social ills are amongst the highest in Canada, and we face galloping climate change and contaminant clean-up issues that few others must confront. Relations with our Aboriginal partners are clearly not at their best. You could almost ask why the heck we would want to be part of the government at this time. Yet, as I am sure is true for you, I see such huge potential for getting things right, for doing things in new and better ways, for realizing that with our modest population size and amazing people and some new approaches, we can achieve great things. How we do this work is crucial.
Fairness is a value that will serve us well in our goal of working together successfully. I want us to have a high standard of integrity and to have the 17th Legislative Assembly earn a reputation of integrity as we do our work. Let’s commit to taking the high road in achieving our goals and priorities. I have sought, and will continue to seek, a respectful approach in my work. I commit to listening closely to what each of you has to say. I, and I know you too, will bring accountability to all that we do.
In Cabinet I will push for an approach that places much greater emphasis on prevention and the development of comprehensive solutions rather than draining our resources and fighting symptoms. I am concerned about our lack of success in reversing the increasing disparity between our small and large communities; disparity in employment, in cost of living, in education, in opportunity. I have many thoughts and ideas that I have spoken to you about on how to achieve progress on this front. As a Yellowknife MLA I state clearly that improving our small community economies will only strengthen our regional centres and our capital city. We can no longer tolerate the worsening conditions people in small communities are experiencing. Briefly, here are some of what I believe are key new elements in tackling this situation.
We now know that investment in good early childhood development programs prevents costly health, educational and justice issues later in life. They can maximize the opportunity for each individual to achieve their full potential. Cultural upheaval, residential school experience and high
cost of living in our small communities are factors that must be overcome to help families provide the best environment for their children to grow during those critical early prenatal and toddler years. Support for our communities to provide programs that nurture young families and their elders will yield huge dividends. Following these up with strong youth programs and education will help us realize these goals.
We also need to apply new principles that support businesses and residents in providing their own basic needs from local and largely renewable resources. For example, if we are building infrastructure such as a school or housing, let’s design it so that the majority of the labour can be from local residents, with schedules and budgets that allow for the extra time and cost this might require. Let’s establish standards requiring that some of the materials and most or all of the energy needs be met with local resources. Let’s provide supports for businesses that subscribe to this approach.
For dealing with the cost of living, it’s essential that heat and power requirements are met with local resources ensuring that bills are paid to the local suppliers and that the associated jobs are retained locally. We need to maximize local food production through strong agricultural policy and sustainable harvesting and preservation of fish and wildlife by local experienced harvesters. If we must use bottled water, let’s at least bottle it locally. All of this nails down dollars within our communities where they circulate many times before leaking away.
Each time dollars are spent, they return investments through income and corporate tax and through cost reductions in income support, energy subsidies and so on. Such an approach will lead to improved skill levels, interest in higher education and entrepreneurship, building community capacity, a strengthened knowledge and engagement with the land, reduced consumption of fossil fuels, a strengthening of our social fabric and reduced poverty levels. But we need to get started to see such returns.
NWT-wide, we need to diversify our economy, strengthening the tourism, agricultural, fisheries, forestry, arts and renewable energy sectors. We must capture full benefits as new mines come on stream and we must provide the mineral industry with regulatory certainty and the types of support that lead to value-added benefits.
The Mackenzie Valley fibre optic line is a priority that we can achieve in this Assembly. The 16th Assembly began work on core services and programs that I am keen to see completed. Housing is a clear priority and I look for a progressive Shelter Policy to guide appropriate action. The Anti- Poverty Strategy must draw on a collaboration of
governments, communities, business, non- government organizations and individuals in poverty for a comprehensive approach.
The Foundation for Change providing guidance on responding to our health needs requires full implementation. The reorganization of mental health services should be complemented with a mental health court that diverts people from costly justice programs into the health care system where appropriate. The new Greenhouse Gas Strategy needs to be fully supported and we must continue to implement the recommendations of the Child and Family Services Act review.
Beyond the need for improved delivery of these core services, the 17th Assembly must demonstrate
strong progress on devolution. This is directly connected to strong progress on our relationship with Aboriginal governments. If the GNWT is to play a real role as a responsible central government with a clear leadership capability eventually going into discussions on constitutional development, a clear next step after devolution, we must demonstrate an ability to establish a relationship of trust and reciprocity with our Aboriginal government partners. To achieve this, we must fully acknowledge the need for this approach, allow the time to achieve it and ensure leadership and vision are clear in laying out and following the steps to reach this goal.
Colleagues, I believe in the value of a consensus government and the results such an approach can yield. As MLA for Ndilo and Dettah and both the oldest and newest parts of Yellowknife, I have a wide range of constituency experiences that have enabled me to appreciate, really appreciate, the issues and problems all of you face. I recognize the constituency issues and challenges you bring forward need to be taken seriously and responded to in a timely fashion. I understand how our system needs to function and I am ready to ensure that it does so to serve your needs. With your support, I am excited about the possibility of bringing my commitment and ideas to Cabinet in the 17th Legislative Assembly.
Mr. Chairman, I’d like to conclude by just really expressing my thanks and appreciation to members of the public, to my wife, Marianne, in the gallery today, and my extended family for all their encouragement and support and, of course, my campaign team for getting me back to participate with you in the House today. Mahsi.
