Mr. Chairman, as my colleague Mrs. Groenewegen has said, the people of Fort Simpson deserve better. They deserve to know that there is going to be a long-term solution and answer in getting this piece of infrastructure established. That is probably the most important reason why I am voting against this. We really are not helping this community. We are going to end up disappointing them again because beyond the two to four years that this program might keep the building open, there is nothing.
Mr. Chairman, as has already been said here, it's an embarrassment that this request has made it this far in the process. The ability of MLAs and committees to make good decisions, prioritize things, have been absolutely comprised by government's mishandling of this. I deeply
resent the politics that the government has forced upon Members on this side. Some of us doing something we believe is important for community, a small community, a rural community. Others who are looking at a responsibility and a duty that we have to hold the government to account and to get good value and good measure for taxpayers' dollars. That is what the government is doing. I feel like I am part of a public squabble here. This is the decision that I have to make. It's very uncomfortable. It compromises me with my colleagues. It certainly compromises me with the relationship that I would like to have with the government departments in helping to make these kinds of decisions in a consensus process.
I really feel betrayed in this whole thing, but I am going to do what I feel is the right thing for our institution and I really believe for the community of Fort Simpson to ensure that they do have a long-term solution. This is just a band-aid and I cannot abide by it, Mr Chairman.