Good afternoon, colleagues. To the motion. We make status quo decisions every day in our homes, in our communities, community and regional leadership roles, and in this Legislative Assembly in what we can only deem hopefully would be in the best interest for those whom we serve.
Collectively, we possess the opportunity in researching, gathering, and seeking advice on the information that would assist during our decision making process. Concluding our decision is not an easy one to make, and not acceptable by some. However, we have shown leadership by deciding where we stand and what we believe would be in the best interest of those who placed their trust, the general public, in our abilities on November 23, 2015.
Mr. Speaker, no one wants a strike. The Public Services Act describes the process for achieving a collective agreement. We are currently in the mediation stage. The request for binding arbitration is problematic for a number of reasons.
First, the Public Service Act does not include any provisions for binding arbitration to settle negotiations. Then, there is needed agreed principles guiding the arbitration process.
In our deliberation leading to today's decision, this information I share is very important for the public to know. A motion of the Assembly cannot compel the Government of the Northwest Territories to take a particular action. That is, a motion adopted by the Legislative Assembly is not binding on the GNWT. A motion that is defeated in the Assembly has no effect and cannot be introduced again during the same session.
Our NWT economy is combined by the public, industry, and private sectors. All are complementary in generating revenues and opportunities.
With the government's prudent and management capacity through the Fiscal Responsibility Policy and the Financial Administration Act, in a fiscally responsible manner, we can see adjustments for capital growth and workforce acknowledgments while realizing the positive measures.
Unexpected disruptions or forced growth must be considered a gap and, more importantly, where is the loss in covering this gap? These are elements and principles during strategic planning. Capital planning, for example, on schools, health centres, and housing are important parts of the NWT economy, and the ability to deliver services to our NWT residents.
I can only hope our collective bargaining representatives are negotiating with honesty, integrity, and with the utmost passion and understanding of the challenges faced every day by the majority of small communities that make up this territory and the citizens of the Northwest Territories.
I must respect the process, show leadership by developing a conclusion to a decision. Through research, I'm confident in my abilities not to support this motion and I have full confidence in both the collective bargaining parties with their knowledge and wisdom in arriving to an equitable agreement this weekend.
In closing, I want to say to our colleagues in the House and the listeners that I, too, have received many e-mails and they were, I would say, very sympathetic to the process and very convincing on the challenges that they face constantly, giving examples of what may happen during a strike to their incomes, to their constant day-to-day challenges of payments. I hope that I have concluded faithfully with the decision today despite the fact that Members of my riding gave me options. I have chosen an option and I hope it is in the best interest of everybody in the Northwest Territories. For all these reasons and my views, I can't support this motion. Mahsi, Mr. Chair.