Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Congratulations to you on your position as Speaker-elect and to my colleague Mr. McLeod – I was going to say Bromley, not quite – to Mr. McLeod on being Premier-elect.
Welcome to everyone here in the House and in the gallery, and to those watching and listening at home. It’s a privilege for me to have this opportunity; the opportunity to put my name forward for a Cabinet post, to offer to serve the residents of the NWT in a larger role. I hope my remarks today will provide some insight to both the Members of this House and members of the public as to why I’m standing for executive office.
I have one term as MLA under my belt. I have spent the past four years learning the ropes, so to speak, of this MLA job. Learning the protocols and procedures that make this institution, that give it its substance, its value and its decorum; the things that make this institution important. I believe that such a learning period, such an adjustment period is necessary to fully understand any organization and I don’t regret the time spent as a Regular Member. It’s allowed me to properly understand this very unique body. I now feel very comfortable in my job as an MLA, in my role as a lawmaker and a legislator, and I’m asking for a chance to serve as a member of the Executive to move our territory forward.
As the new MLAs have learned in the last couple of weeks, there are many, many issues and challenges that this Assembly will have to consider and to try to find solutions for. In my view, the 17th Assembly has to tackle these problems differently than previous Assemblies. We have to be creative; we have to be willing to try new approaches. I can bring that change of thinking to a new Executive Council.
Like every one of us in this room I have a unique set of skills which I bring to my position here. I have considerable experience as an elected person, on volunteer boards, as a trustee on a school board
and as a city councillor. I understand governance and I’m good at it. I’ve been involved with organizations in a leadership role making decisions in some capacity almost all of my life.
Age has allowed me to accumulate considerable experience dealing with people. Having worked as a teacher and as a manager of a small business that relied on client satisfaction, I’m well-grounded in the need to understand the people around you and understand what’s necessary for good relationships with colleagues and bureaucrats. Managing children and managing adults are definitely different, but the tactics are the same for both groups.
I’ve said on more than one occasion in this House that I’m a jock; I love sports and I’ve spent my life involved in sport. I plan on participating in sport well into my old age, and some of the younger Members of this House probably think I’m there already. However, the lessons learned through sport are too numerous to mention, but they are invaluable and have taught me how to work with others. It’s an overused phrase, but the term “team player” is a fitting description of me, I think.
On another note, some Members of the last Assembly felt that I have an insatiable appetite for detail; that I delay things by asking for information. Do not mistake my deliberation and consideration of all the facts as indecision. I firmly believe that an informed decision is a good decision and I take the time to inform myself prior to making any decision. To do any less is an injustice to those we serve.
All of these experiences and lessons learned, all of the skills I possess make me who I am and will make me a good Cabinet Minister. I am capable, I see the big picture on issues, I work hard and I get things done.
Our territory is on the edge of greatness. There’s so much that we can accomplish. Things like responsible sustainable development, elimination of poverty, reduction of homelessness, respect and fair treatment for all residents. Effective, efficient and innovative delivery of our programs and services will improve the lives of all NWT residents, will keep our children here, will make the rest of Canada envious of our home.
What issues are important to me? There are many but I will expand on a few. I make no secret of my belief that a comprehensive Anti-Poverty Strategy can go a long way towards addressing the needs of our most vulnerable residents. The implementation of such a strategy will coordinate our programs and services across government. It will create efficiencies and save us money. Most importantly, it will help our people become self-reliant, self- confident and successful one small step at a time. This is priority number one for me.
Completion of a Devolution Agreement for land and water rights and resource revenues from Canada to the NWT is a must. I supported the agreement-in- principle signing this past February. As a government, as leaders of our territory – which we all are – we must recognize the importance of Aboriginal governments and ensure that all groups are able to join in the negotiations for a final Devolution Agreement. Reconciling the differences which sprang up over the last year between Aboriginal regional governments and the territorial government has to be of the highest priority for this Assembly. We got started on this path last week, as many Members have said, when we met with regional Aboriginal leaders. As an Executive Council member I will make sure this government continues down that path.
On the financial front the NWT is hampered by many needs and too few dollars to meet all of our needs. I support the current prudent, conservative fiscal policy. It allows us to continue to deliver our day-to-day programs and services. On the negative side, we will be restricted to only a few capital projects. However, I feel there are savings to be had if we get serious about finding program efficiencies and doing only what we can really afford. I believe we should not put in place any new initiative, program or service unless we have reduced our expenses somewhere else to cover that new cost.
Our residents struggle on many fronts and it’s the job of government to assist them. I believe there must be a greater emphasis on early intervention and prevention in all areas of service to our residents, but particularly in relation to the health of our families. We need to empower our communities and give them the resources they need to provide the supports at the community level for their community residents.
Lastly, the NWT government must treat all residents equally and ensure that every resident has the same level of respect and feels just as valued as any other. We should be a unified people, a unified territory. Many Northerners did not feel that we were at the end of the last Assembly. The 17th Assembly has to ensure that all
Northerners feel part of our great territory. Our actions will determine that and it’s very important that any policies put in place by government are inclusive and not divisive.
The Legislative Assembly, the NWT government is seen by many residents as confrontational and ineffective, and a failure when it comes to producing results. We’ve heard much of that during the election. We have the tools to be productive. The 16th Assembly developed and published
consensus principles and protocols which can make us effective. We just need to follow them. We just need to use them. We need to eliminate the us
and them attitude which emerges after the Territorial Leadership Committee process. A more consensual Assembly will accomplish more. I want to take us to that more consensual place, get results in this upcoming four years, and see this government regain credibility in the eyes of our constituents.
I make but one promise today: if I become a member of the Executive, I won’t forget where my old office is. I will be sure to come back and visit the regular folk and to do it early and do it often. I look forward with anticipation and with great excitement to working with all the Members of this 17th Legislative Assembly. I’m especially excited about what I can accomplish as part of the Executive Council.
I wish the best of luck to everybody who is a candidate in this election and I would appreciate your support when you vote.