Floyd Roland

Mr. Chairman, the first impact is dealing with this budget and its impact. As we go forward in the ’09–10 business plan, what we’re planning is a four-year cycle for this government, but the remainder of our three years, it would come forward. We would begin addressing it in ’09–10, so members will start seeing our plans for what we’re hoping to try to do before the fall time.

I think it would be fairly straightforward for us, as Members, whether we’re representing small communities or larger centres. When we travel throughout the North, we can clearly see there are differences in our larger centres that have a healthy economic sector versus the small community that could be traditionally based.

There are large gaps; we recognize that. That’s why part of our strategic action is supporting sustainable communities. That is looking at the level of service we provide and the delivery methods. We can also bring to the table the fact that as a government we’ve recognized...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. In the process of looking at the reduction target that we had to work with within the Department of Aboriginal Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations, we don’t have much flexibility. There are no program dollars available.

The department is about people and taking part at these tables. What we had to look at was ensuring that we were able to meet our obligations under a number of categories. Those are, for example, negotiations and pieces that we’re involved with today, to have representation there to ensure that we meet our obligation under the implementation...

We would be prepared to put that kit together, an information package, and share it with Members. I do believe Members can help us in getting the message up north. The simple fact that we’re looking at tightening our belts as a government shows everybody in the North that we need to get more revenues in the North. One of those packages is a revenue source flowing south right now. We need to bring that north so we can enhance our programs and not have to tighten our belts.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In fact, we had correspondence with the Senate committee and had the Deputy Premier sit down with them and have some discussion, as well as one of our staff members.

Mr. Speaker, absolutely. As I stated in the Budget Address, my focus will now be on getting the message out to the people who need to hear it: about our opportunity, what’s available and what we can do. It’s about getting the tools in the North to make those decisions in the North, and get on with where we think we should be going as a territory and as a people in the Northwest Territories.

Part of the next process is getting that information out there, and getting the message out about the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, as the Deputy Premier has informed me, there’s going to be some correspondence between the Senate committee and ourselves to share more information.

First and foremost, though, we have to realize that the federal government is ready to move on this file. We just have to make sure we get the proper deal. One of those things is to work up north first and get agreement to proceed forward or, if we decide there are just too many differences here, to look at what other approaches are available to us. But we are corresponding with the Senate committee, looking at options and sharing more...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The issue of bonuses or performance pay is under review right now. We are looking at it. I don’t believe any departments have paid any out, and there hasn’t been any paid out at this point to deputies.

Whether I agree or disagree with the Member on the World Wildlife Fund and about who makes up that body, who gets appointed from time to time or who gets put on a contract, the fact is they made a request of the federal government that has a direct impact. In fact, if you look at what the Inuvialuit did, a part of the Arctic Council as well.... They’re dissatisfied with that result. You heard another Member in this House say something similar. The fact is we need to make those decisions in the North, not have lobby groups ask another government to make decisions that impact our lives.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m aware they do work in a number of initiatives with the government. The simple fact is we also disagree with some of what they say in the Territories, this one being the case.