Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to comment on a problem, which I believe exists, with respect to the way the Government Leader has allocated portfolio assignments. I wish to suggest to her that the same Ministers should not hold responsibilities for the Department of Economic and Development and Tourism, and Finance. It is my opinion that the mandate priorities of these departments conflict with each other. I also recognize that the time commitments required to carry out ministerial responsibilities for these two busy and important departments would overwhelm almost any single Minister.
I would draw your attention, Mr. Speaker, to the fact that during the 11th Assembly, the Minister of Finance had responsibility for a much smaller portfolio of Justice, and the Highway Transport Board, as well as House Leader duties. At the end of the 10th Assembly, I believe the Honourable Tom Butters was allowed to concentrate exclusively on the Finance portfolio. I believe that the assignment of these two conflicting and overwhelming portfolios to our current Minister of Finance is not the best distribution of responsibility. I would note that neither this current report, nor this "Strength At Two Levels" review recommend that these responsibilities be combined. Perhaps, that is because the working groups in each case recognize the inherent conflict in mandate and time pressures involved in these two portfolios. Later today, I will make my reply to the budget address, and will comment further on the reasons why these assignments should be reconsidered.
In closing, I wish to assure the House that I am not expressing a lack of confidence in the current Minister, the honourable Member for Hay River. Rather, I believe, that the reassignment of these two responsibilities will improve its efficiency, not only within Cabinet, and this House, but also in terms of services and programs which are our constituents rely on. Thank you Mr. Speaker.