Mr. Speaker, I have the reply to a question asked by Mr. Brian Lewis on March 11, 1992 regarding the accomplishments of government over the last five months. Mr. Speaker, the activities of government since it took office in November have been driven by numerous issues at the national, territorial, regional and community levels. One of the most pressing matters is the decline in federal funding and the severe impact this has placed on cash flow. Cabinet has had to wrestle with this problem, and at the same time shape capital and O and M budgets for 1992-93 and develop a strategy to return to a balanced budget within two years. It has also considered a range of options for making government more efficient and less costly. Reshaping northern government is the beginning of this longer-term effort.
As you know, the government inherited no well-developed budget from the previous cabinet; however, in the short time it has been in office, we have prepared and submitted to the Legislative Assembly reduced 1992-93 capital estimates and a proposal on major innovations to the government's capital planning process. The innovations will significantly increase the involvement of all Members of the Legislative Assembly and community governments in the government's capital planning program. Part of these changes include the move to a fall capital budget in order to better co-ordinate with the summer transportation and construction season. By taking this approach, we can make sure that projects are planned well in advance and that construction activity in any one year does not exceed what the local labour force can handle.
We have prepared and submitted to the Legislative Assembly a proposed process and work plan for Reshaping Northern Government. This work plan is not a prescriptive outline of what the government has decided to do. Rather, it is an outline of the process the government proposes to follow to develop a plan of action for dealing with the issues before us. This proposal recognizes and provides for full consultation with ordinary MLAs, communities, aboriginal organization, the business community and other interest groups.
More recently, we have convened the Reshaping Northern Government working group, which is a joint cabinet/Legislative Assembly initiative to review and discuss many of the issues currently faced by the Government of the Northwest Territories. This working group's terms of reference include consultation with labour, business and aboriginal organizations.
Finally, we have worked towards and supported the introduction of a new Legislative approval process designed to give all stakeholders and the public far greater input into consideration of proposed legislation before it is presented in the House for committee of the whole discussion and subsequent approval.
These things have been accomplished, but the challenge to any government is to look ahead and deal with pending problems and issues. In this regard, we will continue to work with MLAs to develop strategies in a number of key areas: 1) education, which means not only K to 12 but also upgrading and job training; 2) employment strategies which will allow us to maximize northern employment and development opportunities; 3) refinement of social and housing policies so that, in these tough economic times, people most in need are cared for; and 4) continuing efforts on the intergovernmental front so that the NWT can take its rightful place among the other provinces.
Mr. Speaker, in the area of intergovernmental affairs, the Northwest Territories has accomplished full participation in both the First Ministers' Conference on the Economy and, more importantly, the federal-provincial conference on the constitution. As I reported to the House last week, we have been able to ensure that the interests of the Northwest Territories are understood and have been included in a number of position papers on the economy being developed by First Ministers.
Finally, the ratification of the Gwich'in land claim provided us with the opportunity to negotiate and sign implementation plans which clearly set out the financial implications of land claims and define the federal government's responsibilities. Mr. Speaker, hopefully, we will be equally successful in finalizing the details of the Nunavut final agreement due to be ratified later this spring. Thank you.
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