Thank you, Madam Chair. I appreciate the Member’s comments on how we’re structured and how we rely on the federal government and some of the challenges we have.
I would point out when it comes to the development of our budget, we are one of two unique jurisdictions in the country where all MLAs are involved in the budget process in extensive detail from start to finish. In other systems where there are party politics, nobody would have seen this budget until yesterday or the day before when we walked through the door of the House, and it would have been dropped on the table and then you’d be given a week or whatever to have debate and then you’d vote on it. We have a much more inclusive process, I think, that allows us to come up with the good work that we do.
I agree with the Member about devolution. It is an important tool and we look forward to resolving that. The Member and I did have a discussion in the House during question period about the Norman Wells gas issue. We’ve made the commitments there.
The Member’s comments about alcohol abuse and some of the concerns in his region I know tie back to the concern of the liquor store and the hours. We’re tracking those numbers and we’re committed to and interested and willing to sit down with the Member in the region and communities as those numbers come in, keeping in mind that our whole government has been designed around trying to make sure that communities have the legal authorities wherever possible and decision-making and control over issues in their communities. So within that context, we are prepared to have those discussions.
In terms of how the government can help with our inclusive process and as we were talking about in the House today with Mrs. Groenewegen, for example, about the need to have flexibility, we are prepared to have those discussions. Minister Robert C. McLeod is engaged in discussions on the emergency funding issue and I think there’s going to be some room there.
The final comment, Madam Chair, the Member mentioned the issue of trust with Cabinet. He and I have now served together going on nine years. This is my fourth year as Finance Minister and we’ve been building on that relationship over the years and we want to collectively continue with that. Thank you.