Masi, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] We have a motion in front of us today. Sometimes it is very difficult to speak on a motion, and it is to remove one MLA. It is a very difficult decision to make, but we do represent the people of the Northwest Territories. We have to make decisions on what they think, as well. Today, I am going to speak on this motion. A lot of people don't know the background information. A lot has been asked as to what has been happening here. Regarding the government and Ministers, I am going to speak on some of these issues. Mr. Speaker, we are live, so I would like to say a few words in the English language. [Translation ends]
[Microphone turned off] ...to the motion before the House, I would just like to address that our session is the only opportunity for us to make statements on what truly occurs in this building, whether it be within the government or the Assembly, as Members and elected officials. I would like to speak both about what really occurred from the government perspective and also the Minister in question. What has truly transpired? There are a lot of questions from the general public, so I would like to capture some of them.
Before speaking to the motion, I want to comment on the extraordinary circumstances that have brought us here today in our session. It is rare that this House meets outside of regular scheduled settings. Our unique form of consensus-style government prides itself on its consistency and stability, even during the most trying times, Mr. Speaker. It is hard to imagine a more trying time when our people are facing, every day, the COVID-19 pandemic. For us to break with our respected traditions, only the most serious matter could possibly require such actions and attention from the honourable Members of this House. It is a most serious matter that brings us together here today, namely the Premier's decision to remove the portfolios from the honourable Member for Great Slave. This is the most serious and unprecedented action. Unfortunately, once again, it is a decision made by this Premier without consultation or proper notice given to MLAs.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to elaborate a bit more on that. The process conventions of consensus-style government that govern our institutions are quite clear. The fifth guiding principle states, "Except under extraordinary circumstances, Members of the Legislative Assembly should be made aware of and have opportunity to discuss significant announcements, changes, consultations, or initiatives before they are released to the public or introduced in the Legislative Assembly. Use of the element of surprise is inconsistent with consensus government."
Mr. Speaker, the unilateral decision of the Premier to revoke the portfolios of one of our Ministers has not been explained to me thoroughly as anything that so urgently needed to happen that we could not be consulted. In actual fact, we were given only a brief meeting with the Premier as notice of this decision. This has significant consequences, as you know, Mr. Speaker, on our ability to communicate directly and effectively with our constituents across the Northwest Territories, and they are far from happy about the whole affair that we face here today. On the contrary, they are very confused and frustrated, throughout the Northwest Territories, with no clear sense of what is happening at the highest level of decision-making in the GNWT.
Mr. Speaker, I will refer again to our governing protocols: "The Premier and Cabinet are appointed by Members of the Legislative Assembly to provide overall leadership and direction in accordance with the broad strategic direction set by the Caucus. Cabinet must have the ability to implement this strategic direction effectively and efficiently, but in a way that reflects the concerns of Regular Members and maintains their support." No part of this protocol suggests that the Premier has the right to remove Ministers without first seeking the support of Regular Members.
Mr. Speaker, I will again remind the Premier that the House appoints Cabinet, not the Premier. It is this House, and only this House, that can revoke a Minister from their position on the Executive Council. I trust that the Premier will hear my words and carefully consider her actions in the future.
Mr. Speaker, while have I spoken at length about my dissatisfaction with the Premier's decision and how it was made or the process, I must now turn to the matter at hand: the motion. Mr. Speaker, my duty is first and foremost to represent the concerns of my constituents and those of the Tlicho people as it relates to the conduct of this government and, in particular, the conduct of the Member for Great Slave in her role as Minister.
Mr. Speaker, early in July of this year, the GNWT blatantly ignored the wishes of the Tlicho leadership and terms of the final Tlicho Agreement when they tendered a construction contract on Tlicho land without making any effort to provide economic benefits to the Tlicho people. When the final agreement was signed in 2003, Mr. Speaker, chapter 26 specifically provided for economic benefits to the Tlicho people arising from Government of the Northwest Territories contracts and employment. It's clearly highlighted. It also imposed requirements on the government to consult and engage when changes are made to procurement policies and when contracts on Tlicho land are not put out for tender. None of these conditions, Mr. Speaker, were considered, and my leaders, the Tlicho leadership, were forced to raise their concerns by openly condemning the actions of this government.
Mr. Speaker, my people, my Tlicho people, are humble and dignified. They place the highest value on the Dene principles of cooperation and mutual respect. It is not our way to air our grievances or publicly shame others. It is simply not our way; so you can imagine how deeply disrespected my leaders felt to take such a serious measure as publicly speaking out against the GNWT. This was only after three meetings with the Premier and the Minister failed to produce any changes that would provide the promised benefits to the Tlicho people. Thankfully, we found a way forward that meets the needs of my leaders and will help our people achieve the prosperity and opportunity that they well deserve, but it should not have taken such drastic action as a public scolding to achieve that result, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, in the context of this important decision, the Member for Great Slave took no action to share our words of protest and help reconcile the promises made within the Tlicho agreement with GNWT policy. Instead of working diligently to reach out to her federal counterparts and work on securing the funding changes needed to meet the agreement, she made excuses and prioritized the needs of the GNWT over the needs of my people, the Tlicho people. Not only were her actions contrary to the spirit and intent of the Tlicho Agreement, they could have resulted in a legal challenge from the Tlicho government that could have cost taxpayers a significant amount of dollars.
Mr. Speaker, it is episodes like this that test the character and ability of a Minister. Mr. Speaker, believe me; I know far too well the many challenges that a Member of the Executive Council faces every day. I, too, sat across the aisle, made decisions that have affected the lives of thousands of Northerners, and helped to guide the overall strategic focus of the GNWT. When I say that the Member for Great Slave failed this test of her abilities, I am not speaking without the perspective of experience and knowledge of her role in this Assembly and this government, as well. Though I am sure that the Minister is more than capable of achieving a better understanding of the treaties and how to uphold treaty commitments, we quite frankly do not have the time, nor can we gamble on inexperience when stakes are so high. The consequences of failure could be a generation of Indigenous people left behind. Our economy is too fragile. Our needs are too great to continue making excuses, Mr. Speaker, and pleading for patience. Indigenous peoples have waited generations for colonial governments to make good on their promises, and our patience runs short, Mr. Speaker.
While I continue my objection as to how this motion has come to be debated on the floor of our legislature, I will say that it is past time that this Cabinet has a shake-up. For too long, Mr. Speaker, far too long, we have seen the focus of the GNWT on the capital region and not on the small communities that truly need the attention and full efforts of this government. Departments have grown increasingly centralized, with headquarters making virtually all decisions, while regional centres are given token roles in the larger enterprise of government. The majority of our infrastructure dollars are spent to benefit the capital, with the scraps left over for the small communities. We have seen that over and over and over.
Mr. Speaker, the economic multipliers for every dollar of infrastructure invested in a small community are immense. What could be a handful of jobs in Yellowknife become dozens of well-paid prospects in Gameti, Whati, Sachs Harbour, or other small communities. This government has more than enough resources -- over $1 billion a year, in fact -- to ensure that investment is equivalent across our vast territory, the Northwest Territories. We need to change our perspectives of what the true needs of our communities are, and that can only happen if our top decision-makers better reflect the most serious needs of our people of the Northwest Territories.
Mr. Speaker, I believe that appointing a new Minister to Executive Council from the small communities will accomplish this change in focus and offer new and valuable perspectives to the GNWT as it manages an unprecedented pandemic. This is not a suggestion that I make lightly, as I have nothing but the utmost respect for the conventions of our unique form of consensus-style government, but extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures that will get the best results for our communities and make a real difference in the lives of the people that we serve.
Mr. Speaker, it is for this reason that I have lost confidence in this Minister and will vote in favour of the motion at the appropriate time. But hear my words, Mr. Speaker, when I say that my vote is not a vote against the Member for Great Slave; it is a vote for the Tlicho people and for the people of the small communities, who are so often overlooked by this government. Masi, Mr. Speaker.