Mr. Speaker, I rise in this Chamber today to inform the Assembly and my constituents that I cannot support this motion that is one that in a sweeping way fires the current Premier and entire Cabinet indiscriminately. No one can deny that we in the NWT face unparalleled recession, economic downturn that is deepening, and it’s even finding threats here in the North where once we believed that we had an economic boom led by diamonds, the pipeline and even hydro.

Let’s not mince words here. This is a time of uncertainty for many people whose jobs could be affected by this economic climate. This is a time of despair for those who have been laid off or for those who have businesses that are floundering or even potentially failing any day now. This is a time of worry for all of us with investments and pension plans, which we assumed would carry us through the golden years. These are the times we are living in.

At this crucial time Northerners are looking to this Assembly for stability, leadership and principled decisions. This House is built on the ability to define consensus within itself. In the best traditions of this Assembly, this should be a time where we put ambition and politics aside, where we come together and provide sound leadership and courageous decision.

We are at one of those points I’d like to call political interception, where hard decisions have to be made. The people of the North should be able to look inside these walls and find that every single Member is working as creatively and passionately as possible to meet those enormous challenges that are hitting us day after day.

Yet, what do the people of the North find when they look inside this Assembly’s walls? They see a set of people who have been distracted; some by opportunism, some by anger, some cloaking it under patriotism. Everyone has their own motives. Many are right; many are wrong.

I also see the people looking into this Assembly and seeing it paralyzed by power brokering and anger. They see in the leaders that they have elected an inability to set aside their differences for the greater good of our people of the North. That goes on both sides of this House.

Instead of inspiring policy and unity, they see divisiveness and disarray. This is not what the people of this Territory expect from them. This is not why I ran.

Extraordinary times call for unprecedented leadership. That leadership rests not just on the Premier, that rests on every single one of us. So we must find the greatness within all of us, the ability to cast aside our differences. Our personal favourites and principles must find a way to find progress. We must find a way.

We need to ask and set aside dislike. We need to find forgiveness, because nothing less should be expected from us in these difficult times. For this is a time of collaboration and not compensation. If Regular Members have issues with particular Members of Cabinet, then let’s have that discussion to the people and have our courage and conviction, and say name them by name and we’ll deal with them one by one. At the same time, the accused will have their say. Isn’t that the way to move forward? Isn’t that the way to deal with this problem?

To sweep out the entire Premier and Cabinet in a single sweep is not a responsible answer, in my view. Removing seven to get to one or two is not a level-headed approach, from my view. I’ve had many e-mails speaking to that as well. In fairness, I’ve had a few e-mails that think this motion is the right approach.

Let’s assume that this motion passes. Will it all be fine tomorrow? I’m not so sure. There’s no plan of leadership, so I think that creates a destination of failure.

If this motion passes, for me it will mark truly one of the saddest days; a day in which, when called upon to run parallel leadership and collaboration in the name of the people of the Northwest Territories, this Assembly chose to paralyze its frustration in the hour when people need us most.

In opposing this motion I will not let difficult decisions and discussions which I’ve had with a number of Ministers cloud what is important here today. I know when I’ve spoken to many of the Cabinet Ministers they have listened and respected the views I’ve taken on positions. Sometimes they’ve agreed; sometimes they haven’t. They haven’t chosen to budge on the issues I’ve raised, but there was still mutual respect. And make no mistake, I’ve been disappointed, but the fight goes on. The fight goes on on behalf of my constituents.

There are no faults and contempt out there that have made this Cabinet so rotten we must humble every single one of them by throwing them out in a single stroke of a single vote. I did not become a

Member of this Assembly to watch the liquidation of common sense and sound judgment, because we can do better than this. We can do better in what we are doing now. So I will not let the actions of some say this is the only way, because I am telling you this is not the only way.

What is right for the people of the North is to say we can work this out. Because we can do better. The people deserve and are entitled to an Assembly that, when faced with crisis, is willing to put aside differences for common good. This Assembly must call upon its inner strength to end its differences among itself. It is not for itself to the people of the North. I know no singular better reason than to work for that end.

Many have gotten e-mails saying this is the only way to end board reform. Many e-mails have come forward saying this is the only way to end the supplementary benefits changes. I say there are other ways. I say we will have votes on those. I say we will be in positions to hold budgets hostage and put our opinions clearly on the floor. I will say that this Assembly has still much work to be done on both sides of this House.

In closing, I’m going to say that I believe we can do better. This motion calls upon a significant change in the way we do business and I cannot let personal conflict or frustration lead the day, because deep down inside I know we can do better together.