Mr. Speaker, honoured guests, Members of the Legislature, I am pleased to welcome you to the opening session of the 13th Assembly.
First of all, Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate you on being returned to this important position.
I also want to congratulate the Premier-elect, those of you elected to serve as Ministers of the government and other Members of this House, all of whom were elected to represent the interests of the people during this particularly important phase of our constitutional history.
The people have put their trust in this Assembly. They have given you the responsibility because they believe your leadership and your record of hard work are needed to make the decisions that are necessary today and those that will be required as we move towards division of the Northwest Territories.
There will be many frustrations and demands during your term of office. But, I am sure that you will also have considerable satisfaction as you help to guide the North towards increasing levels of responsible government.
Mr. Speaker, our thoughts should also include those Members of the previous Assembly who did not get re-elected. I am sure this Legislature will join me, on behalf of residents of the Northwest Territories, in recognizing their years of dedicated effort and service.
I particularly want to recognize the contributions made by long-serving Members Ludy Pudluk, Nellie Cournoyea, Dennis Patterson, Mike Ballantyne, Brian Lewis and John Pollard. All of them decided to retire at the close of the 12th Assembly. They had a combined total of 80 years of experience with this Legislative Assembly.
Mr. Speaker, as the term of the 13th Assembly begins, it is appropriate to note that the challenges facing the Northwest Territories are significant. And the amount of time to meet these challenges is extremely tight. If anything, the next few years will test the effectiveness of consensus government.
The people who elected this Legislative Assembly want certainty and an action plan. They want long-standing problems solved. And while constitutional matters are extremely important, they don't want government to lose sight of the need to make sure there is help and assistance provided to residents who need it the most.
Obviously, priorities will have to be established because there is not enough money to do everything. Getting the job done will need the cooperation of all residents and organizations in the Northwest Territories, not just the 24 Members of this Legislature.
Because of this, it is time for everyone to think about their positions and to seek some common ground on the many issues that are facing us today.
It is time to demonstrate that the Territories is united in common purpose and that institutions and organizations trust each other and have the ability and a strong desire to work together.
Mr. Speaker, I want to urge all residents to have a great deal of understanding about the financial circumstances and the difficult social and economic agenda facing the new Legislative Assembly.
Tough decisions will have to be made. And they won't always be popular with everyone.
There is no other way to make sure that basic social programs are maintained, that job opportunities are available in areas where they are needed the most, and that the transition to two new territories 40 months from now proceeds in an orderly fashion.
Members sitting in the House today need no reminder about what lies ahead. Last week, they sat through five days of briefings on the various issues they will be facing during their terms of office.
They know the severe impact federal reductions have had on our operating budgets over the past fours years and the legislated requirement to return to a balanced budget. They also know the health and social problems of the Northwest Territories and that our population is much younger than any other jurisdiction in Canada.
And Members know that the population is growing at a rate that is more than two-and-a-half times the national average and that demands for schools, housing, health services, municipal infrastructure, employment and welfare assistance are all growing as fast and, in some cases, faster.
They also understand that the recent Quebec referendum is bringing significant pressure for a change in the division of responsibilities between Ottawa and the provinces and territories, and that federal attempts to reduce its deficit are continuing to put pressure on the territorial government to fund areas traditionally supported by Ottawa.
Mr. Speaker, it is against this backdrop that Members begin the work of the 13th Assembly.
Fortunately, the Northwest Territories has always been a place for new ideas and new ways of getting things done. It also offers exciting economic opportunities in the non-renewable resource sector, particularly if the Territories gains control over their management and a share in the revenues they generate.
Mr. Speaker, all of us want a better future; a Territories with a greater degree of self-sufficiency and self-determination and a Legislative Assembly that leads by example and makes sure that choices and opportunities for a meaningful life are available to all residents.
As we begin the First Session of the 13th Assembly, it is my belief that a stronger, more confident Northwest Territories is well within reach if everyone is prepared to work for it. Along the way, all of us must accept the fact that there will be differences on various issues but that decisions must be made for the long-range future of the Northwest Territories, not for the short-term gain.
In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, getting the job done will require strong leadership, a common purpose and a willingness to make hard choices. We must plan and manage better to do what matters most. And all of us will have to revise our expectations that government has the capacity to meet the needs of everyone.
Mr. Speaker, as Commissioner, I want to offer you and this Legislature my full support as you continue the tradition of consensus and representative government and work towards social, economic and constitutional reforms.
I also want you to know that I will continue to do my best to be a worthy ambassador and to serve our Legislative Assembly and the people of the Northwest Territories to the best of my abilities.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I now declare open the First Session of the 13th Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories.
---Applause