The annual budget for the Northwest Territories reveals much about a government: its vision, its effectiveness, its leadership and its capability to deliver. As part of the 16th Legislative
Assembly, I cannot claim that we have earned high regard from our people on the basis of these standards.
We embarked on budget planning with good faith, confidence in the information provided by the Minister, and a common understanding of this Assembly’s vision and priorities. We had a commitment to positive change and agreement on the budget goals and the process to realize those goals. Yet subsequently, and with deplorable communication by this government, a mystifying focus on cuts over revenues and a demoralizing lack of opportunity for input from Regular MLAs, this government has produced a set of budget moves that almost appears random.
My teacher, Sai Baba, has emphasized that every time I point a finger at someone, I have three fingers pointing back at me. As a Member of this Assembly, I must take some responsibility for what I perceive as a failed process.
We have also had the challenges of starting this Assembly in the middle of a normal budgeting year, with an apparent need for reductions and with a lack of experience for some of us.
For the record, I will be working hard to have real input into improving the budget over the next few weeks in the House.
I am particularly disappointed at lost opportunities. Having just come through an election, we were all familiar with the significant issues and the real need to address them. We recognize that the NWT has a roaring economy, with some of the highest incomes and lowest unemployment rates in Canada, but we also recognize that there are many people and
many communities not enjoying these benefits. Our social structures have not kept pace with our economic gains. There is an uneven distribution of benefits, and the cost of living is especially increasing in our small communities.
It was also clear that our environment is not being looked after. We established the priorities of local economic development, strengthening our social fabric and community capacity, celebrating and strengthening our youth and cultural diversity, and reducing and adapting to climate change — those to be addressed through careful program review and redirection.
There is much in this budget that concerns me: the centralization of staff from the regions; a lack of understanding of environmental issues; an absence of new support for social and mental-health services; little new revenue; and, compared to the substantiated and targeted change we had been led to expect, a haphazard loss of people and positions.
Mr.
Speaker, I request unanimous consent to
conclude my statement.
Unanimous consent granted.