Thank YOU, Mr. Speaker. I would like to begin by thanking Mr. Ningark of Nunavut; it is also my dream and my fellow colleagues', I'm sure. Over the past few days, I have been a very vocal critic of the way this government has been implementing the deficit reduction plans. I said in this House yesterday that constructive criticism is a needed part of government. However, if you are going to criticize, you also have to offer solutions.
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Mr. Speaker, I am announcing today in this House that I will be seeking solutions to help this government manage economic change. Economic renewal has to be first and foremost for a government that is faced with the major hurdles the 13th Assembly is faced with. Mr. Speaker, when I return to Iqaluit, I will be meeting with business, labour and the public at large to get solutions for our situation. I will hold a focus group meeting to thrash out
ideas and possible economic renewal opportunities that I will pass on to this government.
Mr. Speaker, my friend, the Honourable John Todd, as Finance Minister of this government, has been given a very thankless task. He has to manage a way out of the overspending days of the past GNWT governments. However, Mr. Todd will still need to hear Edward Picco's and other MLAs' challenges, as well as solutions to this fiscal reality.
Mr. Speaker, I will continue to give constructive criticism to this government. I will also be giving constructive proposals to help Mr. Todd and this Assembly manage the change needed to take the 13th Assembly to division and beyond. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
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