So, if I may, as I stated two minutes ago, we have some general comments about managing change. There are
about seven general resolutions that we would like to get through the House today. Each of the individual members of the Standing Committee on Finance will deal with the departmental resolutions that come forward. As we stated earlier, the territorial governmental programs were previously designed to follow what we call a southern model, and that is the way we are currently doing things.
However, the statistical evidence, particularly the employment and economic well-being of our people, shows that this model does not appear to work very well in the Northwest Territories. As a result of this, the Assembly and the Cabinet recognized, and have approved, a number of motions for some fundamental change. We need to discard the old model and change the ways we do things, in order to successfully respond to our peoples' needs.
The government is struggling to respond, and the committee is concerned that the government needs more support to manage the changes in Reshaping Northern Government. We are concerned that the desired results may not be achieved in a reasonable time span, and there is somewhat of a sense of urgency. The people affected by the desired changes, have not yet been consulted, prepared, or provided suitable direction, training or support. As a result, the need for change is misunderstood and often resisted by the bureaucracy, no matter how well intentioned they may be.
While coercive change may be fast, there is no buy-in to the process. For example, we in the Legislative Assembly, and by extension the people in the North, still do not know what the plans and priorities of the government are. The civil service seems equally in the dark, and somewhat misguided. Participating change is slower, however, there is a buy-in, a desire to cooperate.
We know that there is a diversive opinion in this House. However, it is up to this Assembly to provide the vision, and the government to carry it out as soon as possible. This Assembly previously approved a motion for a one week strategic planning workshop, to develop a shared vision of what good government looks like. This was to be done and completed in conjunction with the 1992-93 main estimates review. The government has recommended this be undertaken by the Reshaping Northern Government Working Group, made up of three Ministers and three ordinary Members. We have no argument with this.
Motion to Adopt Recommendation 1, Carried
However, limited action has occurred to date, and I think there is a need to move that up. Therefore, Mr. Chairman, if I may, I would like to move our first motion of the day. I move that the Committee recommends that the Reshaping Northern Government Working Group complete the previously moved strategic planning workshop by the beginning of the new fiscal year. Goals of the workshop should include: 1) to develop a consensus on a new government model; 2) to implement the fundamental changes required effectively; and 3) to implement the changes on a timely basis.