Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, today I wish to speak about some of the concerns I have with the way duties are split among the Members of Cabinet. Madam Speaker, we could all tell during the Cabinet review last December that the residents of the Northwest Territories are fortunate to have several natural born leaders serving as Cabinet Ministers.

My concern, Madam Speaker, is that we may be overworking some of these talented Ministers. I know from my own experience that some of these Ministers take longer to respond to concerns and questions from the ordinary MLAs simply because they have too much on their plate. This, of course, adds up to more work for the ordinary MLAs because they have to write follow-up letters and do extra lobbying that might not be required if the burden of duties were spread more evenly.

Madam Speaker, I appreciate the reasons for the east/west split on Cabinet. However, Madam Speaker, I am concerned about some Ministers who do not appear to be doing their homework. I feel that this lack of preparedness on their part may be causing resentment among the more conscientious Cabinet Ministers who see their responsibilities increase, but not their compensation packages.

Madam Speaker, some Cabinet Ministers are so busy that it is very difficult for them to attend important events in the Northwest Territories. I know that I have invited Ministers to attend important events in my constituency and that some Ministers have had to back out due to prior commitments. I can imagine, Madam Speaker, that they have had to decline invitations to important events in their own constituencies, also.

Madam Speaker, the smaller communities in the Northwest Territories appreciate visits from government Ministers. These visits make them feel like they, as a community, are part of the process. The process of government, Madam Speaker, is seen by a lot of communities as a strange animal that will only occur in the larger centres of the Northwest Territories.

Madam Speaker, I urge the Members of Cabinet, who perhaps do not have a full load, to buckle up and help their busier colleagues so that these Ministers can respond...