Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I come from a community of about 2700 people. It is a relatively small community, where people, like many of us in the North, are struggling to make a living, to have a strong community, to broaden our economic base.
Since becoming their representative in the 13th Assembly, I entered the Assembly with a feeling of strong optimism, telling people that division would be the best thing that ever happened to the Northwest Territories, that we sit on a tremendous storehouse of wealth. If we could just get the politics right, we can, in fact, become a "have" jurisdiction.
While telling them this, I recognize as well that as a Territory, my community like every community represented in this Assembly, has faced five years of relentless restraint and the erosion of services and programs as we attempted to deal with the deficit. That continues today.
As Members of the 14th Assembly, the people are watching us very closely. If the comments I have heard about the apparent penchant of the Premier for first class travel and stretch limos is any indication, they are watching very carefully.
They are looking to us for leadership. Mr. Speaker, it is not a case of do as I say, not as I do. If we are talking leadership, we have to demonstrate that. I am speaking specifically about the 18 percent forced growth figure in the Executive budget. It is unconscionable that we can come forward with that kind of number while telling people across the Northwest Territories that while the future looks good, it is not for another six years. In the meantime, there will be minimum support from the federal government. Be prepared to tighten your belts.
Mr. Speaker, as far as I am concerned, as long as there is the potential for one person to be laid off, for one program not being funded, of one contract being deferred, as we have deferred millions of dollars worth, the Executive should show leadership and not bring forward a business plan and interim appropriations that layers on many new positions at a time when we are telling everybody else to tighten their belts. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
