Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Just some comments from a territorial view in terms of where things are at with the Deh Cho, the riding I represent. For the most part, I think this budget is a status quo budget. There’s nothing really extraordinary about the budget, but it’s a responsible one in that we’re still experiencing a downturn in the economy so we have to really watch in terms of balancing our revenues and expenditures. For the most part, it’s a responsible budget, and at the same time, we have to give the Minister credit for leading a team on this effort to
come up with a budget that’s workable, of course. He’s been at it for some time so I would like to give him at least credit for that.
In saying that, there are some concerns that I have in terms of how it is that we’re trying to maintain the budget. That one area that was highlighted just briefly is in terms of the personnel that we have or the workforce that has become the GNWT. We seem to have lots of people that we hire and we maintain the operations, obviously, in Yellowknife. If we identify an issue or concern that we would like to have addressed in the community, for the most part, I’m not saying that it happens all the time, but generally what our approach is to identifying issues, maybe create a position, and then, unfortunately, the obvious decision is to house the position here in Yellowknife. There is another option. The other option is to consider at least some discussions at the community level, and look at the approach of trying to build capacity at the local level and ensuring that locally, people understand how systems operate so at least we build the capacity to ensure that at least we give the option of communities preparing themselves for eventually becoming more responsible in terms of delivering the governance responsibilities to their residents. I would like to at least be constructive and bring that forward and see if that could be realized within this fiscal year to ensure that we meet communities to try and ensure that we build up to capacities.
There are some good things that have become of this budget and, of course, it’s ongoing. There’s the fibre optic opportunity that would be extended right down the Mackenzie Valley. There are some good energy projects, as well, that have been initiated, like efforts made to take advantage of the biomass initiative. I’m hoping that it won’t wane. We need to ensure the sustainability of this operation, that it’s not just a one-time thing. A program initiative like that, I think, periodically we need to step back and try to fine tune it so that at least it’s delivering not only the needs of addressing energy options but at the same time making it sustainable so that they can be initiatives that perhaps we can carry out for a long stretch and ensure that we maximize the opportunities for it.
Briefly too, in terms of some of the other concerns, there are some initiatives. One of them is from one end we have the Economic Development Strategy that we’re developing. I look forward to that. Of course, the Mineral Development Strategy that we’re developing. We need to try to balance the social needs in terms of some of the real challenges that we have at the community level. We have rates of social issues that we need to contend with at the same time. There are some very fundamental challenges such as the rate of education and training of our people.
There are standing socio-economic agreements at the mines that have to be honoured not only from industry but from governments. The governments, at the same time, really need to extol and encourage our people to advance education as an opportunity to at least elevate them out of the circumstances that sometimes beleaguer them and withhold them from going beyond some of the challenges that people find themselves in.
Briefly, if there’s anything that I kind of look forward to is the communities that I represent and looking at their aspirations. I think there’s an interest to see at some point, maybe it could be next year or it could be within this period, in terms of providing programs and services and looking at the needs of the public in terms of safety. I think there’s an initiative in terms of trying to enhance the volunteer fire departments at the local level to ensure they are prepared fully to be on the offensive if a matter arises on the highway and they have to mobilize the crew to go out into the highway and help the public in terms of, perhaps, a vehicle fire. They need to be in a very ready and poised position to respond to that. I feel that we could be doing more in terms of preparing local fire departments, which are for the most part in the communities I represent volunteer fire departments.
Of course, there are other initiatives that I feel that, perhaps, will come down the road within another year or so and that’s recreational infrastructure. Looking at addressing at least the needs of our youth, I think sport and recreation is a very positive thing. It’s strong. We need to try to meet the interests of our youth to ensure we have facilities wherever we can. I know in some communities, like the community I come from is at least examining the idea of trying to enhance the use of the arena, the recreation complex, and that’s going to require some cooperation and a level of discussion with the community levels.
There are other initiatives, too, like with communities to try to undertake more with less. The key thing is that we’re trying to build capacity and prepare our communities to deliver these services to the residents and at the same time trying to live within the means of the budget. Sometimes we don’t have a lot, but we really have to go that extra mile to carry at least limited funds.
For the most part those are just some of the comments. I understand we’re going to have more opportunity down the road. Generally, for the time being those are the comments that I have.