At the outset I have to say that I’m dismayed that this motion has come to the floor. But it’s nothing that I take lightly. It was a long time in coming and I think I want everybody to know that this is not something which was a spur of the moment decision on anybody’s part. I had hopes that we as the 16th Assembly could have found a

different or better solution, but there is none to be had.

I feel that I am driven to this step for a number of reasons, and these are my own personal reasons, my own views, my own opinions, my own feelings. Primary among these reasons is a loss in confidence in the Premier and Executive Council as a group. Some Ministers have performed well; some Ministers poorly. Similar to Mr. Abernethy, I feel that some Ministers belong in Cabinet and were the opportunity given to me, I would put them back there.

But I want to emphasize that for me it is a loss of confidence in the group. I am concerned for our Territory. I am concerned for our residents. I don’t feel any comfort that this Executive is working for the best interest of the whole of the NWT. The culture of this Cabinet and its Premier is insular, adversarial, and inward looking. I’m sorry to have to use those words.

There is a lack of cohesiveness amongst this group. Each of the seven Members of the Executive seem to operate independently of the others. Actions are taken by one Minister that the others are unaware of. An example: For the last four to five months I’ve been asking the Premier’s office for the NWT government’s response to the federal government in regards to the McCrank Report. I was assured several times that it was being developed, that coordination was required because several departments were involved, and that I and other Members would get a copy once it was complete. Imagine my surprise when I was told two weeks ago by the Premier’s office that a letter of response about the McCrank Report had gone to INAC’s Minister Strahl in early December of 2008 from the Minister of ENR, apparently without the Premier’s knowledge. If this is the government’s considered coordinated response, why was the Premier not involved?

This example is indicative to me of the “every man for himself” attitude that permeates this Cabinet. Not only have I lost confidence in this Premier and Executive, but so has the public. For months now I’ve been hearing from constituents and members of the general public that they see the government as inadequate and ineffective. They don’t believe that this government is taking us anywhere; that we are as a ship adrift at sea on an aimless journey, no visible charted course.

On the flip side I feel that the long-term goals of this Cabinet and its Assembly are good, but the short-term actions are sorely lacking. On the negative side there’s this comment from a constituent: “For every action there is an equal and opposite government program.”

A second reason is in my short time as an MLA I’ve perceived a distinct lack of leadership from the Premier and the Executive and I feel that the leadership has to come from that group of seven people. I elected seven people to positions of authority and accountability, expecting that they would take charge of this Assembly’s goals and objectives and those goals and objectives that we set as 19 Members back in October 2007. I expected they would take our goals and objectives and lead us forward. I expected them to fill the sails of our ship with wind and move us purposely to the harbour. I don’t see that leadership, nor do I see that purposeful forging ahead that I anticipated 16 months ago. We need to make some personnel changes to get the leadership and the attitude that this Territory needs to forge ahead.

Thirdly, the communication from this Cabinet has been woefully inadequate and ineffectual. I mean communication to both our residents and stakeholders and to us as Regular MLAs. Comments made in the press by Ministers have

been contrary and unnecessarily blunt. Ideas and actions put forward by Cabinet have been presented to constituents and to MLAs as a fait accompli, a done deal. What I hear that’s telling me from Cabinet is, don’t bother telling us what you think; we don’t care and we’ll do what we want no matter what. Unfortunately, perception is nine-tenths of the law and the public perception is that this Cabinet is running a dictatorship, not consensus government.

The word “consultation” does not seem to be in the vocabulary of this Executive Council. Witness the presentation of the Board Reform Initiative and the Supplementary Health Benefits Program policy. In both cases the model has been predetermined by Cabinet. That model to be implemented is not in question or for debate, only how it will happen. That’s hardly consultation, in my view. Where is the openness to other ideas? Where is the openness to the consideration of a different way of implementation?

I am constantly amazed at the reticence of this Cabinet to use the considerable collective wisdom and experience of the Regular Members’ P and P committee to vet their initiatives and significant policy changes before making a Cabinet or an FMB decision. This group of 11 has a lot to offer. Why do you persist in ignoring a thoughtful, willing and cost-effective sounding board?

We’re at a point in the life of this Assembly where a review of our Executive Council is due. We could wait for the halfway point of this Assembly -- that would be October upcoming -- but I feel it would then be too late. The review must occur now. This motion provides that opportunity; the opportunity for a review of the Premier and all Members of Cabinet. It’s an opportunity for Members to reaffirm their confidence in those Ministers whom they feel deserve their confidence. Who those people are depends on each of us as Members. We all have different experiences which colour our opinions and feelings, and thus there are differing views on the worth of each Minister.

Should this motion pass, a Territorial Leadership Council will be held. I hope that all the current Ministers will submit their names for a Cabinet post. I think they all should. The Leadership Council process will allow us all to consider the record of Ministers over the last 16 months, and any Minister who has the confidence of this House will be reinstated to their post.

To conclude, this motion may seem like a drastic measure, but it is, for me, a necessary one. I regret we couldn’t find another way to send our message to those across the floor and I regret that I must support this motion.