I have been in the position of having to make similar comments in this House on many occasions, as well. As Members, we should not have to use up our valuable time in this House by repeatedly raising points of privilege to correct misinformation or to correct shoddy reporting. Think back over the numbers of times this has been an issue during the life of this Assembly. Think about the time the CBC made a big story out of a hotel employee who released one of the MLA's bar bills. I think about the inaccurate reporting on the proceedings on my committee motion about the age of eligibility plebiscite when we were considering the liquor law review. I think about the way they described Ms. Mike's behaviour as pounding her fists on the desk. I know she pointed her finger, but I don't remember her pounding her desk. It just wasn't the way it had happened. I think we certainly could be better served by CBC. That is regrettable because many of the people who work for CBC, people like George Tuccaro, Patricia Russell and Clive Tesar...
---Applause
...and others who are familiar with northern issues and sensitive to telling things the way they are. They make every effort to report fairly. It is unfair for those people who try to put things into perspective.
I will say, though, that one of the positive developments I have seen over the four years has been the emerging tradition of the annual hockey game between the media and the Members of the Legislative Assembly, Mr. Speaker, that you have taken the time to coordinate. I thank you for that.
---Applause
I certainly hope this tradition will continue and that some day it may be possible to expand the event to include representatives from other communities on the media team.
In fact, I think I would enjoy watching the editorial staff from the Slave River Journal out on the ice, Mr. Speaker.
---Laughter
So, we should think of including other media personnel in the next event.
Mr. Speaker, now I want to move to priorities for the next government. I know in its report titled, "Investing In Our Future," the Standing Committee on Finance indicated that this government should be working now to set priorities that could be followed up by the 13th Assembly after this fall's election.
I know that the government has already started working on this, and I have listened with the thoughtful suggestions made by my honourable colleague from Yellowknife North and others about items that should be highlighted in the transition document.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to offer a number of priority items that I hope to see this new government tackle when it takes over; fiscal control being the first and foremost. I believe that the major challenges facing the Northwest Territories over the next few years are going to arise from our financial situation and the difficult times ahead of us as we face federal government cutbacks. I think it will be incumbent on the new government to find new methods for cost recovery and to explore new revenue-generating methods.
The new government is going to have to make some tough decisions. This government has lowered the price of imported liquor and I found that quite shameful for this government to do. Also with regard to tobacco prices, I think they are going to have to start looking at raising these prices and try to encourage a deterrent to the use of these types of products. Whether we recognize it or not, the reality is, many times these products -- liquor and tobacco -- create many of the other problems we have in the health area.
The 13th Legislative Assembly is going to have to find new strategies for reducing government overlap and for increasing cost-effectiveness. Mr. Speaker, this may involve more department amalgamations. Now may be the time to start looking at combining the Department of Economic Development and Tourism and the Department of Renewable Resources, as suggested in the Strength At Two Levels report. Or, perhaps, greater economies of scale could be achieved by combining the Department of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources with the Department of Economic Development and Tourism. Fees for government-issued licences and permits are likely to be increased to bring them more in line with what is being charged in other jurisdictions or to recover a greater percentage of the true costs to government.
Layoffs of redundant positions may have to take place, but it won't be enough to cover all the staff reduction costs through attrition, so the government may need to take more direct action. In this respect, there will need to be a more positive, constructive approach to working with public service unions than we have seen over the past couple of years. There will have to be some very tough decisions made, Mr. Speaker.