Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thanks to all the Members for the significant effort that went into developing the GNWT's mandate. With the acceptance of the mandate, the government will have the strategic direction to proceed to advance the priorities identified by the 18th Legislative Assembly. As we start to begin the planning to start making decisions to advance the mandate, we cannot ignore our current economic realities. As Members heard in my fiscal update, our economy has not recovered from the global economic and financial crisis of 2008. The five-year outlook for the NWT economy is not great. In fact, the data suggest a protracted decline in resource production, which will negatively impact not only resource revenue but also northern businesses and employment. Our existing diamond mines are maturing and currently planned projects will not replace their contribution to the territorial economy. At the same time, exploration necessary for new development is also slowing down. Slow economic growth and stagnant population levels produce a flat revenue outlook, meaning fewer financial resources for government programs and services. However, if unchecked, our expenditures will continue to grow at a higher pace than revenue growth. We therefore continue to plan proactively, making sure proper resources are in place to support the government's priorities. We need to remember that the GNWT has a budget of $1.8 billion. We will continue to invest in the NWT economy and supporting program and service delivery. Really, what we are talking about is trying to develop a mandate that means all things to all people. When a mandate becomes a wish list, it needs to be tempered by reality. The “Fiscal Context” section is an attempt to mitigate the expectations of a new mandate so that people realize we need to look at our financial situation before we as a government spend money on improving or instituting new programs and services. Taking the “Fiscal Context” section out of the mandate document does not change the realities we face as a government or for the public we serve, and we owe it to the public to be forthcoming with the challenges we face as we plan to implement our mandate. I believe that just shows good leadership. I would ask the Members to remember as they make their vote that removing an issue from a document does not make it go away, and the government still faces difficult challenges to finance existing programs and services that will not change.
Robert C. McLeod on Committee Motion 1-18(2): Proposed Mandate Of The Government Of The Northwest Territories, 2016-2019, Deletion Of Fiscal Context Section, Carried
In the Legislative Assembly on February 22nd, 2016. See this statement in context.
Committee Motion 1-18(2): Proposed Mandate Of The Government Of The Northwest Territories, 2016-2019, Deletion Of Fiscal Context Section, Carried
Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters
February 22nd, 2016
See context to find out what was said next.