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NORTHWEST TERRITORIES LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY

15th Assembly

TERRITORIAL LEADERSHIPCOMMITTEE

Wednesday, December 10, 2003

Pages 3 - 20

Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories

Members of the Legislative Assembly

Mr. Roger Allen(Inuvik Twin Lakes)

Mr. Brendan Bell(Yellowknife South)

Mr. Bill Braden(Great Slave)

Mr. Paul Delorey(Hay River North)

Mr. Charles Dent(Frame Lake)

Mrs. Jane Groenewegen(Hay River South)

Mr. Joe Handley(Weledeh)

Mr. Robert Hawkins(Yellowknife Centre)

Mr. David Krutko(Mackenzie Delta)

Ms. Sandy Lee(Range Lake)

Mr. Michael McLeod(Deh Cho)

Mr. Kevin Menicoche(Nahendeh)

Mr. Michael Miltenberger(Thebacha)

Mr. Calvin Pokiak(Nunakput)

Mr. Dave Ramsay(Kam Lake)

Mr. Floyd Roland(Inuvik Boot Lake)

Mr. Bobby Villeneuve(Tu Nedhe)

Mr. Norman Yakeleya(Sahtu)

Mr. Henry Zoe(North Slave)

OfficersClerk of the Legislative Assembly

Mr. Tim Mercer

Deputy Clerk Clerk of Committees Assistant Clerk Law ClerksMr. Doug Schauerte Mr. Dave Inch Andrew Stewart Ms. Katherine R. Peterson, Q.C.

Box 1320Yellowknife, Northwest Territories

Tel: (867) 669-2200 Fax: (867) 920-4735 Toll-Free: 1-800-661-0784http://www.assembly.gov.nt.ca

Published under the authority of the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CONFIRMATION OF PROCESS FOR ELECTION OF PREMIER................................................................................................................................................................................................................3

ELECTION OF PREMIER................................................................................................................................................................................................................3

CONFIRMATION OF PROCESS FOR ELECTION OF CABINET................................................................................................................................................................................................................6

ELECTION OF MINISTERS................................................................................................................................................................................................................6

ADJOURNMENT..................................................................................................................................................................................20

December 10, 2003 TERRITORIAL LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE Page 3

YELLOWKNIFE, NORTHWEST TERRITORIESWednesday, December 10, 2003

Members Present

Mr. Allen, Mr. Bell, Mr. Braden, Mr. Delorey, Mr. Dent, Mrs. Groenewegen, Mr. Handley, Mr. Hawkins, Mr. Krutko, Ms. Lee, Mr. McLeod, Mr. Menicoche, Mr. Miltenberger, Mr. Pokiak, Mr. Ramsay, Mr. Roland, Mr. Villeneuve, Mr. Yakeleya, Mr. Zoe

CHAIRMAN (Mr. Krutko): Good morning, Members. At this time I'd like to request the Member for Hay River South if she could…I'd like to call upon Mrs. Groenewegen, Member for Hay River South, to say the opening prayer this morning. Mrs. Groenewegen.

---Prayer

Chairman's Opening Remarks

CHAIRMAN (Mr. Krutko): Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Good morning, Members. Welcome to the Territorial Leadership Committee process. As you are all aware, we are here today to select a Member to become our Premier of the Northwest Territories, and to ensure a full complement of Members of the Executive Council.

ITEM 7: CONFIRMATION OF PROCESSFOR ELECTION OF PREMIER

I would like to briefly outline the process that we will use for the election of the Premier. I will begin by calling for nominations from the floor and determine whether or not a Member who has been nominated accepts or declines the nomination.

Candidates for Premier will be allowed a 20-minute speech, and when all candidates have spoken, each Member who is not a candidate for Premier will be allowed to ask four questions of each candidate.

Once the question period is concluded, the committee will commence voting. Members will receive their ballots at the Clerk's table, which is up here, and then take your ballots and drop it into the box, which will be in front of the Chair. After all Members have voted, I will cast the final vote.

At this time, I would like to ask the Members if this is the process that we would accept at this time.

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Agreed.

CHAIRMAN (Mr. Krutko): Also, just to remind the Members, you should refer to your process document, which I believe is in front of you at your desk.

In addition to that, a nomination form for Premier is in front of you. With that, I will begin the process and call for nominations from the floor for the position of Premier of the Northwest Territories. Are there any nominations for Premier of the Northwest Territories? Mr. Roland.

ITEM 8: ELECTION OF PREMIER

Nominations

MR. ROLAND: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I wish to nominate Joe Handley, Member for Weledeh, for the position of Premier.

CHAIRMAN (Mr. Krutko): Mr. Handley, do you accept?

MR. HANDLEY: Yes, Mr. Chairman, I accept. Thank you.

CHAIRMAN (Mr. Krutko): Are there any other nominations for Premier? Final call for nominations for Premier. I declare nominations closed.

Results

As only one Member has been nominated, I hereby declare that you have elected, by acclamation, the Member for Weledeh, the honourable Mr. Joe Handley, as your Premier.

---Applause

This will be confirmed by motion in the Legislative Assembly tomorrow. At this time I would now like to offer the Premier-elect, the honourable Mr. Joe Handley, an opportunity to address the committee. Mr. Handley.

Statement By Premier-Elect Joe Handley

MR. HANDLEY: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I want to stand because I can't sit still.

---Laughter

It's a tremendous honour and I'm very humbled by your unanimous support for me. I think it says a lot about the value of our consensus form of government.

---Applause

I can promise you that over the next four years that I will work to ensure you and the people of the Northwest Territories that that support is well placed.

I want to thank my wife and my family for the support that they've given me and the willingness to let me put in those extra hours that are going to be necessary to do this job well.

I also want to thank the people in my constituency who gave me 100 percent support as well, in my election as MLA and also the words of support from them for me to put my name forward for this office.

Leading up to today, I've been working on a speech that was meant to explain to you why I would make a good Premier and was meant to get your support. I've kept a lot of that speech because I still need your support over the next four years. I think we have to work together. I need your support as we move along.

I want to make a positive difference in the Northwest Territories. I think I did as a finance Minister in the 14 th

Assembly, and now in the 15th Assembly I want to do it as Premier.

To me there's no better place in Canada than the Northwest Territories, and I want to do everything I can to keep it that way. I think we have an opportunity in the Territories to do it right; to do it right for all our people, our aboriginal people, for non-aboriginal people, for everybody who has made this territory home. My children live here, my grandchildren live here, I intend to live here the rest of my life and I want to make sure that I am making a contribution to that.

My original platform in 1999 when I first ran as MLA was about getting things done. That was the title we used, in fact, on our brochures. My vision is of people getting together to discuss, to plan, to negotiate and to decide on a course of action; working together toward common goals and an exciting future.

During these past four years I've learned a lot about successful relationships and working with people. It's a simple rule that I follow and I think it's essential for a functioning consensus system, and that is my open-door policy. It works well for me. It has worked well for me over the last years and I intend to continue with that policy. My office is open to fellow MLAs, to aboriginal organizations, to members of the business community, to employees of our government, to everyone. That's the only way that I can know what the issues are and to understand the problems and begin to try and find solutions together. Yes, it's more time consuming; yes, it's not always the easiest or the fastest or the most convenient way to operate, but it works. These successes I've had over the past four years can be attributed, I believe, to this approach. I will ensure that that approach is the norm up and down the hallway, practiced by all Cabinet Ministers, and I hope extended beyond this building to the government itself.

I want to speak, Mr. Chairman, a bit about the qualities of a leader in the GNWT. I think first and foremost we all have to exhibit qualities of accountability, integrity and honesty. These must be above question. Yes, we have checks and balances and standards of behaviour provided by our codes of practices and codes of conduct and these are necessary, however, we must all conduct ourselves so that we do not find ourselves mired in conflict and questions or confidence as some previous governments have. The costs are just too high. The administrative costs, of course, but more than anything else the cost of our working relationship and the cost of the public's confidence.

I think a leader must be able to develop trust; must be a team builder; must be fair to all people in the Northwest Territories and must be prepared to work hard to make consensus government work; must work well with and be known to aboriginal and municipal leaders and the federal government, as well as our public; must have the ability to engage people in constructive discussion and debate; must be prepared to work long and hard day after day; and, I think most of all, must always be open to suggestions from the electorate.

I see my role as Premier to lead the government with a vision that is developed and supported by the MLAs, a vision that we need to be prepared to modify as time progresses and as we are advised by our partners. As Premier, I'd like to see more involvement by regular Members in setting and

managing the agenda of the government. For example, joint MLA/Cabinet committees to review and develop major policies and to implement plans. I'd like to see more operational, more positive relationships between ourselves and Cabinet and the MLAs and the committees that we have.

As critical as I see drawing together all Members, there must be more openness and informal discussion in communities, where local and regional leaders have opportunity to present their views. New northern forums of sorts and mechanisms for working together with the emerging self-governments of municipalities are overdue.

My vision of the Northwest Territories is a place where northerners are healthy, educated and contributing to the betterment of families and communities; where the atmosphere promotes personal and economic opportunities for success; where the environment is respected and protected; where development proceeds with northern control and consent resulting in long-term benefits; where our place in Canada is clearly defined; where our relationship with big, multi-national companies is clear, and clearly our relationship with them has to be one that has a benefit to northern people; where traditional cultures are respected and a government that supports these objectives.

The 15th Assembly is going to face many of the same issues as the 14th did: fiscal pressures; the need to build strong relationships with our partners; delivering our programs and services in the most efficient and effective manner; and moving forward our desire to control our land and resources and our destiny.

We also face unprecedented opportunities in association with things like a natural gas pipeline down the Mackenzie Valley. I believe that we, as a 15th Assembly, must continue to support these major developments, but only in a way that brings maximum benefit to the NWT through jobs, contracts and resource revenues. We need to do it our way, not just be swept along by policies by others. However, we also need to put more attention toward smaller and local industries, and more to diversifying our economy as a way of generating wealth in all communities.

As a Member of Cabinet and as finance Minister, transportation Minister and Minister of RWED for a while, I did focus much of my public effort on financial and economic and development-related issues. The fact is though, that when you look at the spending, we did dedicate a lot of money toward our social programs and our social needs. We increased the operational budget by $165 million. We're now going to have to be sure that that money is invested well. The social needs of our people are going to be, in my view, one of the big challenges that we're going to have to pay attention to here as a government.

Along with these increased investments we've made, we also took action in the last government to begin the process of lowering the cost of living. The cost of living, I think, is going to continue to be one of our biggest challenges. We have to find ways of bringing the cost of living into a range where it is reasonable for people. It is very difficult for someone living in poverty or inadequate housing to be able to get excited about some of the big issues we'll deal with like devolution and resource revenue sharing. So I see the challenge of lowering the cost of living as one of our major, major challenges we'll take on.

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As Premier, I will continue to expand our efforts to strike the right balance on political evolution, social and economic investments, investments in large and small communities and between investments in prevention and treatment services.

My training, as many of you know, is in education. I came here as an educator and it’s education that I strongly believe is the future for northerners. This is the greatest security we can negotiate for our people and help them to achieve.

The increased participation of northerners in our current economic opportunities is great today. Having a skill, a trade, a diploma, a degree will be for the long term. Once someone has a certificate or a degree, no one can ever take it away from them. It is my view that we must continue to direct our resources towards ensuring our residents are prepared to take on the job and the benefits of development.We often say our people are our most valued resources. As MLAs, we will hear this many times. We need to continue to put actions to these words and perhaps look at focusing our effort as a government by, I believe on one hand, putting a lot of emphasis on early childhood and kindergarten to Grade 12 and, on the other hand, doing what is required to ensure our adult population has the opportunities to take on the training and jobs that are there. We will have to do that in partnership with non-government organizations. So often we have not taken advantage of those organizations that have provided a lot of services for us. We have not taken advantage of them in a way that we should be, and working with them as our partners. We need to work with the private sector in doing that as well. The private sector delivers some of the best training we have for adults in the Territories. We must work together.

Too many of our residents are struggling with various addictions and lifestyle choices that adversely affect their lives, those of their families and their communities. There’s a need for government to help people take more personal responsibility. The government should not be overly intrusive in people’s lives. Government is there to share resources fairly and provide help and safety nets, but it cannot and should not evade all aspects of people’s lives. A key principle in our social agenda should be to assist people, to be independent and responsible for themselves and their families. We have to take steps to become healthy individuals and family units. Wherever people are struggling to exercise their obligations as husbands, wives and parents, we need to be prepared to support them and their community leaders. While support for those who are struggling is an obligation for us, respecting individual rights as consenting, capable adults is also a prerequisite for a self-sufficient, prosperous society.

Our environment is precious. We live in a very fragile part of the world and we need to do everything we can to protect our environment. Not only must we do our part, but we also have to convince the federal government that the cleanup of hazardous sites and particularly old mines is urgent.

As well, we have to be continually vigilant in ensuring efficient and effective environmental assessments of current and future projects at arm’s length from political interference.

I would like to concentrate on diversifying the benefit of major development that we have now and will have in the future. Obviously we cannot have a mine or a gas pipeline beside each community nor do we want that, but we can do

more to support our small communities and our small businesses.

I am particularly interested in the potential of tourism which can be integrated and supportive of traditional economies and lifestyles. Strong communities and strong people go together. We cannot have one without the other.

As I mentioned earlier, there’s a need to develop more structured forums or working in cooperation with other governments and stakeholders, aboriginal, municipal, federal, provincial, territorial and with the non-governmental sector. We’ve had some good examples and I hope we can continue with them. In the private sector, the business coalition is a good example of a very strong partnership that has resulted in an additional $80 million for infrastructure, municipal and transportation, that Minister Rock recently announced. This group can also take a lot of credit for increasing our profile in the provinces by demonstrating that the Northwest Territories is a major player in the future economy of Canada, not just a source of wealth for someone else. It is a big piece of Canada.

Another successful partnership we’ve developed is with the community of Fort Providence and the Deh Cho Bridge Corporation. Together we are presuming a dream of being able to cross the Mackenzie River at any time of the year, any month. Together, we are going to make this a reality. Those are two good examples.

My vision of the North is strong communities. One way to have strong communities is to ensure people can afford to live there. We do need a less expensive, cleaner source of energy. A lot of work has been done on an energy strategy. A lot of preliminary work has been done looking at a hydro potential. I think there is some room to continue looking at that.

I know the people in the corporations in Tulita, Deline and the Akaitcho people and the NWT Metis are working in partnership with the Power Corporation, as we speak, in doing some of that preliminary work. There are some good recommendations on the energy strategy on cleaner energy as well. Clearly, energy is going to drive the economy in the small communities unless we take on the challenge of finding a less expensive and cleaner way of doing it. Then I think we will continue to see people moving their businesses from small communities into larger centres and I don’t think any of us want to see that. To me, the challenge of lower cost, more efficient, cleaner energy that we have control over the price on is a major challenge that we have to take a look at. I can assure you though that as much as I support hydro development, there will be no hydro development happen on anybody’s traditional land unless they are in support of it. These are a few examples of successful partnerships with aboriginal corporations, and it shows my commitment of what our government’s commitment to cooperation and partnership should be.

We also need to support the early finalization of aboriginal claims and self-government negotiations. Time frames and processes for settlement of outstanding claims must be set and adhered to by all governments involved. We need to embrace power sharing with Dene, Inuvialuit and Metis governments and be willing to embark on new ways of doing business.

Addressing our fiscal challenge is a reality. Finding new ways to increase revenues is a constant challenge in which

we had some positive movement in the last government. We still have the same challenge though. While we do get more revenues, we still find the situation where our expenditure demands are outstripping sustained revenue growth. The bottom line to me is that unless we have economic self-sufficiency, we will not have political independence nor the means to overcome our health and social challenges.

In short, we need to obtain a better fiscal balance with the federal government, which includes clarification of our role in this Canadian Confederation, a better formula deal, better access to resource revenues and fairer access to federal programs. On a few occasions, Paul Martin, as federal finance Minister, came to our support in the last government because of persuasive arguments we put forward. I think one of the strongest arguments we put forward is what is good for the North is good for Canada. As soon as possible, I intend to meet with the Prime Minister and the Minister of DIAND to continue that dialogue and to begin the process of developing a very clear strategy to gain federal support for aboriginal governments and our government to resolve the devolution and resource revenue issues. Previous governments of the Northwest Territories have been working on devolution for over 17 years. It’s not a clear, easy exercise, but I think our government has to put a time frame on it, put a commitment to it and if it means working until midnight every night to do it, we have to make a commitment to get this one resolved.

All of Canada stands to gain greatly or to lose badly by mining and oil and gas development in the Northwest Territories. We need to continue to see provincial support for our political, economic and fiscal arguments. Good progress has been made in the 14th Assembly in getting our message out to the rest of Canada and to the international community. I want to hit the road running, as well as meeting with Prime Minister Martin who will strengthen our support from the other provinces and territories and the national and international business community.

I would like to make just a few points on the expenditure side, as well. I continue to believe that it’s not time to reduce spending on investments in people and in infrastructure when these investments can show us return. This was my fiscal strategy over the last four years and I believe it has shown results and I believe it is still true. However, reassessing and reconfiguring how we deliver our services by rationalizing those that are least affected is a process governments must not shy away from. We need to be able to tell whether increased expenditures have resulted in positive changes. This week we have received many options to address these issues that we are facing. We have them all in hand. We need to set a vision for the 15 th Assembly and then we need to select those recommendations that best fit our agenda. We have no time to spend studying the problems. It’s time for us to take action on these.

Finally, let me reinforce the need to build trust and a positive working relationship as 19 MLAs. We need to make consensus government work. We can make it work and work very well. There’s a time and place to have a debate on the merits of our style of government, how we select the Speaker, the Premier, Cabinet and committee Chairs. I believe that can wait until we have an electoral review later in the life of this government. Right now, we have to get to work on more specific ways we can work together better to address issues we face and try to develop an approach to benefit the people we represent.

As I mentioned a few minutes ago, my previous approach to communicate and dialogue with Members here and groups and individuals outside these walls, I know that those I have worked with before will agree and those who I have to develop a working relationship with now will soon find out that the open-door policy is my style. It will not change and I would like to see it practised by all Members of Cabinet and our government.

I was asked shortly after I put my name forward and indicated my intention to seek the position of Premier, why I would want to do this job. I have thought about it a lot and come back to the same place in my mind time and time again. Like you, I care. I care about people, first and foremost. I care about the land and its importance to people who live here. I care about the future and the future of our children. I care about everybody’s ability to earn a good living and live in decent housing. I care about those who are looking for help in overcoming their addictions, about a good education system and a health system we can rely on, about equality for our minority groups and having violence-free homes. I care about our place in the rest of Canada. Mr. Chairman, I am confident that the people of the Northwest Territories that we represent will be well-served by the 15 th

Legislative Assembly. Thank you.

---Applause

CHAIRMAN (Mr. Krutko): At this time, I would just like to remind the Members and inform you that we are being broadcast live on APTN and also on CBC Radio across the Northwest Territories.

I would like to take a short five-minute break and then proceed into the selection for Cabinet Ministers.

---SHORT RECESS

ITEM 9: CONFIRMATION OF PROCESSFOR ELECTION OF CABINET

CHAIRMAN (Mr. Krutko): I’d like to call the House back to order. Prior to the break we agreed that we would proceed now into the selection of the Cabinet Ministers. The process for electing the Cabinet Ministers would be similar to that of the Premier, except for the time limits. The speeches will be for 10 minutes for each candidate and there will be no question period for this process.

In addition, the selection of the six Cabinet Ministers will be based on the two-two-two principle: two Members from the northern constituencies, two from Yellowknife, and two from the southern constituencies. Please refer to your detailed process sheets in front of you relating to the process of selection. We’ll be asking you to make three separate ballots: one from the North, one from the South and one for Yellowknife. You will also be asked to choose two candidates on each ballot. At this time I’d like to ask, does the committee agree that the proposed process is acceptable?

SOME HON. MEMBERS: Agreed.

ITEM 10: ELECTION OF MINISTERS

CHAIRMAN (Mr. Krutko): I’d just like to make the Members aware that the speeches will be based on alphabetical order by your name for the speeches. So in your packages you will find nomination forms for Cabinet Ministers. With that, I will

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begin the process by calling for nominations from the floor for the position of Cabinet Ministers. Are there any nominations to Cabinet? Mr. McLeod.

Nominations

MR. MCLEOD: Mr. Chairman, I wish to nominate Mr. Roland, the Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, for a position on Cabinet.

CHAIRMAN (Mr. Krutko): Does the honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake accept the nomination? Mr. Roland.

MR. ROLAND: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yes, I do.

CHAIRMAN (Mr. Krutko): Accepted. Are there other nominations for Cabinet? Mr. Braden.

MR. BRADEN: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I nominate Roger Allen, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, for a position on Cabinet.

CHAIRMAN (Mr. Krutko): Does the Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes accept the nomination?

MR. ALLEN: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yes, I will accept the nomination.

CHAIRMAN (Mr. Krutko): Nominations for Cabinet. Mr. Delorey.

MR. DELOREY: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’d like to nominate Brendan Bell for a position on the Cabinet.

CHAIRMAN (Mr. Krutko): Does the honourable Member, Mr. Bell, accept?

MR. BELL: I do.

CHAIRMAN (Mr. Krutko): Nominations for Cabinet. Mrs. Groenewegen.

MRS. GROENEWEGEN: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to nominate Mr. Paul Delorey, Member for Hay River South, for a position on the Cabinet.

CHAIRMAN (Mr. Krutko): Mr. Delorey, do you accept?

MR. DELOREY: Yes, I do.

CHAIRMAN (Mr. Krutko): Nominations for Cabinet. Mr. Allen.

MR. ALLEN: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I wish to nominate Mr. Bill Braden, Member for Great Slave, for a position on Cabinet.

CHAIRMAN (Mr. Krutko): Mr. Braden, do you accept?

MR. BRADEN: Yes, I do, Mr. Chairman.

CHAIRMAN (Mr. Krutko): Nominations for Cabinet. Mr. Ramsey.

MR. RAMSEY: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I wish to nominate Mr. Charles Dent, Member for Frame Lake, for a position on Cabinet.

CHAIRMAN (Mr. Krutko): Mr. Dent, do you accept?

MR. DENT: Yes, Mr. Chairman, I do.

CHAIRMAN (Mr. Krutko): Nominations for Cabinet. Mr. Menicoche.

MR. MENICOCHE: Mr. Chairman, I wish to nominate Michael McLeod, Member for Deh Cho, for a position on Cabinet.

CHAIRMAN (Mr. Krutko): Mr. McLeod, do you accept?

MR. MCLEOD: Yes, Mr. Chairman, I accept.

CHAIRMAN (Mr. Krutko): Are there other nominations? Mr. Yakeleya.

MR. YAKELEYA: Mr. Chairman, I wish to nominate the honourable Member for North Slave, Henry Zoe, for a position on Cabinet.

CHAIRMAN (Mr. Krutko): Member for North Slave, do you accept?

MR. ZOE: I accept.

CHAIRMAN (Mr. Krutko): Nominations for Cabinet. Mr. Villeneuve.

MR. VILLENEUVE: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I wish to nominate the honourable Michael Miltenberger, Member for Thebacha, for a position on Cabinet.

CHAIRMAN (Mr. Krutko): Mr. Miltenberger, do you accept?

MR. MILTENBERGER: Yes, I do, Mr. Chairman.

CHAIRMAN (Mr. Krutko): Nominations for Cabinet. Mr. Yakeleya.

MR. YAKELEYA: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I wish to nominate the honourable Member for Range Lake, Sandy Lee, for a position on Cabinet.

CHAIRMAN (Mr. Krutko): Ms. Lee, do you accept?

MS. LEE: Yes, I do. Thank you.

CHAIRMAN (Mr. Krutko): Nominations are open for Cabinet. Final and last call, nominations are open for Cabinet. The people that have been nominated for Cabinet are: Mr. Allen, Mr. Bell, Mr. Braden, Mr. Delorey, Mr. Dent, Ms. Lee, Mr. McLeod, Mr. Miltenberger, Mr. Roland, Mr. Zoe.

At this time we will proceed into speeches by the candidates and you do have a 10-minute limit. We’ll start based on alphabetical order with Mr. Allen, Inuvik Twin Lakes. Mr. Allen, you have 10 minutes.

Candidates' Speeches

Mr. Allen’s Candidacy Speech

MR. ALLEN: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It gives me great privilege to be representing Inuvik Twin Lakes in the 15 th

Assembly and I want to thank especially those hard workers who have worked on my behalf on my campaign. I realize there’s a lot of work and effort put into everyone’s campaigns

and I wish to congratulate yourself on Speaker-elect, as well as the Premier-acclaimed.

I had the privilege of working with the Premier-acclaimed in the last Assembly and I thought I had conformed to the very same principles in that I had an open-door policy as well. It served the people of the Northwest Territories very well in various capacities as a portfolio Minister that I served in.

Again, I want to articulate very clearly to my colleagues here that I will continue to work on behalf of the people of the Northwest Territories, whether it’s in my riding of Inuvik Twin Lakes or any other riding. I exemplified in my last term that I travelled into the communities 80 plus times, meeting face-to-face with various community leaders, business leaders and then conveying back to my colleagues -- not only in the Assembly, but also in the Cabinet -- the importance that they had in trying to drive the process. I feel that I made a concerted effort to represent their wishes, and hopefully we had come to some conclusive results that benefited all people of the Northwest Territories.

I will continue to pursue that very commitment through that very commitment if you do elect me as a Cabinet Minister again. I believe I’m a strong supporter of progress. My riding in my district had developed a strong and important relationship with industry. We also continue to support the ongoing traditional economies. There is more work to do, as the Premier-acclaimed stated earlier. We must continue to pursue those very objectives through this 15th Assembly.

It goes beyond that and I had developed a very strong position paper that was developed not only by myself as the leader of Inuvik Twin Lakes, but by those who supported my ongoing ambitions. It’s very bold, I must admit, but that’s the type of leadership Inuvik Twin Lakes and the Inuvik region requires of myself as a leader, as an elected leader.

I’ll continue to work, as well, to bring fresh new things into this 15th Assembly. As well, I expect us to try to influence change, as the Premier-acclaimed has stated, from all levels. I work very strongly, and if I may use some examples, with my federal Justice Minister colleague in trying to deal with the gun legislation. First, particularly in the area of prosecution, I followed it up after several advocacy groups came forward and I met with the Solicitor General trying to see how we can work together in administering the gun legislation because of the amount of difficulties we have in the Northwest Territories logistical area in administration of the gun law.

So, Mr. Speaker-elect, I want to embrace the challenge of modernization. I want to be able to talk again with my colleagues on how we can develop political reform, economic and social reform. That seems to be the issue of the day, as well as the transformation into the future. We need to be able to represent those wishes of our people and how we begin to communicate strongly. I would ask your support. I will continue to work in trying to make a valuable contribution as a continuing Cabinet Minister.

There are a number of issues that we are confronted with and that were expressed earlier and will continue to be expressed across the Northwest Territories. We need to develop methodologies in trying to support local economic business development. Local economic business development tends to drive social and cultural development. So in that context I want to work with all Members of the Assembly that we do address that quickly and efficiently.

Yes, we can talk about the debt wall, but we must find new, innovative ways to deal with our resource revenues and I want to talk about how we should talk about our own resource revenues. I think we have the capability. When we talk about how do we bring back our net export, our superannuation/private pension funds, all the land claims money that goes into different investments in the south that we don’t reap a benefit from outside of industry investment.

There are a number of practical conflicts we need to discuss as an Assembly and I want to assure the Members here that as a Member of Cabinet I will work with our Premier-acclaimed, I will work with the newly elected Cabinet Members and the Assembly, as well. I’ve had the privilege in the last four years to understand the process of this House. I’ve spent my time learning. I’ve had the privilege of working with the Chairs of the committees to forward legislation. Some of that legislation sat on the table, I understand, for 20 years. The Human Rights Act, for instance, and the Family Violence Act was another very critical piece of legislation that we passed, but I didn’t do it on my own. I worked very closely with the Chairs to ensure that our legal counsel and legislative counsel were pushed and came to a conclusion to that level of work.

So I feel that, if you look very closely, I’ve been committed to working again with an open-door policy and I will continue to do so. So today I ask you again if you would consider providing that support for my campaign for a Cabinet post. Thank you very much, colleagues.

---Applause

CHAIRMAN (Mr. Krutko): Next up is Mr. Bell, Member for Yellowknife South. Mr. Bell.

Mr. Bell’s Candidacy Speech

MR. BELL: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’d like to thank my colleague, Paul Delorey, for the nomination. I’d also like to thank my family for their continued support and my constituents for having the faith and trust in me to send me back to this very important institution. It certainly was both a surprise, but an honour to be acclaimed.

Also, Mr. Krutko, I’d like to congratulate you on your election to the position of Speaker. You certainly provide a very important service to this Assembly. I’ve watched you for the past four years with admiration as you’ve consistently represented your constituency with passion, with determination, and I know that anybody who’s prepared to put their name forward for the position of Cabinet had better be prepared to see you camped out in their office insisting that your constituents get a fair shake.

Also, I should congratulate our Premier-elect, Joe Handley. I’ve had the experience of working with him for the past few years now and I’m absolutely impressed. I know that he brings the type of leadership qualities we require to this job. Maybe the thing I’m most impressed about is his ability and desire to be a consensus builder. In our forum and style of government, that’s absolutely critical. There can be no lone wolves and I believe that Joe Handley takes this to heart.

If I’m going to ask for your support here today, which I am, and if you’re going to consider putting an ‘X’ by my name you need to know a few things that I consider important. You need to know what I believe is the future for this government

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and I’d like to start with a few comments about our consensus style of government.

Four years ago when I was elected to this institution, I believed that somehow there was a need for us to throw off the shackles of consensus government and move to what I perceived at that point as a more mature style of government. I’m happy to say that I was absolutely wrong at that time. I’ve come to learn this. I’ve had the pleasure and the experience, the ability to talk to a number of MPs and a number of other MLAs from other jurisdictions and they’re envious of the system and the cooperation and the work that we’re able to do here; regular Member input.

Of course, for the past four years I’ve been a regular Member and I know that my colleagues and I have made a difference. I know that our input in the budget process is something that you don’t see in partisan politics. You don’t have the budget dropped on you on budget day with no ability to make change and only the ability to gripe and moan for four years. We make significant changes here. I point to things, and my colleagues who were with me will remember that we were able and successful in channeling more money into student support, moving money from another area that we saw as less important to one that we saw as vital. The government, seeing that we had the support of all the Members, was willing and able to make that decision that I think was very important.

There have been a lot of detractors who’ve spoken about consensus government and the lack of accountability. I would ask you all to think and the public to think about the fact that we have a perpetual minority government, which is something that I consider very healthy. I wonder how accountable an opposition can hold a government in a province like Alberta with only a very few number of opposition seats.

It also allows our committee structure to be one that’s very open and allows for policy development by regular Members. They have to be involved. There have to be white papers floated by our government through committees to get their input. Our style allows this. It’s simply about having a commitment and a belief that this is important enough to do.

I’d like to say a couple of things about self-government because over the past four years I’ve also come to learn a great deal, a lot more about the importance of self-government and the importance of recognizing the aspirations and dreams of aboriginal governments. Many aboriginal leaders, I think all aboriginal leaders, have said that the GNWT, they believe, is dragging its feet and has certainly been a roadblock in getting progress and movement forward. I think that while some of us at times may feel that this is not always the case, I think we’d better recognize that where there’s smoke, there’s fire. And to do otherwise would simply be to bury our heads in the sand.

There is a lot of fear about what self-government means and I think we have an obligation to engage in an information campaign to allay those fears. Premier Kakfwi -- for anybody who was at Jim Antoine’s going away last night -- in a song spoke about how there will always be people who promote fear. I think it’s our job, as Members of this government, to allay those fears. It’s not about loss of control for this government, it’s not about a fixed-sum game. It’s more control for all northerners. If we’re going to go to the federal government and make the case that we need control at this level and we need the ability to determine where we’ll go as

a government and as a people, then we have to recognize the same for aboriginal governments. Clearly, we have a natural ally in our battle to wrest control from Ottawa and it’s important that we work in partnership.

But trust must be earned. It’s not something that we can assume. We have to go out everyday and conduct ourselves and build this trust and I believe it’s not enough anymore for this government to simply attend summer assemblies, send an entourage and say nice things. It’s going to be about tangible progress. It’s going to be about real work getting done and real meaningful involvement. We need action on these partnerships, not just words.

There is a common ground we can find. We have mutual interests. Those mutual interests are about improving people’s lives in the Northwest Territories. It’s what we all want and I think we recognize that.

As I was going door to door in this campaign, which was cut short, I did get a chance to go around and talk to folks after the acclamation. There was a lot of discussion about economic development versus social program development. There was a sense that this government in the past four years had spent a lot of time focusing on economic development and not so much on social programs. I think the budget wouldn’t bear that out and I don’t think the two are mutually exclusive. Clearly we need jobs. We need our people employed because people who are gainfully employed will have less reliance on social programs. Industry will create the types of revenues and the types of taxes that will allow us to pay for social programs. After all, that’s the business we’re in. It’s about taking care of our people and making a tangible difference in their lives.

We know we need a diversified economy. We know we have to focus more on education. Premier Handley spoke of this and talked about the future and the success of our people being dependent on education. Our graduation rates are slipping. It is on us to find out why and to reverse that trend. We need to make sure we are training our people to take full advantage of the jobs that are here in the North instead of watching jobs fly over our heads and fly south.

Literacy is an issue that we need to tackle wholeheartedly. It’s not just about ensuring people can be gainfully employed. It’s about meaningful lives. It’s about citizenship. It’s about participating fully. We owe that to our people. We owe them a commitment to literacy and numeracy.

I should say just a couple of things about community health. We recognize our people have to make healthier choices, but we have to be there to support that. If we’re going to build a sustainable health care system here in the North it’s going to mean some difficult choices. I think we set out on the right foot in the last government with a number of the steps that we did take. I’m particularly proud of the work that we were able to do to enable nurse practitioners and midwives to practice. If you want to talk about reduction in costs, never mind the client service and the added benefit, there is absolutely no reason why there shouldn’t be birthing services in all of our communities. It’s crazy to think that we need to uproot women, families and their children to come to one of the regional centres to give birth. That is not the way the most meaningful experience in people’s lives should take place.

We know we have fiscal challenges that will be on us to tackle those. Those are ongoing and I think that if we work

together as 19 Members and acknowledge that leadership will be about the 19 of us and we expand and ensure that Cabinet takes an approach that allows for meaningful input from regular Members, then we have a chance in this regard.

I should say a couple of things just about some of the personal attributes that I think are important for a leadership position. Obviously we’ve mentioned honesty, integrity and work ethic. Anybody who puts their name forward to be a Cabinet Minister in a government run by Joe Handley had better be prepared to do some work. Of course, I was a little nervous to hear Joe say he was ready to take on the extra hours that would be required to be Premier. He sets the bar very high and I’m prepared to meet that challenge and I think that’s something important for all of you to know. I have a commitment to this job. I will continue that.

Lastly, I’d like to say that I believe how I conduct myself, both in my working life and in my personal life, reflects on all of you, as does your conduct reflect on me. I think that’s something very important. I want you to know that I absolutely won’t let you down in this regard. I would like to ask you for your support here today. Thank you.

---Applause

CHAIRMAN (Mr. Krutko): At this time I would like to call upon Mr. Bill Braden, Member for Great Slave. Ten minutes.

Mr. Braden’s Candidacy Speech

MR. BRADEN: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I’d like to begin this morning with a message of sincere thank you to the voters of Great Slave whose confidence has put me back here in this Assembly. I would also like to thank a remarkably dedicated and loyal team of volunteers who helped me through the campaign. My opponent, Karen Hamre, ran a spirited and effective campaign herself. I was glad she came in there because she gave the voter a credible and clear alternative and me a chance to be a full and active candidate. I hope that she and other women who come forward to take part in the process will continue to be active in public service.

In my campaign, Mr. Chairman, I heard from the people in Great Slave that they expect a government that is more focused on delivering programs that are relevant and getting results will make a difference. They told me they have a considerable optimism and confidence in the living and the business and the employment environment in the city. Overwhelmingly they expressed their concerns about affordable housing, a progressive education and reliable health care.

They have growing expectations and demands for our frontline family support services like daycare, child protection and income support. There is major concern for the impact of drugs, alcohol and abusive behaviour across our community. There is a call for greater integration and cooperation between government programs and services. Voters have said in very clear terms that they expect us to take action and take action soon.

Mr. Chairman, in the short two weeks since voting day, I’ve talked about these issues with my new and returning colleagues in this Assembly. I’ve looked for ways to bring together their views and those of my constituents. Like Mr. Handley said earlier this morning, I sense a strong

commitment in this Assembly to be a catalyst for a new era of unity and cooperation across this government and across the territory. The next four years have the promise to be a very progressive and positive time, Mr. Chairman.

I applaud the choices of the voters who have again returned a majority of aboriginal Members to this Assembly. We are truly representative of the 42,000 Metis, Inuvialuit, Dene and other Canadians who call the NWT home. I believe that while we have many differences -- language and geography, race, gender, culture and heritage -- these are differences to be acknowledged, cherished and celebrated. They are our individual strengths, our roots and our futures. They define us as individuals, as northerners, as communities and as Canadians. We all have reason to be proud and know we are fortunate to be living in a great nation.

I also believe that apart from these differences we have much common ground and this is what I believe is driving an exciting new spirit, Mr. Chairman, to be an Assembly of 19 who can come together and act as one toward our shared duties and expectations. We have before us the shared duty to our people to help them build safe, healthy and affordable homes and communities for their friends and families.

We have the common duty to provide reliable and progressive health care with a much greater emphasis, Mr. Chairman, on preventing disease and avoiding injuries that are many times greater here than in the rest of Canada. We must strive to do this in all our communities, Mr. Chairman, starting with the smallest and those most in need.

We have the duty to foster learning and supply the schools and colleges, the teachers and supports for an education system available to all. Education is our greatest remedy against poverty, abuse, lives without purpose. Training our own people for the jobs of the future here in the NWT will be the best investment we can ever make.

We have the duty to enable business and entrepreneurship to thrive. The Mackenzie Valley pipeline, and the residual oil and gas work that will follow, can team up with diamond and mineral production and secondary industries that will make us a Hercules, Mr. Chairman, a Hercules of Canada’s resource economy.

I believe the most remarkable and sustainable gift of all --clean renewable energy generated by hydro power -- has yet to be realized. Advancing this agenda could be the greatest legacy this Assembly could achieve.

It is essential that we enhance small business, expand the range of innovative services and bridge the traditional and modern cultures of the North, especially in tourism. These hold real options for diversifying our economy and giving our people new career options.

Mr. Chairman, we have a duty to show leadership and innovation in our relations with community and First Nations governments. I’m especially committed to the inclusion of community governments at the devolution table and in future talks on how we integrate self-government into the larger picture of overall public government in the Northwest Territories.

Our current fiscal situation is tough, but our longer-term economic future is most promising. We should not shy away from tough decisions and proceed with confidence in delivering the social programs and building infrastructure

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which will be the long-term investments in our people and our communities.

As a Member of your Cabinet, I will bring a diverse set of skills and experience to the table, all of it obtained here in the North. I can bring innovative approaches, a responsible management to any portfolio, and I have the life, career and community experience to back that up.

This coming summer will mark 40 years for my family in the North. I completed my high school here, graduating from Sir John Franklin School before heading into the workforce as a journalist and a communicator, first in the 1970s and later in the 1990s. Mr. Chairman, I learned the value of being a careful listener and doing my research before taking a stand. I learned the value of a carefully crafted message, clearly and consistently expressed; something that Premier Stephen Kakfwi did with remarkable success in his term as our Premier.

In the mid-1970s, my wife and I took an opportunity to work in the Yukon. We saw a chance to start a business and learned the risks and rewards that come with starting a new enterprise. An art gallery and picture framing shop was a risky venture at that time in the Yukon, but that business continues today. It’s something my wife and I are very proud of.

That was also my introduction into the tourism industry, which I worked in upon returning to the NWT in 1987 as the executive director of the NWT Tourism Industry Association. I can contrast my small business experience, Mr. Chairman, with bigger corporate matters during my five years with the Northwest Territories Power Corporation. There, as the director of corporate development, I handled customer issues and strategic communication across the NWT and Nunavut. I learned the significance of senior corporate governance in the boardroom, and teamwork and professionalism among the workers in the engine rooms and on the power lines. I count this as some of the most valuable experience that I can bring to Cabinet.

I also count the many hours and days of volunteerism I’ve invested as valuable training for this job. Much of it has been with community and territorial events, such as the Yukon Quest Dog Race, Caribou Carnival and Arctic Winter Games since their inception in 1970. I continue to be active, especially in youth programs like the International Student Exchange Program.

In the past four years in this Assembly, I have been the Chair of Caucus, a member of all three standing committees and of the Special Committee on the Implementation of Self-Government and the Sunset Clause. That’s prepared me for the rigors of a Cabinet post. Like my colleague, Mr. Bell, and as has been warned by Mr. Handley, I have every expectation of hard work, long days and personal sacrifice for me and my family. I also have every expectation of many successes as I work with you and others across the NWT to meet our common goals.

I have one more advantage that I can bring to the table, Mr. Chairman. That is the support and the love and the confidence that my family has given me. I would not be able to do this without them. To my wife, Valerie, my daughters, Rae and Carmen, my mother, Esther, and my brothers and their families: I’m blessed to have you with me. I am ready for the task of serving as an effective Member of the Cabinet

team and as the leader of my department for the next four years.

Mr. Chairman, I’ll close my remarks by making the one promise to MLAs that I know I can live up to: I promise that I will work with each of you and your mayors and your chiefs and your councils and your volunteer organizations, your non-government organizations, to deliver the programs and services that your riding needs. In this promise I bring a new perspective. Too often I and other MLAs have a tendency to want to look for quick results and short-term satisfaction paid through our one-year budget cycle. Instead, I propose that we see our job over the four-year mandate that we’ve been given by our voters.

Much of what government spends is already committed to ongoing essential services, but there is a sizable block of program and development dollars that we can redirect and team up with other programs to get better results. I will repeat this promise. Early in our term I will work with you and the mayors and chiefs and councils in your ridings to look after the projects and departments that you need.

Mr. Chairman, I’m honoured to accept the nomination that my colleague and honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes to be one of your choices for Cabinet. Thank you for listening.

---Applause

CHAIRMAN (Mr. Krutko): The next candidate to speak is Mr. Paul Delorey, Member for Hay River North.

Mr. Delorey’s Candidacy Speech

MR. DELOREY: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I would like to first congratulate you on your successful election as Speaker of this House. I would also like to congratulate the Premier-elect, the honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Handley. I know both of you will do an excellent job. I would also like to personally thank the honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen, for nominating me today and for her confidence in my ability.

Mr. Chairman, fellow colleagues, ladies and gentlemen in the gallery and residents of the Northwest Territories, I would like to thank you for the opportunity to address you here today. I would like to start off by thanking my constituents, the residents of Hay River North, who were overwhelming in their confidence and support in me as they acclaimed me as their MLA. I do not take my responsibilities lightly. It is with great dignity that I take my place here with my colleagues in this, the 15th Legislative Assembly.

It is, indeed, an exciting time for the Northwest Territories as we look forward to developing the huge potential that this vast territory possesses in terms of our renewable and non-renewable resources, as well as our traditional economies. We are also faced with many challenges as attempt to develop and prosper from these industries. We must strive to reach a balance between the development of our resources and the protection of our very fragile environment. I believe that with the right team in place and a lot of hard work, these challenges can be turned into opportunities. I envision the next four years as being productive ones, as we continue in our quest to make the Northwest Territories a financially viable place to live and do business.

The stark reality is that we are faced with a deficit situation that threatens to put us in a position where we can no longer keep up with the development needs. We have to find creative ways to overcome this. One of the biggest roadblocks that we face is finding the financial resources necessary to keep up with the rapid pace of development. We need to keep the pressure on the federal government to realize its responsibility to our territory. Without the federal government's support we will be hard pressed to provide the infrastructure necessary to realize the full potential of increased development throughout the North.

Over the last several years this government has devoted a lot of energy for bringing the federal government to the table to deal with critical issues of devolution and resource revenue sharing. By their very nature these are complex issues. We must look at the work that has been done over the last four years with regard to resource revenue sharing and use this as a foundation to move forward towards getting an equitable deal for the Territories. We must work with all stakeholders to ensure that we get it right for the sake of our future generations.

We are also in the process of negotiating a new federal financing agreement with Ottawa, and we must come up with a better deal. Simply stated, the monies that we are provided by Ottawa to administer programs on their behalf is willfully inadequate. We have to get the federal government to recognize the uniqueness of this territory, and their investment must adequately reflect this.

As I have stated, our territory is unique. The fact that a large portion of our population resides in several small communities, we must never forget that these residents have every right to enjoy and expect a decent quality of life.

During the last Assembly, the Special Joint Committee on the Non-Tax-Based Community Affairs did an excellent job of identifying the issues affecting small communities. We need someone who understands the need for balance in addressing the needs of all northerners. As a Cabinet Minister, I would push for better integration, inclusion and improved delivery of programs and services in order that we may improve the standard of living in all our small communities.

As a Member of the 14th Legislative Assembly, we collectively created a document entitled "Towards a Better Tomorrow." This document identified many critical areas that we wanted to address in order to improve the quality of life for all northerners. Much work needs to be done to achieve our vision, and I would like to revisit this document and strengthen the approaches in areas where we were successful in making positive change and improvements. In areas where we were not successful in achieving our desired outcomes, we must take a new approach and find solutions so that our residents can truly realize a better tomorrow.

In setting our goals and objectives for the 14th Assembly, we placed a high priority on establishing partnerships with all levels of government and industry. It is vital that we must continue to build and strengthen these partnerships. In order to accomplish this, we must ensure that when we are making decisions on behalf of our partners that these decisions are made in consultation with all affected parties and not in isolation of them.

We have seen new strides made in advancing self-government negotiations and in settlement of various land

claims. I know that it's in the best interest of our territory to keep a high priority on a timely resolution to outstanding land claims and self-government issues.

Another area that we need to continue to focus on is the social problems plaguing our communities. The advent of development in our territory in many cases leads to increased substance abuse. This far too often escalates into family violence and the destruction of the family unit. I believe we need to provide the resources necessary to ensure that our communities have the qualified people in place to deal with the myriad of issues surrounding addictions and family violence.

The education of our residents and the ability to retain qualified northerners is of paramount importance. We must do everything in our power to encourage our educated young people to return to the North to fill the many highly-skilled positions that will continue to become available. We are also very aware of the inevitable brain drain that will occur over the next several years due to our aging public service. We need to take the steps necessary to adequately address these key issues. In order for our young people to take advantage of the many employment opportunities that will open up in the resource sector, we need to place more emphasis on the trade fields in our high schools. I believe that this will spark interest amongst our youth and provide them with the opportunity to make productive choices for their future.

My decision to seek a Cabinet position is one that I have thought about a great deal. Over the last four years I have observed very closely the amount of work and dedication that is required of a Cabinet Minister. I have also thought about what qualities I could bring to the table that will have a positive impact on our government and our territory. I am a strong believer in the ethics of hard work, commitment, dedication and honesty, and I believe that any job worth doing is worth doing well. I believe that these are the qualities that got me elected four years ago as a Member of the 14th Legislative Assembly, and I believe it is what has gotten me acclaimed to the 15th Legislative Assembly. These are the qualities that I intend to bring to Cabinet.

In addition, I have always maintained an open-door policy with all of my colleagues and all of my constituents, and I intend to continue this practice as I am a firm believer in openness, fairness and accountability. I am a strong supporter of consensus government. We have the opportunity here and now to concentrate our efforts on making consensus government work for the common good. We must strive to put consensus back into consensus government.

Over the last 30 years I have considered myself to be a very strong team player, whether it be in business, sport, volunteer organizations or serving as Member of the various standing committees that I was proud to be a part of during the last Assembly. I am totally convinced that in order for us to achieve our vision for a prosperous territory, it will only be done through a collaborative, team-orientated approach.

I want to be a part of a team that will work cooperatively with all 19 Members, and one that concentrates on the bigger picture; that of garnering the most resources for our territory in order that we ensure a better tomorrow for all of our people. The leader that we have elected here today has proven over the years to be a team player and has not given up on his team.

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It is one of the primary reasons that I support him as our leader and have a strong desire to be a part of the team that will lead our government through the 15th Legislative Assembly.

Fellow colleagues, we have a lot of work to do and I have made this job and the work at hand my top priority. I have the total support of my constituents -- the residents of Hay River North -- I also have the unqualified support of my wife, Davida, and my entire family. I have the energy and I am prepared to roll up my sleeves and go to work for you and the people of the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

---Applause

CHAIRMAN (Mr. Krutko): At this time I would like to call upon Mr. Charles Dent, Member for Frame Lake.

Mr. Dent's Candidacy Speech

MR. DENT: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, first of all, I'd like to thank my constituents for their confidence and trust in sending me back to this House. It is truly an honour to be here again. I would also like to thank my family and friends for their support. I wouldn't be here without their help. I would also like take a moment to congratulate you as becoming Speaker-elect. I know that you will be balanced and fair as you lead this House over the next four years. I offer congratulations, too, to the Member for Weledeh, the honourable Joe Handley, as Premier-elect. I know that I've watched him. He's a hard worker, but he's willing to listen and compromise, which are important aspects in consensus government, and I know that he has integrity that we can all respect. So I'm looking forward to working with him over the next four years.

I would like to thank the honourable Member for Kam Lake for nominating me, and welcome all of the Members back to this House and the newly-elected Members. This is our first opportunity to talk to all of you in a formal setting.

Mr. Chairman, we have our work cut out for us as Members of the 15th Assembly. When we went around the table when we first got together, I heard many common issues. Obviously we and our constituents already share many goals for our territory, and that's good because it makes it easier to get started dealing with issues that are important to the people in the communities that we represent and serve. What I have heard Members talking about were often the same things that I heard about as I was going door to door during the campaign: education and training; health care; the cost of living and housing; addictions and public safety all rank as big areas of concern.

So while the NWT has the hottest economy in Canada, when our constituents talked to us about what the important issues were to them, clearly many of them highlighted social concerns. That's partly because the economy is not doing all that well in many of our communities, particularly the smaller ones, and partly because jobs and prosperity have brought big social problems to areas where the economy is good. The social agenda has to become a meaningful part of our overall vision for the future. It must be an important part of everything we plan and do, and not just in the social envelope departments.

New programs should be viewed through a social agenda lens before being proposed, and that same lens should be used when evaluating existing programs. Following the

social agenda conference in Hay River a couple of years ago, we heard loud and clear that we need to do better at balancing development of social needs.

As I said earlier on to my colleagues, probably my biggest priority is education. While the last Assembly put a lot of new money into education, and in fact bringing the pupil/teacher ratio down to 16:1 and significantly increasing the amount going into special needs, we haven't done enough. We need to keep that trend going. We have so many kids who need more attention in school, that we cannot be satisfied with what we have achieved to date.

We can't forget about our residents who have left school either. Training and literacy programs must continue to be a focus or we will continue to lose jobs to southerners. It's important to remember that educated people are healthy people; better able to make productive, healthy choices and lead independent lives.

Mr. Chairman, northerners want to know, too, that government is doing all it can to protect and improve our health care system. Northerners don't want to see a different health care professional every time, and we don't want to have to wait months to see one. We must do better at training and mentoring more northerners into the system. It's also time to better address the issues that are causing us to have worse shortages and more turnover than what we see in other areas of Canada. Let's listen respectfully to the issues that health care professionals have and make a real effort to address them, and let's bring them into the process of recruitment.

Mr. Chairman, we can keep adding money to the health care system, but we will never have enough to treat all of the problems. It's time to invest in prevention and making sure that people know they must play a personal role in keeping healthy. In the long run, that's the only way that our health care system will be sustainable.

Mr. Chairman, as Mr. Handley said, one of the biggest issues we're going to face over the next four years is the cost of living and the cost of housing and adequacy of housing. Those issues are so severe right now that they are leading people into lives of addition and causing us concern for public safety; further issues that we have to deal with.

So we face an awful lot of social problems in the next four year. From what I've said so far it could sound like that's all that we face: problems. But in spite of that, I think the future is looking pretty good. In fact, I think this is a great time to be in government. The forecast that we have now is for continued growth. We have lots of opportunities. The economy is predicted to be hot through the life of the 15 th

Assembly. What we need to do is look for opportunities to balance that development across the territory. We have to look at ways to diversify our economy, to invest more in areas like tourism. We need to explore hydro opportunities, and make sure that we are working with developers of large, non-renewable resource projects to see secondary benefits stay in the Northwest Territories. I think we have lots to look forward to.

But you know, we still are going to need more money to deal with some of the social problems that we face. Even if we're successful with the federal government, we're never going to get enough money so we can just throw it at problems to make them go away. We're going to have to make sure that government is being delivered in the most economic and

efficient manner. We need to do a better job of reviewing programs and getting rid of those that are no longer important.

The last government set the stage for a renewed, less dependent fiscal relationship with the federal government and we're going to have to work diligently with our northern partners to continue to move this along. Northerners need to be united in the goal of forcing the federal government to give us a fair deal, so we can take our rightful place in Canada as a more self-sufficient partner.

Given the right financial tools, we can succeed at making our vision for tomorrow a reality. I want to work with familiar faces as well as new, to achieve the dream of a prosperous North, a dream I believe is within our reach.

Mr. Chairman, this can only happen through partnership. We need a better relationship with northern governments. For us to get the federal government to the table, northerners have to build those partnerships first. Aboriginal governments and this government have to come together to build a consensus, otherwise the federal government's old strategy of divide and conquer will rule the day. We have to recognize that regional governments are now part of the mix, and put more effort into developing good working relationships with them. Our government also must provide more support for self-government negotiations and the settlement of treaty.

Now, why do I think that you should select me for Cabinet? I think one of the big reasons is experience. I know on election night Mr. Wray suggested that I would be the father of the Assembly. It almost made me sound like Methuselah. I assure you that in spite of the colour of my hair, I don't feel that old. I know I'm not the oldest person here.

---Laughter

I won't point any fingers or anything. But one of the big reasons that I think you should consider me for Cabinet is experience. Not just any old experience; I think my experience has been good experience. I've grown and developed according to the challenges given me in each Assembly. In the 12th Assembly, I chaired the Standing Committee on Health and Social Services and I worked on the Standing Committee on Finance, which at that time reviewed the budgets of all the departments of government. Not just the one envelope, but all the departments. I travelled extensively with the special committee throughout the communities, and talked to people across the Territories about their concerns and needs.

In the 13th Assembly I spent four years on Cabinet: three years as Minister of Education, Culture and Employment; one year as Minister of Finance. I was also Minister responsible for Western Transition, leading the process into division of the Territories. At that time, I think that I demonstrated to people that I got to know my departments. I could answer questions. I didn't take questions as notice and I was able to deal respectfully and well with committees.

In the 14th Assembly I chaired the Standing Committee on Accountability and Oversight and I was a Member of the standing committees on Social Programs and Rules and Procedures. I played a significant role in important legislation in the last government, and worked well again with Cabinet at making sure we got that legislation through.

Mr. Chairman, I have travelled throughout the North extensively and I have experienced the importance of our different cultures. I have a history of working and supporting consensus government. I respect other Members and their points of view. I know that we are all here to make a difference for our constituents, all residents of the Northwest Territories. My door was and will always be open, and I will seek Members out to hear their opinions.

So, Mr. Chairman, I hope that Members will select me for Cabinet, not just because of my experience and because I am aware of the issues that we face, but because I have a vision for the future, as well. Mr. Chairman, that vision is one that sees the North and northerners taking their rightful place on the national stage as contributing partners. This takes a healthy population, making healthy choices with economic opportunity and diversity shared across the Territories.

Mr. Chairman, I want to work with all Members, with other northern governments and individual northerners, as well, to achieve this goal. Thank you.

---Applause

CHAIRMAN (Mr. Krutko): The next person I have on my list is Ms. Lee, Member for Range Lake. Ms. Lee.

Ms. Lee's Candidacy Speech

MS. LEE: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I would also like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt congratulations to you on being selected as our new Speaker. My sincere congratulations also go out to the Premier-elect, Mr. Joe Handley. I'm sure that the broad support both of you enjoy in this House will serve you well in your important roles in the 15th Assembly.

Mr. Chairman, to start with, I must once again express how moving and awe-inspiring it is to serve as a Member of this Assembly. It certainly has not diminished at all to be doing this the second time around. It is a privilege only a few are given, and I feel truly honoured to be amongst the privileged few. To be assured this responsibility comes with an enormous burden of the trust and expectations placed upon us by our constituents. But like a game of golf for those who love it, in my experience a very bad day serving as an MLA is still better than any good old day in any other job.

Mr. Chairman, I believe the people out there, at least the constituents of Range Lake, will see and sense that coming from me, and that's one of the reasons why they chose to put me back in this House in big numbers. I thank them for that very much. It is with their strong support and encouragement when I went door to door during the last campaign, that I stand before you seeking your support for a seat in the new Cabinet.

Mr. Chairman, these are truly exciting times for us in the Northwest Territories. We're presented with enormous economic and political opportunities that are an envy of the rest of Canada, and I'd venture to say most governments around the world. At the same time, we are faced with social challenges that are so pressing and so urgent that if not confronted and dealt with head on, they could fail us as a society.

The people of the NWT elected this Assembly in November to lead them through these opportunities and challenges for

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the next four years, and we are gathered here today under our consensus system to choose our next Cabinet that will lead this Assembly.

Having listened to all of you intently over the last few days, I'm truly excited and energized by the potential we have among us. There is no question in my mind that we have the collective intention, commitment and capabilities to do what needs to be done. It has also become crystal clear to me that this is a time of profound renewal and a start of an historical new beginning for our leadership and governance in our territory. There is so much new blood and youth among our Members, the replacement of Mr. Hamilton with Mr. Mercer has almost gone unnoticed. It has become old news.

Mr. Chairman, it is an opportunity to put a new face to this Assembly and the new government that best represents and reflects the needs and aspirations and the diversity of those whom we serve. As a Member articulated so well in one of our discussions, we must move forward from this day, committed to inclusive politics that would have everyone in our fold.

Many before me here today have spoken of the vision and action plans they have in mind as a Cabinet Minister, and they are well articulated and they're important and I share many of them. Many of them are not new but, at the same time, in our consensus system of government, the vision and goals and priorities are set by 19 members together, not by an individual Member or Cabinet Minister. I'm looking forward to working with all of you in setting out our collective agenda together over the coming weeks and months.

In participating in that process in the weeks and months to come, I know that all of my actions and words will be based on the core principles and beliefs I have as a leader and an elected representative. I believe fundamentally that we as a government will not achieve as much as our potential would allow, unless we address the growing polarization between the small and large communities. We would not be as well prepared to fight with strong and united voices for our share of resource revenues, devolution of powers or management of the post-self-government NWT unless we find a way to address this growing disparity between rural communities and urban centres. I believe that no matter how well we fair on the national economic indicators, as long as our people in our communities are without access to adequate housing, health care and education services, we would not move ahead as a whole. Not to mention the fact that in the long run, our government would not be sustainable.

I believe in the duty of government to act as an agent for change and equalizer. I believe the responsibility of government to provide programs and services to maximize the potential of the very best and to mitigate the gaps of those less fortunate, so that no one is left behind in progress and prosperity. I believe that the government must do this in principle position of openness, fairness and equality. I believe profoundly in the power of we as a legislature, and I, as one single Member of this Assembly, to make a difference in the lives of every individual and community of this vast land. I believe in the unlimited potential of the North and its generosity to treat every one of our citizens as an equal and giving them equal opportunity. I know this because I have been a singular beneficiary of that potential and that generosity. It is only in the North that a girl at the age of 14 from a poor country who cannot speak a word of English would be given the educational opportunity to

maximize her potential without fear of discrimination, to become a lawyer and to become a Member of her Legislative Assembly to serve her people.

It is the profound gratitude that I have for the North and my need to pay back by offering to do the same for others, that I chose to seek election to my office four years ago, and it is these powers and potentials that I want to maximize on behalf of everyone in the North if I am successful in my bid for a Cabinet seat.

In the final analysis, Mr. Chairman, I believe everyone running for a Cabinet post brings excellent credentials, and all of us have unique backgrounds and experiences to serve on the Cabinet. Our job here today is to choose a Cabinet that brings the best mix of skill sets and to create a unit that works well together, among themselves and with this legislature with the large purpose of serving the people at large.

While I do not have direct experience of serving in Cabinet, my experiences in the past have brought me close to workings of the Cabinet. I have worked as the executive assistant to two Ministers and it gave me a very good picture of what the job involves. Over the years of working for MLAs and serving as an MLA, I've been studying what makes one Minister more effective than the next. I have come to the conclusion that in many instances, how Ministers do their job is as important as what the Ministers get done.

I believe each and every Minister should be a strong leader. Cabinet should be made up of people who are decisive in their actions and can be relied on for their word. A Minister should be one who has the courage and conviction to stand up and be counted at the time it counts, when often very difficult issues confront us to make tough choices. I have proven that I'm a quick study and I'm often the first one in this House to take a stand on issues, whether it be on an issue of taxation or building a bridge over the Mackenzie River.

I believe a Cabinet Minister should not only have the capacity to deal with problems and issues at hand, but also be open and approachable in finding ways to address the issues and move forward with solutions. I believe a Cabinet Minister should be one who can reach out and talk to Members across the floor, as well as the community at large; one who has the passionate conviction for desires and aspirations of the people; and one who can communicate that effectively and resonate within the hearts and minds of the people we are here to serve.

I believe a Cabinet Minister should be one who can be sent anywhere around the Territories, and the rest of Canada and the world, for that matter, and be counted on to speak on our behalf with knowledge, commitment and passion for what is in the best interest of our territory and people.

Mr. Chairman, I must say coming from probably the most urban riding in the territory, the home of Wal-Mart and Tim Hortons, it never fails to amaze me when I'm in communities how many people, especially women, elders and children, come up to me and talk to me as though they know me, even though I have never met them before. It is the power of our ability to communicate and advocate for our people, even for those outside of our own riding, that allows us to touch and resonate within them. Mr. Chairman, most of all, I believe I have a strong track record in this House as someone who is very straightforward, very frank, very open

and very passionate about the issues and concerns of the people that I serve. I'm proud of the innovative ways in which I have worked to communicate and involve as a wide range of people as possible in my job.

I remember when I got elected as an MLA for the first time, Mr. Chairman, when I was being bombarded with the briefing books and policy papers within the walls of this compound, I was driven by an overwhelming desire to get out of the office and into the lives of the people who elected me into this office. Instinctively, I knew they had the very best and very relevant information and the guidance to do my job. I have no doubt, should I be chosen to serve you on Cabinet, that I will come to you first to hear firsthand the issues and concerns you are being asked to address as an MLA, in your community, in your schools, in your nursing stations, in the homes of the people who have elected you to guide them over the next four years.

Mr. Chairman, I realize my time is out. I would just like to conclude by saying in terms of my educational background, I have two years of education in business, a degree in political science and a law degree from Dalhousie Law School. I offer you my service to the best of my ability and I ask for your support for a seat on Cabinet. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

---Applause

CHAIRMAN (Mr. Krutko): Next up, I have Mr. Michael McLeod, Member for Deh Cho. Mr. McLeod.

Mr. McLeod’s Candidacy Speech

MR. MCLEOD: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, colleagues, visitors in the gallery and people of the Northwest Territories. First of all, I would like to congratulate you in your new role as Speaker of the 15 th

Legislative Assembly. I am sure the Members of this House have selected the right person for the job. Congratulations are also in order for the new Premier, MLA for Weledeh, the honourable Joe Handley. I have had the privilege of working and dealing with him over the past several years and I can certainly vouch for his abilities and dedication. I also want to thank the honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Kevin Menicoche, for nominating me today.

Mr. Chairman, we all know that political life can be very demanding and that family life for us is very crucial. I want to take a moment to thank my wife Joyce and my daughter Shauna, and my sons Kevin and Robin who are not here today but are in Fort Smith cheering me on. I have been very blessed and fortunate to have a family that offers me their support and understanding throughout my career.

We are all here representing different parts of the Northwest Territories and different populations of people and ridings who have supported us. I want to say thank you to all the people in the Deh Cho for supporting me during our recent election. I want to especially thank those who helped me during my campaign.

I have to admit that it wasn’t an easy decision to put my name forward for a Cabinet seat. I spent many hours over this past year and over the last several years talking to my family, my friends, my colleagues, the people in my riding and to people all across the North. I am proud to say the feedback and encouragement has been all positive. I am certainly glad that I went through that process because today I can stand in front of you with confidence and say I am

ready to commit my time, energy and bring my experience to that of the position of Cabinet Minister.

I was born and raised here in the Northwest Territories. I grew up and was raised here in a small community. I have seen the problems and challenges that face our small communities and communities across the North. I have also had opportunity to travel and meet the many interesting people in almost every community in the Northwest Territories. My education, my background, has all been in the field of business and management. I have worked in and held many political positions. I have worked with hamlet councils, Metis locals, band councils, friendship centres, tribal councils and Deh Cho First Nations. I have also sat on many taskforce teams and have been a founding member of many corporations, social and political organizations.

More recently, I have had the pleasure of serving in this House as the MLA for Deh Cho for the past four years. During that time, I was a regular Member and also Chair of the non-tax-based community affairs committee, Deputy Chair of the Standing Committee on Social Programs and also a member of the Standing Committee on Governance and Economic Development.

Mr. Chairman, my main reason for running for Cabinet is I have a genuine interest for creating a better quality of life for the people of the North. Four years ago, I put my name forward for the position of MLA because I wanted to improve the standard of living for our children. I wanted to see our economic, political and cultural way of life assured for all the residents of the Northwest Territories. I also wanted to create new and better relationships with our communities, with our aboriginal governments and with the federal government. These are the views I will bring to the Cabinet table and Cabinet discussions.

There are a number of key areas this government has to focus on over the next four years, in my opinion. The first is to deal effectively with aboriginal governments in the North to settle land claims and outstanding issues. This includes building partnerships and developing new governance models. The aboriginal people of the Northwest Territories have been at the negotiating table addressing self-government issues and land issues for a very long time. To bring these matters to a conclusion, we will require a good relationship between all parties involved. This will require trust and cooperation. We need to develop a system that is fair and responsive to the needs and concerns for the aboriginal people and also for all the people of the Northwest Territories. I am sure as claims are settled and resolved, we will see the territorial government take on a completely different look.

Mr. Chairman, there is also the unfinished business between this government and the federal government that has to be resolved soon. The first issue involves the transfer of jurisdiction over northern lands and resources from Ottawa to the North. It’s so important that decisions that affect our lives are made here and not elsewhere. We also need to negotiate an agreement that will give us our rightful share of our royalties and resource revenues, because at the present time the federal government receives the bulk of the royalties and we just receive a small percentage that doesn’t even come close to covering the increased demands for infrastructure and government services. My position is that northern resources have to be controlled by northern people.

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Mr. Chairman, the Northwest Territories has the fastest growing economy in Canada. The development of our diamond and gas resources will create many jobs and business opportunities and in order for us to all share in the benefits, we must ensure we have the programs adequate to help communities and small businesses to get started and to continue to operate. Many of today’s programs are falling short of our actual needs to take an active part in the major projects in the different ridings. Economic investment is required in our communities.

I am sure everyone will agree that our most important investment that we, as a government, can make is in the area of education. We have to take another look at the PTR. Is it really at 16:1 if we take out the principal’s position and the non-teaching positions out of the ratio? I think we will find it’s more like 20:1. Without investment in education and training, we will continue to see many jobs in the North head south. It’s been said many times that if more NWT residents had the necessary skills to enter the workforce or received secondary education, the better our economy will come.

Our government also has to look at ways to bring new life into our non-renewable sector. I believe our long-term economic future lies in tourism and non-traditional economies, including trapping and furs. This whole sector has a great deal of untapped potential and we have to give it a higher priority.

We also need people in Cabinet who will dedicate time to improving our consensus style of government. We need Ministers that will include MLAs in planning and setting priorities and in developing guiding principles. In order for consensus government to work, we need good lines of communication.

Mr. Chairman, we will have many challenges facing us as a new government and we have to always be mindful of the fact that this government has to make every effort to ensure that it operates in an open, efficient and a cost-effective manner. Our financial situation and the potential threat of hitting the debt wall is of great concern to all of us in the Northwest Territories and it’s crucial that we do everything in our power to ensure that doesn’t happen and make every effort to identify new sources of funds.

Mr. Chairman, in closing, there are many other issues out there and many other issues raised to me during my campaign that we have to deal with. We have a situation of overcrowding and shortage of housing in the NWT. We have languages that are declining. We have many other issues that affect our social well-being that I don’t have the time to raise here today. However, these issues are very important to me. Whether or not I am elected to a Cabinet position, I will continue to raise these matters and put them to the forefront of this government’s agenda.

Finally, I want to say that I am not a person who shies away from making tough decisions. I pride myself in bringing new ideas to the table. We are living in very exciting times. We have opportunities opening up right across the Northwest Territories. It’s important at this time that we have strong aboriginal leadership at the Cabinet level. I feel that my leadership style is suited to today’s issues. I commit to all of you that I will work with integrity and perseverance to achieve results. So when you go into the voting booth today to vote for Cabinet Ministers, make sure you vote for Michael McLeod. Thank you.

---Laughter

---Applause

CHAIRMAN (Mr. Krutko): Next up, I have Michael Miltenberger, Member for Thebacha.

Mr. Miltenberger’s Candidacy Speech

MR. MILTENBERGER: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. First, my congratulations to yourself as selection as Speaker and my congratulations, as well, to my colleague, Mr. Handley, on his selection as Premier. Thanks to my colleague from Tu Nedhe, Mr. Villeneuve, for nominating me.

Premier Handley has just articulated his vision and general plan for the future. I would just like to publicly state that I support that vision and general plan. I look forward to working with him, Cabinet and the legislature to move that plan ahead and to move ahead the plan and the vision of the Legislative Assembly that will soon be developed in the new year.

We spent the last week of intense quality time together here as new Members getting to know each other, finding out what the issues are, being briefed on the many challenges ahead of us and how we have to work together and be more effective as an Assembly as we plan to chart out our vision in the new year.

As we look at what was left to us from the 14 th Assembly, we also recognize that with the departure from the political scene of Premier Kakfwi and Ministers Antoine, Steen and Ootes, that there has been a loss of significant experience and knowledge that has been available to us for the past many years.

So our challenge today is to sit as a collective, think of the work we’ve done in the past week and look at the Members around us, those who put their names forward for office, to choose the best people for the job that is ahead of us, the best mix of skills and experience.

Mr. Chairman, I bring 52 years of work, experience and education to the table here. I have grown up in the North. I have lived in Rae and Fort Smith. I spent four years in residential school. I did time in Breynat Hall, if I can refer to it as that, as well as Grandin College. I went south to get a degree from the University of Lethbridge and I came back. I have my journeyman certification as a carpenter, of which I am very proud and which has enabled me to put a roof over the head of my family.

I have put 20 years with government, 15 ties in with Health and Social Services as a senior manager working with child welfare facilities and working in communities as well. I have been on regional councils, health boards. I put in six years in municipal government, two-and-a-half as a full-time mayor.

In the 13th Assembly, I took the challenge and chance and ran for office as Member for Thebacha and found out firsthand why it’s considered the toughest political constituency in the Northwest Territories. I made it through that challenge and got re-elected again in the 14 th Assembly, having never forgotten the lessons of the 13 th. I stand here today as a newly-elected Member of the 15 th, with what I consider this time a very significant majority. In fact, I think I got the most votes of any MLA in this Chamber that have the

misfortune of having to put their case to the people. Hats off to all those who got acclaimed, which is a separate honour in itself.

So I stand here today to make my case as a sitting Member of Cabinet of the 14th Assembly as you make your selection and consider who has the merit, skills and ability for your consideration.

I have worked on both sides of this Chamber. I was the Co-Chair of Caucus, the Chair of Western Caucus. I was the Chair of the Standing Committee on Social Programs. I have been on the Board of Management. In the last year of the 13th Assembly, I was the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment where we, in a relatively short time, set a new process, a plan, to carry forward well into the 14 th Assembly trying to address some of the issues that we’ve heard raised in the House today.

I have spent the last two years as the Minister of Health and Social Services, the Minister responsible for Seniors and Disabled. As I have through my whole working life, my focus continues to be and will continue to be how we best service the people we represent. How do we structure ourselves to do the business we have to? How do we work with the people, work with the community leadership, work with this legislature to take into hand their consideration as we move ahead? What I offer, I believe, is a clear record of experience and demonstrated performance. I am a firm believer of hard work, integrity, sobriety, being open, cooperative and consultative in how we do business.

I have heard many issues raised by my colleagues as they’ve made their case to you and those are many of the similar issues that I share as well. The challenge to us is to learn from the past, learn from the 14 th Assembly and build on that experience.

So I ask as you consider where you are going to put your 'X' in the South, that you strongly consider what I have to offer, the proven track record that I commit to you here. I will continue to do the work and use the approach that I have demonstrated during my eight years here in the Assembly so far. Thank you.

---Applause

CHAIRMAN (Mr. Krutko): Next up is Mr. Floyd Roland, Member for Inuvik Boot Lake.

Mr. Roland’s Candidacy Speech

MR. ROLAND: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I, too, would like to congratulate you on the position of Speaker-elect and to the Premier for his being acclaimed this morning. I would especially like to thank my wife, children and family and to my dad who gave me teachings and taught me the values that I hold and use today. Especially to my constituents, as well, for returning me in the fashion they have. I think that sends a clear message to myself that the clear work I had done during my previous term in the 14 th Assembly was fitting to what they saw being needed in government.

Mr. Chairman, I have done some serious soul searching, one could say, from the morning I was acclaimed and had time to think about how I could best serve my constituents and the people of the Northwest Territories.

It has definitely taken its time in considering what needs to be done, the issues that were raised and the previous governments I have worked with, starting in the 13 th

Assembly and here up to the 15 th Assembly. I thought about how I could best serve the Assembly and thinking about the role I could play and help play in the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Chairman, as I found out a lot of times, it’s best to speak from the heart, in what you believe and what you think you can do for your constituents and people of the Northwest Territories. We’ve heard around the table many times about the concerns with programs, services, education, health and social services; the day-to-day programs that people look to this government to provide. I found, Mr. Chairman, throughout my time as a Member during the 13 th Assembly and 14th Assembly -- and I am sure we will hear again during the 15th Assembly -- it’s those day-to-day programs that people will look to us for the most. They will look to us to see how we deliver those programs. Many of those people from the small communities and the community I come from will hear the words of constitutional development, intergovernmental forums, conferences and royalty revenue sharing, but the vast majority of them are going to be concerned about how their day-to-day lives will be impacted by the decisions we make.

Mr. Chairman, that’s the attitude I came in with. I grew up in Inuvik and had an attitude that I was happy to have my job as a mechanic for the Government of the Northwest Territories. I was happy to pay my bills and I wasn’t worried about anybody else or how they made their decisions. What got me is when I tried to expand my horizons and open my wings in what I might be able to achieve as a person living in the community of Inuvik. When I found out that I was declined in a certain number of activities in the tourism area, that caused me to think about how people made decisions and what they based their decisions on. With that, I went to a number of meetings to try to find out how these things happen, who makes these decisions and are they making the best decisions in the interests of the people they represent? I took that in and the first time I took run at office, I came out feeling a little sorry for myself, I guess. I licked the first wounds I had of any aspirations I had of any political office, and it was for the community corp. Mr. Chairman, we have to learn from those things that we enter into. Even though we don’t seem to have won anything, if we take that experience we have and apply it to the next day we wake up and the next challenge we see, we can become better for it.

That’s what I want our government to put out to the people of the Northwest Territories, to the children coming up. We hear about it every time, about our youth. I want to show them that they, too, can achieve the goals and visions they might have. They might not have them at a young age. As I started out, as I said, I was happy to pull wrenches, as they say, to earn my living. It’s those challenges that come upon us that help steer us and this North to what we truly can be.

When I look toward the future of what we need for our children, my children are born here and I hope when they are done their education, that they will return here to invest in the North, as I see I am doing now and as I see we are all doing now. We are coming back to serve the people and it’s about the people. It’s not about the fancy terms we use or where we go to, but it’s about those daily services we give to the people.

Mr. Chairman, I have taken some tough roads in the past and I remember my father telling me one time, saying as I

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went through some rough times in my growing up and my young adult life, he came to me one day and he said to me after I got myself into some trouble, he looked down at me and in a very quiet, calm voice, that I hope that I can possess if I ever run into the situation with my children -- and I sure hope I don’t -- he said, “My boy, I put it to the Lord and this is what the Lord said, he said ‘Some people have to learn the hard way.’” All I could say is yup. I had no other words. It is simple wisdom and the wisdom of many I have talked to this time around of letting me to take this stance of looking to work for the Northwest Territories.

We were elected to the 15th Assembly and serve a role of a position I could hopefully benefit the rest of the residents and use the experience I do have. I like to think my experience is as one of the people. One of the programs that are offered through this territory and knowing when my children get sick, it’s that health care system that they are going to. My children are receiving an education in the NWT with the system we have in place. Those are the systems I have concerns about, as many of you here today.

I look forward to working with my colleagues around the table. As I said in previous governments, in whatever role I end up in, I intend to do the best job I can. I came into this environment in 1995 and the only thing I could bring to the table is the value of my word. When I leave here, I intend to keep my word intact, and hopefully people, as they work with me and as I leave or move forward to the next step, the people around here who have come to work with me know that when I spoke to them, they knew they were getting the goods from that that I would push and believe in.

Mr. Chairman, I know I didn’t get into a lot of the details. I believe it’s the details that come out of the 19 Members we have and the consensus style government we have. That’s why we have to work together and push for the residents of the Northwest Territories. There will be tough experiences, but my experience, and many of you can ask Members of previous governments who work with me, that I don’t shy away from making tough decisions. At the end of the day, go back home, good or bad and talk to my constituents and tell them what we’ve done. With that, I hope you will consider me as a Member of the 15th Assembly Cabinet. Thank you.

---Applause

CHAIRMAN (Mr. Krutko): The last candidate I have on my list is Mr. Henry Zoe, North Slave. Mr. Zoe.

Mr. Zoe’s Candidacy Speech

MR. ZOE: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I understand that we don’t have any translation for the Territorial Leadership Committee session. As you are aware, my language, culture and traditions are fundamentally important to me and my constituents. Therefore, I ask Members to bear with me while I say a few words in my own language. (English not provided)

Mr. Chairman, I would like to first thank my constituents for having confidence in me to represent them for the next four years. Secondly, I would like to thank Norman Yakeleya, the Member for Sahtu, for nominating me. I am honoured. I would like to congratulate Mr. Joe Handley as Premier-elect and yourself, Mr. Chairman, as Speaker-elect for the 15 th

Assembly. Last, but by no means least, I would like to thank my family for their understanding and all the support they’ve given me.

To begin with, Mr. Chairman, the guiding principle I have always held in my heart and mind, and will continue to hold if successful in becoming Minister, is being fair. I want to tell you what fairness means to me. On a personal level, it is simply treating people with respect. Every person, every Member of this Assembly, no matter what their background, whether they come from a large centre or small centre, every person has basic needs and hopes and has something to contribute. Every person deserves to be listened to and treated fairly. I believe that. It’s a standard I set for myself.

The last Assembly passed a new Human Rights Act that we are going to be responsible for implementing. That act is a big statement about fairness and respecting differences between people. As Members of the Legislative Assembly, it’s important that we set examples in our words and our actions, and that show we hold these values in our hearts.

Fairness, as elected representatives, means being honest and accountable for what I do and working not just for my constituents, but for the greater good of all communities and regions in the Northwest Territories. It means building meaningful, respectful relationships with other governments. That’s not just saying we want to work together, but doing it. I am very optimistic that we can achieve this, and I'm willing to work hard to make sure it happens. These are the values that I would bring to the job as a Minister.

The Executive Council over the next four years will be faced with enormous challenges. One of the keys to success will be a strong executive team that works together. I will make every effort to be a committed player, a team player on the Executive Council. I've always worked for the people and I understand the importance of team work, leadership and communication.

The strong administrative skills that I've developed as a municipal administrator and as the executive director of the Dogrib Treaty 11 Council would help me to be a valued asset to Cabinet. I would also contribute the knowledge and relationship-building skills I've demonstrated in my work recently as the community liaison coordinator with the Dogrib diamond mines. My previous experience as an MLA for eight years, working with dedicated and active regular Members, serving on a number of legislative and special committees, in some cases as committee Chair, places me in an excellent position to take on ministerial responsibilities. This experience provided me a keen understanding of the frustration regular Members experience dealing with ministerial and government officials here in Yellowknife and in the regions. You have my assurance that as Member of the Executive Council I will not forget what it was like to be a regular Member. I've always had an open-door policy, and I always will have an open-door policy.

Mr. Chairman, at times I may disagree with Members' concerns and wishes, but I will listen and if I am able to assist, I will. I've already said that I'm committed to fairness for all our communities and regions. As a Minister, I would not show a preference in my own constituency or in the politics of any particular organization. I will ensure that whatever portfolio I will be assigned, the policies and practices of that department will be fair and equitable across the Territories. When I say fair and equitable, I say it with the understanding of the socio-economic status of our small aboriginal communities. Wha Ti is no different than Tulita, Fort Providence or even Paulatuk.

I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure this government is fair and equitable from the perspective of our small communities that continue to lack many basic infrastructure necessities.

Mr. Chairman, I am not a defender of the status quo. If change is needed, as the Minister I will take the initiative. This government has to be about action. We already have recommendations from reports on official languages and non-tax-based communities. We have land claims agreements that are signed and ready to be implemented. Those are just a couple of examples. If the policies and regulations of our government are contrary to the wishes of the public as expressed through the Members in this House, we will have to ensure that these policies and regulations are changed. We must make use of our collective wisdom, experience and initiative; all 19 of us. That's what consensus government is all about. That is its strength.

As a Minister, I would improve consultation in our consensus style government. In any new directions that are being developed, I will stress consultation across the board to ensure that any new policies that are developed or policies that need changing will be based on the best information available for Members and the public process.

As elected representatives, we are accountable to our constituents. Whether we have or have not lived up to our office is decided every four years by the voters at election time. Cabinet Ministers will shoulder extra responsibility for providing leadership to their respective departments and agencies, and ensure they are diligent and fair in their actions. This can be achieved through a well-developed system of management accountability maintained within any department or agency that I am assigned to.

If I am successfully elected to the Executive Council, I will have no hesitation accepting whatever portfolio is assigned to me. I do not consider any government department to be a junior or senior portfolio. All departments, I believe, are essential to the running of this government. I will put my efforts into ensuring that the mandate, goals and objectives of any department I am assigned to are carried out with a high degree of dedication, integrity and fairness to the people in the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Chairman, we have enormous tasks ahead of us over the next four years. Our budget, being largely derived from the federal government, is basically under attack; still under attack. It is critical we get a fair deal from Ottawa so that we can look after the basic needs of our citizens, particularly in the smaller communities. Politically, we must deal with a complex agenda, including devolution, managing the impacts of resource development, and the negotiation and implementation of land claims and self-government agreements. Success will require leadership with much strength, integrity and committed vision for good government and a bright future for northerners.

I am confident, Mr. Chairman, that I can make an important contribution during these challenging times to the citizens of the Northwest Territories as a Member of the Executive Council. If the Members here today see fit to honour me with membership on the Executive Council, I can assure you that I will hold it in trust and perform diligently to make our unique consensus form of government work and, in doing so, bringing us closer to the ideal of a truly responsible consensus government. Mahsi cho.

---Applause

CHAIRMAN (Mr. Krutko): With that, that concludes the presentations by candidates. Now Members will be asked to proceed to the Clerk's table to receive three ballots: one for the northern candidates, one for the Yellowknife candidates, and one for the southern candidates. I would just like to remind the Members, ballots will be rejected if they are not marked with the required number of votes: two from the north, two from Yellowknife and two from the south.

At this time, please proceed to the voting booths and mark your ballots and place them on the table in front of me. The voting booths are on each side. That table can go that way, this one here. So the election process can now proceed.

---Voting Commences

CHAIRMAN (Mr. Krutko): At this point, I declare the voting process is closed. The ballot box will be taken to the Clerk’s office where the ballots will be counted. Then the bells will be run to bring Members back into the House. Mr. Clerk. ---SHORT RECESS

---Ringing of Bells Results

CHAIRMAN (Mr. Krutko): At this time, I would like to declare that you have elected Mr. Brendan Bell, Mr. Charles Dent, Mr. Mike McLeod, Mr. Michael Miltenberger, Mr. Floyd Roland and Mr. Henry Zoe as your Cabinet representatives for the 15th Legislative Assembly. ---Applause

ITEM 11: ADJOURNMENT

With that, I declare the Territorial Leadership Committee process concluded. We will adjourn this process.

---ADOURNMENT

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YELLOWKNIFE, NORTHWEST Web viewMy vision of the Northwest Territories is a place ... that will make us a Hercules, ... country who cannot speak a word of English would