Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It takes a long time to get things to work. It takes a long time to get people to feel comfortable with their local organizations and agencies. In the Beaufort-Delta we are no different from anyone else.

We have local housing organizations that work pretty well. Yes, sometimes there are issues and challenges where sometimes things could work better.

We have to work with regional health and social services boards, which includes a person from each community. Yes, and we have hard times staying in the budget. Most health authorities do. Yes, they have difficult times staffing its positions. What health organization has an easy time staffing?

We have a divisional education board and our education results are improving as results improve across the NWT.

How does a new or larger board manage a deficit better than the existing board? How come the new board would have more success at staffing its positions than the existing board? Why would the people become more effective because they work for a new or larger board?

Most people in the Beaufort-Delta know that things don’t get better simply because some changes are made at the top. Things don’t get better because people change offices. Things don’t get better simply because someone gets a new computer. Yet all those changes cost a lot of money. Adding new employees to the public service, getting them in the GNWT computer services such as PeopleSoft, financial management systems, co-locating of office buildings. People don’t want to see money spent on this. People want the money spent on front-line services, better programs and schools, more local health services and more for seniors’ homes.

When the government keeps pushing a bad idea, the government starts to get a bad name. Many people think the Board Reform Initiatives are a bad idea. Many people are telling me that the government is starting to get a bad name. People are starting to give up and look elsewhere to put their energy and ideas. We need those people to work in their local organizations, to give those organizations their energy and ideas. When the government starts to get a bad name it reflects poorly on all Members, not just Cabinet Ministers.

Let’s stop Board Reform Initiatives. Let’s start working on finding ways to improve our services at the front line. I want to give government a good name in Nunakput communities and I will be supporting the motion.

---Applause