Mr. Speaker, it is an honour and privilege to stand here today as the Premier of the Northwest Territories. I appreciate the confidence and trust Members of this Assembly and people across the territory have placed in me. Along with the members of my Cabinet, we commit to all northerners that we will take decisions with a view to the future, anchored in a profound sense of responsibility for the kind of society our children and grandchildren will inherit. I am confident we will tackle the difficult choices necessary to position our
territory to have a prosperous and sustainable future, which means looking far beyond a four-year horizon.
As I stand here today, I’m struck by how much has changed in the recent history of our territory. I have often spoken of my father, how he knew the traditional subsistence life was changing to a wage-based economy. His life was about day-to-day survival to meet his family’s basic needs. Like so many of our elders, his life was defined by a strong bond to the land; one that provided shelter and food to feed his family. His life was all about giving his children the tools to succeed in what he knew would be a very different future.
Today, our lives are vastly different: snowmobiles, airplanes and ice roads; office buildings, computers and cell phones; diamond mines; exploration for oil and gas and the potential of the Mackenzie gas project; children going to school to get a formal education, helping them compete in today’s ever changing labour market; small businesses building their future in communities across the NWT; and tourists coming here from around the world.
The change has been dramatic and yet there is a strong thread that weaves its way through our history to where we stand today, on the brink of unprecedented opportunity. We have not forgotten our history or our traditions. We have not lost our attachment to the land and our respect for each other and for the gifts of our environment. We have created a very special place here in the North. In the midst of the challenges we face, that strong thread will anchor our vision to the future and guide the decisions we make.
As we look to the future, I’m filled with hope and confidence about what we can achieve if we work together. Like all parents, we want to leave a better place for our children and their children to come. We can build a strong and prosperous territory; a healthier future where our young people will not suffer from the devastating impact of alcohol and violence that has ruined far too many families, and a stronger, more sustainable economy across the NWT. We can also protect and preserve our environment, our traditions and the values and culture that define us.
All of that is achievable, but only if we make the right choices today. Only if we agree that it’s time to act, and act together.
I said that our territory is on the brink of unprecedented opportunity. I don’t think I’m overstating where we stand today. We are blessed with a wealth of resources; resources that can be tapped to build a balanced and diversified economy. The Mackenzie gas project, continued activities in the diamond and mineral industry and hydro power, all part of our great potential. It is time for us to turn this potential into economic opportunity in all 33 NWT communities, jobs for our people, contracts for
northern businesses, and self-reliance of our communities.
Our young people are becoming more educated and skilled. The health of our people is improving. This means residents are better able to take advantage of the opportunities before them.
We have demonstrated we can govern responsibly and make good use of our resources. There is growing recognition, not just at the territorial level, but nationally and internationally as well, that the wealth of NWT resources will soon be a critical component in the strength and health of our nation’s economy.
Against that backdrop of opportunity, let’s be clear about some of the challenges we face. There are high and unrealistic expectations that our government can be all things to all people and solve all problems. This dependency on all levels of government stifles creativity and ambition and keeps us from moving forward. As self-governments are established, all governments should have the capacity to meet their responsibilities as part of an affordable and sustainable system of governance. We need to balance maximizing benefits from resource development with supporting other opportunities for economic diversification. We know our environment is fragile. Communities have yet to see the full impact of what warmer temperatures could bring. We continue to be too dependent on the federal government. We still have to work out a deal that will allow us to manage our rich resource potential and flow development dollars into the NWT.
Addressing those challenges and seizing the opportunities to build a better future for the NWT must be the primary focus for this 16th Assembly. As Members of this
Assembly, it is our duty to chart the next course, to respond to the dreams and aspirations of our constituents and, most important, to make decisions and move forward.
That means making some difficult choices. Last week, Members of this Assembly met and talked about our vision, goals and priorities. There is a clear recognition among Members that we must sharpen our focus, develop a set of priorities and act on those. As was commented on during the discussions, “If everything is a priority, nothing is.” I could not agree more.
There are difficult but essential questions we need to address. What are the most pressing priorities? Where can we have the greatest impact, not just over the next four years, but for the longer-term future of our territory? And toughest of all, should more of our existing resources be focussed on our highest priority areas?
I look forward to working with Members to finalize the vision, goals and priorities for the 16th Legislative
Assembly. These priorities will be supported by specific actions and initiatives to be set out in our strategic plan, and based on sound and responsible fiscal management. It is my intention to table the government's strategic plan, based on the Assembly's vision, goals and priorities, early in the new year.
It is important that we are an effective and efficient government. As a Member of this Assembly and now the Premier, I'm proud of what we have achieved over the years. But the reality is, we are spending over a billion
dollars a year and we need to assure people across the territory that we are spending those dollars on the right priorities and achieving the best possible outcomes.
There is no end of worthwhile initiatives we could fund, but we risk reducing our effectiveness if we don't target our efforts where they can have the greatest impact.
To improve effectiveness, we need to recognize the connections between individual decisions and programs, between health and education, or economic developments and environmental impacts. We need to also broaden our view to look out 10, 20 or even 50 years from now and engage Canada as a partner as we build a sustainable future for our territory.
It is critical for our government to support people where they live. We all know about the challenges in our communities. It's time to address those challenges and take action: to create opportunities for people to work and build businesses, to reduce the high cost of living, and to provide the infrastructure and services so many Canadians take for granted.
An ongoing commitment to protect and preserve our environment must guide every decision and choice that we make. Of all the gifts we have been given in the North, our environment is one of the most precious.
Development must continue to be undertaken in an environmentally sustainable manner.
The health and wellness of our people is a pressing concern. Instead of continuing to focus solely on reaction to the social issues in our communities, it's time to shift the focus to prevention. We should encourage people to stay healthy, take concerted actions to prevent illness and injury and help build a healthier future for our children. One of the most important steps we can take is to make sure all our children get a sound start in life, that their first five years are healthy and positive. Children should begin school ready to learn and able to keep learning through high school and beyond.
Finally, Mr. Speaker, we need to tackle the fiscal challenges of our territory head on. We have been too dependent on the federal government for the past 40 years. But that's not what we want for the future. We want strong individuals, families and communities. We want to take full responsibility for our future. We must be able to manage, control and make decisions to govern resource development and to benefit from its revenue in our territory. With that, we will be able to take a stronger place at national tables where key issues affecting our territory and the rest of Canada are addressed. We want to partner with Canada on many initiatives, including major infrastructure projects. We can only do that from a position of confidence, of fiscal strength and independence.
Mr. Speaker, our government believes that this 16th Assembly will be a turning point for our territory. We will approach the choices we need to make thoughtfully, as partners with the people we serve, and with our eyes focussed firmly on the future of the NWT.
As Premier, I will do my part to keep our work focussed on a bright and prosperous future for our children and their children to come. My Cabinet and I will work with Members of this Assembly and all northerners to make the necessary decisions, knowing how difficult that may be at times. We will work hard to ensure taxpayers' money is
spent wisely and for the benefit of individuals, families and communities across the territory.
Together we can shape a proud new vision for the future of our territory. We can make our ancestors proud and maintain the strong thread of traditions, culture and values that weaves through our lives today, connects us to the past, and shapes the way to the future.
It is an exciting time to be a Member of this Assembly. It is an exciting time to raise a family, create a business, seize an opportunity, and build a better future for our territory. And now, Mr. Speaker, it's time to get to work. Quanami.
---Applause
