Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I believe that a review of the Executive Council is necessary and should be a standard practice of our consensus style of government.
Firstly, I’d like to thank the many phone calls and e-mails of concern from Nahendeh residents on the potential upset of government. The concern of the interruption of services, existing negotiations and working relationships is a real one and I acknowledge that. I also thank those that shared equal support for this action as well.
I have been consistent in requesting a review of our Cabinet at the two-year mark. There was enough momentum and concern during this sitting to introduce this review sooner than later.
Previous Assemblies have reviewed Cabinet, but the mechanism was agreed to at the start of their term. Regretfully, we did not entertain or take the time to fully agree on the process to review our Executive Council. The only way that we can have a say is to put forward this motion. The wording is harsh. The implications create uncertainty and unrest amongst our people. Revocation of the Premier and Executive Council. However, for me it is a statement to our government and this House that this consensus style of government must include such a review. I really believe that the messaging of this motion is to ask Cabinet to continue working with us.
I want to speak a little bit about the calls and concerns of the people that are sitting and working together. In my previous career working with Enbridge Pipelines, which had a very tense and local working conditions and conflict of personalities, the managers sat us down and said look, you’re not paid to like each other, you’re paid to work together. I’d like to send that message to this House here today as well. After reflection upon this, our working relationships did improve.
As well, I just want to speak about how Cabinet work is a reflection of me as an MLA and how I do my work. When I’m unable to get answers or get negative answers, I have to report to my constituents and tell them this is the response. It’s me that they’re not happy with, not the Cabinet’s decision.
As well, in terms of the recent Discovery Air loan, I went home with many constituents coming to see me who said, you must have known about this loan. Why didn’t you say something about it? We did have a briefing, but I never really did have a say. But constituents do not know that. All they know is that I’m part of government and I must have had a say. I couldn’t really defend that either. What I can say is it’s instances like that which create this disharmony. When Cabinet has to work with us, they can’t really come to us and say this is for your information and expect us to make a proper explanation of it to our constituents and members of the public that are concerned about the many, many issues that affect them and that we have control over. I think that’s just it. To say that I’m outside the process and I have no control does not carry water.
I think this motion, like I said, harsh as it is, I’m going to support it. For me it’s about review of the Executive Council and, as well, unless they’re beginning to say, look, something’s wrong here, Cabinet, something’s wrong here, government, it must be addressed and this is one way that I choose to address it.