Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise here in support of this motion. I want to applaud Mr. Hawkins for bringing a visionary motion to the table here. I would like to thank Mr. Nadli for seconding it to allow for debate here today.
Not less than 24 hours ago here in this Chamber, we witnessed something monumental, something historical that was put to us. Now we've got to roll up our sleeves and get down to brass tacks because we know there's money coming into the coffers. I think this motion speaks to the vision we have to have as residents of the Northwest Territories.
What we have before us are guidelines. We aren't saying this is the be-all and end-all, Mr. Speaker. This is the starting point for us to discuss what we are going to do with this money moving forward. I think what a lot of Members fear is this money could turn into a slush fund for our Cabinet colleagues to identify their priorities. We've got a lot of competing priorities. Everyone here on this side of the House always has issues to deal with that we can actually improve our constituents. Mr. Menicoche's Highway No. 7, for example. It's one of those things we hear time and time again.
Not that I want to use this analogy, but we tell our children, be good stewards with your money, put some in the bank and spend a little and have some fun. This is kind of what we're saying. Not to say the Cabinet Members are a bunch of children, Mr. Speaker, but the fact is these are guidelines. It's something that Cabinet has to listen to because this is coming from people on this side of the House who represent many of the residents across the Northwest Territories.
As you heard, the public has the right to have some input on this. This is their money, the public's money, the residents' money. This is hard earned tax money. These are people that believed in devolution. They are the ones who said yes, we want devolution. It's their money.
To restrict or put a caveat and not having an opportunity to say where that money is going would really be an unfortunate day, Mr. Speaker. So I will be voting in support of this motion. Thank you.