Bob Bromley

Mr. Speaker, I hear a tendency to think as if this is a complex situation and so on, and big agriculture…. I’m sure there is a role for agriculture here, and we obviously need to support it a lot more. But there are a lot of local situations that could be addressed without that.

You know, we’re pouring huge subsidies into our communities because of these situations.

Will the Minister also commit to looking into requiring some service from the people that we’re subsidizing and that are able to take advantage? In other words, we cannot continue to support rising costs. Why not start requiring some...

Mr. Speaker, that’s certainly a project that I’m aware of. It’s pretty modest; it’s not taken up very well. I’ve been working with the community of Fort Providence myself indirectly through non-government organizations on these issues. Every community is full of people that require food, so we need a comprehensive, well-thought-out, well-laid-out program across the Northwest Territories that encourages this. There are challenges in different areas, but there are huge opportunities just the same.

Once again I’m asking what new comprehensive programs are being put in place with this budget to...

That would certainly be clear language and understandable, which would be a refreshing change here. Just one more clarification. On B-5 there's a graph in the Budget Address, and it lists components of change, strategic initiatives and other initiatives that I think total $72 million according to the paragraph under “Expenditures” on the same page. What's the difference here between strategic initiatives and other initiatives, and are those outlined somewhere that's accessible?

Again, Mr. Speaker, thank you for those remarks. One final one on the cuts. I believe layoffs were something we had discussed early on as part of the cuts. They were intended to be based on a thoughtful, comprehensive program review, possibly even a zero-based review. Were those reviews done as a basis for those cuts, and if not, should those cuts have been delayed?

Thank you for that clarity. I hope that word gets out. I cannot believe that we’re at this stage and there’s still confusion out there on such a fundamental fact. Just for further clarification on the Minister’s later remarks: how far are we down that road toward the $135 million and the reinvestment of $75 million with this budget today?

Mr. Speaker, I’d also like to recognize Lyda Fuller, executive director of the YWCA in Yellowknife.

The annual budget for the Northwest Territories reveals much about a government: its vision, its effectiveness, its leadership and its capability to deliver. As part of the 16th Legislative Assembly, I cannot claim that we have earned high regard from our people on the basis of these standards.

We embarked on budget planning with good faith, confidence in the information provided by the Minister, and a common understanding of this Assembly’s vision and priorities. We had a commitment to positive change and agreement on the budget goals and the process to realize those goals. Yet subsequently...

Again, thank you for those remarks. Does the federal program that we’ve now learned about — the Building Canada Fund, somewhere between $27 million and $35 million a year — contribute and allow us to cut less to achieve our budget goal?

Just to add to that, if I can. Am I correct, from the Minister’s remarks, if I said we were about a third of the way on the cuts? A quarter?

My question is for the Minister of Finance, and it’s an attempt to once again bring clarity to an issue that keeps bubbling away out there. I was astounded to hear this morning on CBC radio — I believe it was Mr. Lee Selleck talking about hearing Mr. Abernethy, who said that there would be a reinvestment of $70 million along with cuts of $135 million. Mr. Selleck wondered if it was actually a leak of information. I was equally astounded the other day to talk to the author of a Parkland Institute report, an excellent researcher and so on, who knew nothing about it.

We’ve raised the issue of...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker and colleagues.

Especially lacking is a new, innovative response that recognizes the crucial realities and new approach required today. All of these that I've just mentioned are in conflict with our intent.

This session will be difficult, and we will all be working hard. As Regular Members we are unable to add items to the budget, only to delete or recommend change. As the leaders in a consensus government, the Premier and Cabinet have a responsibility to hear the Regular Members, and to finally allow us the input our constituents and the people of the NWT expect us to...