In responding to oral questions from Mr. Hawkins last Thursday the Minister of Health
and Social Services stated, and I quote from page 25 of unedited Hansard for February 5, 2009, she said, “It is a regular practice in this Legislature that any policy changes go to the standing committee for review and consultation.” I was very pleased to hear that, but I was also very surprised. Because up to now, that’s not been my experience as a Member of the 16th Legislative Assembly. My
experience has been that policy changes, meaning government positions, changes affecting GNWT operations are discussed, debated, and decided by Cabinet or FMB in isolation without consulting or communicating with Regular Members. An example: The assets of the now famous, infamous perhaps, Opportunities Fund were until recently invested in low-risk accounts. Some time before the end of 2008, Cabinet sitting as FMB decided that the funds could be invested in high-risk ventures; ventures that are fully guaranteed by GNWT public funds; your tax dollars and mine. The only time this change was presented to standing committee was after the decision had been made. No chance for input then.
A second example: the Supplementary Health Benefits Program policy change that would go from full coverage to seniors to partial or no coverage. This change didn’t even make it through a 16th Assembly standing committee. Cabinet put into force a policy change decision made by the previous Assembly without ever discussing it with Regular Members.
I recognize that this Assembly has put Cabinet in place to manage our government departments and to carry out direction set by Caucus during our strategic planning sessions. I have no desire to micromanage and I’d agree that the Standing Committee on Priorities and Planning, consisting of Regular Members, can’t be consulted on every contemplated policy change. But substantial changes to policy, such as the Opportunities Fund policy change, which has the potential for a large, negative financial impact on this Territory’s finances, must be presented to Regular Members for their input before the decision is made, not after.
Members stated last week that there are communication problems between the two sides of this House. I trust advance communication of policy change is one of those problems that we can visit and correct.