Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I was listening to the issues of board reform and the information that’s been provided to me about board reform I was thinking about a time when in the Sahtu region we had something like a board reform. Finally, after many years of good politicking and the leaders in the House Assembly, this Assembly here, we finally have an educational divisional board. Several years ago we had a health board. Now we have a district office of the housing authority in the Sahtu region and we are just getting used to having this kind of authority in our region. Now this government is proposing to take it away again. The people yet have not really fully benefited having full authority in the region in terms of these types of boards that the Minister is suggesting that we go towards a super board in the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, people in the Sahtu, and I spoke to them and asked the leadership if they support the Board Reform Initiative. I have received letters and phone calls saying no, they do not support the board initiative at this time. There is no type of real genuine consultation that has gone on with my people in the Sahtu region. We have land claims, self-government negotiations that are being negotiated as we speak. This has an impact on the board reform. We, in the Sahtu, want the same rights in terms of education, health and housing. We brought to the community level as close as possible where authority and decisions can be made. We have experience where education decisions, health decisions and even housing decisions were made out of the Sahtu region.

I will tell you what. It is not a good feeling when you are living in the region in communities where decisions are made at headquarters and regional levels. They tell you and they dictate to you, but they call it consultation. But it is really a dictatorship in terms of telling you what to do, how you are going to do it and what you should be grateful for. We know in the Sahtu region that this is the price you pay for being in a democratic society, the Northwest Territories, where the federal

government has given the right to aboriginal people to negotiate aboriginal governments.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

In closing, the people in the Sahtu agree with the Members here that board reform needs to be stopped and really looked at. Otherwise, this government here is going to feel the wrath of the Sahtu people.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you very much, colleagues. Effective and efficient delivery of our public services is all that our people ask. I believe that our current system is effective. I also believe that the proposed changes will not provide improved services to our people. I am not in favour of the proposed Board Reform Initiative. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The honourable Member for Nunakput, Mr. Jacobson.

Today I would like to talk about some real issues facing our local housing organizations in Nunakput. I really think these issues get lost when the government identifies its own priorities and diverts everyone’s attention to the topic of board reform, the way we are trying to improve services offered by local boards. No one really thinks that a super board is going to make any difference to the ordinary person in the community. Everyone knows talking about a super board means going to many meetings and discussions of a super board and will only take away from local organizations in the effort to manage and deliver local services.

In Nunakput, the Inuvik Housing Authority now manages services in Paulatuk and Sachs Harbour. This means now everyone takes longer because of the community who can help sort out our own problems. We all know it takes a while for income support processes and assessments. Now it takes longer for housing to organize their rental charges to their tenants. Now there are more people being evicted because of the rental arrears. Let’s do something real for our residents. We need to provide better services so they could live happier and more productive lives. You can’t convince me the changing of managers and the board members

will have any real affect in Paulatuk and Sachs Harbour to improve housing and income support services. Let’s start to really fix the problems and things that matter to the people. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Jacobson. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Abernethy.

Mr. Speaker, this morning when I was walking into the Legislative Assembly I saw two signs stuck in the snowbank. There are now dozens out there. One of the signs said, “super boards is super bad.” The other said, “one board does not fit all.” I have to say that I agree with these signs. The protesters who placed those signs outside of this Legislature are right. They hit the nail square on the head.

Over the last several months, there has been a lot of concern raised about this Cabinet’s direction to move forward with board reform focussing on going from 70 boards to seven using the Tlicho model as basis. In my opinion, that blind devotion to this model for every region in the NWT is a huge mistake. Fortunately, on Monday, February 16, 2009, the lead Minister of the Strategic Initiative Committee on Refocusing Government seemed to backtrack from that position. According to the unedited Hansard of February 16th , Minister

Miltenberger said, “Board reform is a work in progress. The issues are complex and it will take time to develop our plans and to implement any changes. We have stated in the past that this may end up taking on different forms in different regions.”

To me this suggested that Cabinet was finally moving away from the preconceived model from 70 to seven, which is what I wanted to hear. This message was strengthened by comments by Minister Lee in today’s Yellowknifer where she indicated that this is a work in progress; nothing is predetermined. To me, these comments from the Ministers suggested that they might be open to a healthy debate, that they might be willing to see reason and listen to the people in the NWT who are concerned about the dedicated direction the Cabinet is taking with respect to board reform.

Unfortunately, the good feeling didn’t last long. This morning while driving to work, I listened to an interview on the radio with Minister Miltenberger. I was incredibly disappointed to hear the Minister tell the reporter that we think we can go from 70 to seven and we are prepared to have a discussion. We want to meet towards that, but how we get

there and let’s get some consultation and feedback on that. Mr. Speaker, these comments fly in the face of the Minister’s comments on Monday. They are completely contradictory. What is the real message we are trying to send? To me, the message is clear. The Minister is still committed to going from 70 to seven. The decisions have already been made. The preferred model has been selected regardless of facts or research.

Once again, the voices of the people and the Regular MLAs aren’t being heard. It’s Supplementary Health Benefits Program changes all over again. When will Cabinet realize that they are here to represent the people of the NWT, not to do whatever they want, when they want and how they want? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to speak today, as well, on the issue of the government’s plan to reform boards in the Northwest Territories. I spoke numerous times about my belief that the government has not done adequate or meaningful costing, research, consultation or analysis as it pertains to board reform. Mr. Speaker, no one can debate the fact that efficiencies need to be found. This continues to be a priority of the 16th Assembly. We seem to have

gone from finding efficiencies, which is a noble pursuit, to potentially gutting our education, health and housing boards. The edict that we go from 70 to seven boards from Minister Miltenberger is not what Regular Members envision. This is not what we wanted. You cannot point your finger at the Regular Members. This is Cabinet’s plan plain and simple. In my opinion, the move to regional super boards will do nothing to address efficiency. The Minister has yet to articulate exactly what the problems are. These super boards will add another level of bureaucracy and be located, staffed and administered in regional centres. Mr. Speaker, will there be a corresponding loss of jobs in other communities? Absolutely. What the government is moving toward is an erosion of ministerial and legislative responsibility and accountability. With these super boards administering close to 70 percent of our annual budget, why would we even need 19 MLAs when the responsibility and oversight of close to 70 percent of our budget is done by what very well could amount to be appointed boards and chairs?

Mr. Speaker, we should be looking at ways to increase the responsibility of Ministers so accountability in our government can be maximized. Mr. Speaker, this government needs a lesson in consultation and what it means to engage the stakeholders and the public in a meaningful way. To date, they have failed miserably in consulting, researching and explaining what it is that they’re trying to do or to fix. The style of this government in its short time is to intimidate, to bully and to push around those most vulnerable in our society. Mr. Speaker, this abusive power has to stop somewhere. Mahsi.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.

Mr. Speaker, today I publicly demand Minister Miltenberger please put down your board reform pen and join the side of the people. If there is a time for unity, a vision where Northerners need to work together during these fiscally tight and uncertain times, the time is certainly now. The thinking of “government knows best” has been heard and is certainly now refuted by the people who are demanding better from their elected officials. From the turnout today, it is proof enough that the people want their government Ministers to now listen.

Mr. Speaker, if I may, the dream of a democratic approach was never designed around a one-size-fits-all. I have heard and seen time and time again that people want their government, regardless of what level, working better together. Perhaps, if the Minister hasn’t noticed yet, the people want their boards in health, in housing and in education. The people want their boards to be elected, independent and responsible directly to them but not to a bureaucrat out of their reach. Yes, there will be struggles, but that is the nature of what defines us. Now is the time to work towards efficiencies and not the deconstruction of our democratic right, our boards.

Reform is scary, Mr. Speaker. Everyone wants some version of it and in this case the word “reform” has meant steamrolling and amalgamating these boards together. It has not been built around practicality and reality. I’m a believer that if amalgamation is what the people really wanted, Mr. Speaker, then that’s what they would have asked for. I have heard no calls to make super boards out of our grassroots boards that are publicly elected and publicly responsible. Mr. Speaker, I haven’t seen one ounce of proof that efficiencies will be

made through this pass; no better representation and certainly no better quality of programming for our people. At this moment there has been no case to build on that effect. I can’t imagine a single person defending inefficiencies, so then where are they? So where are these great reasons to roll up our boards? I cannot see any.

The process from the beginning should have been about bringing people together to harmonize excellence, but not to force a merger through this representation. This should have been about building better relationships and efficiencies, not butchering our boards and our people. Mr. Speaker, this is no loss of respect or shame if this Minister and this government pulls this from the table, but there will be a new found respect earned today by the people. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery.

Colleagues, I’d like to draw your attention to the gallery today and the presence of Mr. Gerald Gerrand. He’s our Conflict of Interest Commissioner. Welcome to the House, Mr. Gerrand. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I risk leaving somebody out because I certainly can’t see the people who are assembled up behind me, but there are some constituents I would like to recognize: Mr. Duff Spence, who is a constituent and also the chairperson of Yellowknife Education District No. 1; Gladys and Albert Eggenberger, who are constituents of Frame Lake and long-time residents of Yellowknife. Welcome to the House. I’d like to mention, as well, Mary Vane, who is the chair of Yellowknife Catholic Schools, who is here; Mel Pardy, the assistant superintendent of Yellowknife Education District No. 1; Garry Hubert, who is the executive director of SideDoor, and anybody else that I’ve missed, my apologies and welcome. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There are a number of people in the gallery today and I just wanted to welcome all of the constituents that I have up in the audience today as well as parents and students, organizers of all those who showed up today in protest of the board reform. I welcome

your participation in this process and, again, welcome to the House.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The honourable Member for Thebacha, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m glad to be able to stand up today to recognize a constituent from Fort Smith, my constituency assistant Denise Yuhas, one of the best in the business and the only one from my community here today. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also would like to recognize everybody that is attending today, particularly those constituents from the Weledeh riding, and in particular all of the young people that have shown up today and remind us exactly what our jobs are. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The honourable Member for Monfwi, Mr. Lafferty.