Mr. Speaker, as the seconder of this motion, I have been here for some 14 years, four terms, and I’ve seen several incidents where the executive branch of this government has totally ignored and disrespected Members on this side of the House. In regard to the issues at hand, in regard to supplementary health benefits, income support, support reform, motions that were passed unanimously in this House by Members on this side of the House which directed the government to seriously deal with these fundamental issues that were affecting residents of the Northwest Territories and totally ignoring the issues on this side of the House.

Mr. Speaker, the conduct of the Premier in regards to this incident, we are all aware of the fundamental breach of confidence when it comes to the workings of this Legislature. We have three levels of government; the judiciary, the executive and the Legislature. Each of those play a very important role in regards to how we do our jobs. It is very sad to have to say here today and we are now having most of our meetings in camera without the clerks at our meetings because of the incident that occurred. For myself, that was a fundamental breach of what we are supposed to do. Those individuals play a very important role to assist us in doing our jobs.

We have a very important job in regards to the government’s committee to review the Legislative Assembly’s direction to review the language legislation after five years, in which the clerk at the time played a very important role in assisting the committee to do our work. Because of the incident that had occurred, it fundamentally undermined the committee’s work and responsibility of due diligence in ensuring that we do have a report that really makes a difference to this House.

Mr. Speaker, there are a lot of fundamental challenges that we face. Again, we as a Legislature, as I stated in my statement today, show that we really care for the underprivileged people in our society in regards to people who are struggling to heat their homes. They are struggling to even get eligibility for income support because of situations where they either did not go into an

office, had an argument with an income support worker or because they basically had someone living with them taking care of an elder. I think it is fundamental as a government that we do have to show that we are providing good benefits.

Mr. Speaker, the issue that I have is the deterioration of respect that Members on this side of the House be involved in critical decisions such as the $34 million loan that was given, and under here there’s a $60 million loan that is being looked at, and then the application in regards to the power review of the $80 million purchase by ATCO Power with no involvement of this side of the House whatsoever and then full speed ahead on those issues, especially when it comes to board reform. Again, the land claim organizations in my region are negotiating self-government. The Inuvialuit and the Gwich’in are in the process of negotiating self-government to look at what type of structures they want to negotiate for themselves and not be dictated by a government telling them that this process is going to change halfway through negotiations. We will have a system that is basically a service board for the communities and be carrying that opportunity to those aboriginal organizations.

The other issue, Mr. Speaker, is the whole incident that has clearly occurred. The Minister clearly stated that April 1st the board reform issue will be

implemented and the same thing in regards to the question of the supplementary health benefits. September 1st is the drop dead date and they are

going ahead. For me, that is not the way a government should be conducting itself and also knowing that those issues could have been pulled over on government’s process and left here with the future governments or negotiations with First Nations government did not occur. Mr. Speaker, I will be supporting this motion today. Thank you.