Mr. Speaker, in order to be able to build momentum, we needed a vision to share, to capture interest and to guide us. On March 31, 2000, the Members of this Assembly collectively released to the public a document entitled Towards a Better Tomorrow.
Towards a Better Tomorrow is a statement of the vision and priorities that will guide the 14th Legislative Assembly in the coming years. It is a document that has the full support and endorsement of Cabinet.
Caucus spent considerable time developing the vision, priorities and agenda of the 14th Assembly. It was time well spent. Together, we reviewed the 13th Assembly's Agenda for the New North, and agreed that it should serve as a foundation document upon which the 14th Assembly would build its action plan.
Towards a Better Tomorrow outlines the 14th Assembly's vision for a prosperous future for the people of the Northwest Territories. In it, Caucus identifies the following key priorities:
- Self-reliant individuals, families and communities working with governments toward improving social well-being.
- Better governance through partnerships.
- A northern-controlled economy that is balanced, diversified, stable and vibrant.
- Adequate resources helping all levels of government to become more self-reliant in meeting the needs of the people they serve.
Mr. Speaker, Towards a Better Tomorrow has laid the foundation for the actions we have initiated. Cabinet has identified specific strategies that are designed to help us achieve the goals outlined in Towards a Better Tomorrow. These are:
- • support for the Non-Renewable Resource Development Strategy;
- • support for the Economic Strategy Panel;
- • support for a social strategy focusing on early childhood development, personal responsibility and community ownership of wellness; and
- • broad support for regional reorganization and capacity-building initiatives designed to ensure that regional administrative structures are responsive to changes brought about by self-government initiatives and that communities can take on expanded responsibilities and manage their own futures.
The key priorities and goals contained in Towards a Better Tomorrow and the strategies that flow from them now guide the work of this government.