Thank you Madam Chair. My comments will be brief. Madam Chair, I have been looking forward to this discussion with Members on the important subject of community empowerment. Last Thursday, I made a Minister's Statement in this House and tabled a number of documents relating to community empowerment. It is my hope that we can have a constructive discussion today. Madam Chair, right across Canada, Provincial Governments are re-examining their relationship with Municipal Governments. In every jurisdiction across the country, more authority and control is being transferred from Provinces to local Governments. Over 30% of Government spending in Canada is now controlled by Municipal Governments, up from 15% just 5 years ago. Our community Governments in the Northwest Territories are also stronger and more experienced today. We see this in the improved financial management in communities, and in the successful transfer, under the previous community transfer initiative, of a number of programs and services over the past few years. Madam Chair, Community Empowerment means a fundamental change in the way we do business as a Government. It has major implications for communities, for residents, and for this Legislative Assembly. It means that some of the decisions that we used to make in this House will be made by communities. The main issue is a simple one. Are we, as Territorial-level politicians, willing to share the power and authority we have with communities? Madam Chair, I hope the answer is yes. Community Empowerment is a big change, but it will be a big change for the better if we manage it properly and well. I think all Members realize that we have to change the way we deliver Government programs and services in the NWT. Yes, we need to reduce the costs of delivery, but that is only part of the picture. We have to deal with the fact that many of our programs and services would probably be more effective if they were managed and controlled at the community level. In a big Territory like ours, a one size fits all approach just does not work well. This is nothing new. Members raise this issue frequently. I know that I did myself when I was an ordinary MLA. Madam Chair, the most important question we have to discuss today is whether or not this Legislative Assembly supports the transfer of an appropriate level of authority and control from the Territorial level of Government to the community level of Government. I say an appropriate level of authority and control. Every day Ministers deal with Members who raise concerns from their communities that might be better handled in the community
itself. Madam Chair, Cabinet has never said that we should blindly, and without thinking, simply transfer wholesale Government programs and services to community control. What we have said from the beginning is that we have to re-think what the Territorial Government and the Territorial politicians need to be responsible for, and what community Governments and community leaders should be responsible for. With authority and control comes accountability. I mentioned that we are working with the Office of the Auditor General of Canada to identify and address accountability issues. I expect to bring an implementation plan for the Community Empowerment Initiative to Cabinet in early November. I hope that today, we will get a clear understanding of Members' concerns and questions. I will ensure that these issues are addressed in our implementation planning. Madam Chair, with the co-operation and constructive advice of all Members of this House, we can strengthen communities and put the tools for solving local problems back in local hands. Thank you.