Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to speak today about a growing concern that I have
with how this government communicates with both the Members of this Assembly and the public.
On Friday I made a statement and had questions for the Premier about how it came to be that the GNWT planned, developed and delivered a billion dollar cost shared infrastructure proposal to the federal government without running any of it by Regular Members of this House. Nor did they have any meaningful communication about it with aboriginal governments. I believe this is yet another sad chapter in this government’s year-long existence.
This is not just a small oversight. It’s a billion dollar substantive proposal to the federal government that Regular Members should have been consulted on. It’s inexcusable. But, then again, should I or any other Regular Member be that surprised? This is the same Premier and government that failed to tell us about a signed concession agreement tying us to the Deh Cho Bridge when they knew it was signed off three days before the last election. This is the same Premier and government who told us that we would be consulted before any layoff notification letters were sent to affected employees. This is the same Premier and government that developed a list for the Building Canada Fund but forgot to consult with us. This is the same Premier and government that divvied up equal trust dollars without involving Regular Members.
Mr. Speaker, in my estimation, this government lacks sense to understand that loose communication, poor messaging and lack of coordination is going to erode public confidence and the confidence Regular Members have in this government. How many more times are we going to have to take issue with this government’s lack of oversight and poor communication skills? Regular Members and the public deserve better treatment. This government just does not seem to understand or appreciate political sensitivity.
Mr. Speaker, the political barometer of this government is broken and in desperate need of repair. As a Regular Member I cannot and will not accept this poor treatment, especially its reoccurring nature. Regular Members cannot continue to be an afterthought of Cabinet. Mahsi.