Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Since the House began sitting on October 2, we have had some, at times, heated debate from the capital expenditures to community empowerment. By questioning the government on these and other matters, members have shown the public that debate, requested by electorate, has occurred.
Appearing in News North, Nunatsiaq, The Hub, or the Inuvik Drum, makes my day. But, seriously, Mr. Speaker, when I review the Hansard each day, the questions put by the ordinary members are concise and, in most cases, suitable for all audiences.
Compare if you would, Mr. Speaker, debates with some of these same members with the 9th, 10th or 11th Assembly and you will see some of the same issues debated again and, surprisingly enough, it depends upon which the side of the House you are sitting on when you made those statements for and against.
I have had calls from some Mayors in the West, asking why I am against community empowerment. Mr. Speaker, I have never said I was against community empowerment but I am against the current speed and process. As some members know, I was a member of the first Community Justice Committee, set up in the eastern arctic more than six years ago. That is community empowerment. I would like to see all contracts, leases and sole-source contracts published like other jurisdictions, like B.C., the amalgamation of DPW, Transportation, the Housing Corp. needs to be debated.
Today the feds do not fund or build social housing units. But with a federal election coming next spring, they might begin to fund and build social housing. But, we will not have a dedicated department, because it has been amalgamated. Mr. Speaker, all these areas have been talked about over the past couple of weeks.
The role of the ordinary Member is to provide the check and balance needed, making sense of this Government. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.