Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe this is such a significant shift in government
institutional change that it will have a major effect on the Government of the Northwest Territories’ ability to deliver programs and services, but more importantly to integrate those services into seven boards.
As I stated earlier, we have some 33 communities in the Northwest Territories. We have different institutions by way of housing authorities and DEAs. We also have regional bodies by way of divisional boards and regional health boards. I think as a government we realize that everyone has a significant role to play. I think we have to treat each one independently of the whole.
I think there are pros and cons to how we’re going to get there. Regardless if we have workshops, town hall meetings, regional conferences, we have to take the time and do it right. There are pros to doing everything, but there are cons as well. Making sure you get the checks and balances to ensure that we don’t find ourselves with court challenges and avoiding the legal ramifications of collective agreements and what the implications are going to be on the residents of the Northwest Territories on the basic programs and services they depend on.
Being here since the 13th Assembly, going on 12
years, we had some grand ideas back then too in regard to consolidation of three departments into one. Today, going back 12 years, those three bodies are now back in place, independent of each other, because we made a mistake. I think we should learn from our mistakes and not continue to do them over and over.
At the bottom, at the end of it all, I think we have to realize that everything to run a government, to run programs and services, costs money. If the goal at the end of the day is to improve programs and services for the Territory as a whole with regard to looking at those areas where cost savings can be met, I think every resident in the Northwest Territories will follow behind us. But if it ain’t going to do that, no one can be convinced otherwise.
With that, I will be supporting this motion and I look forward to working with my colleagues and the people of the Northwest Territories to improve the quality of programs and services in the Northwest Territories. I move forward, but move forward cautiously in regard to a major decision we’re all going to have make and live with for the rest of our days.