Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Premier, and it’s in light of my statement. There is a Senate committee which is studying rural poverty in the northern territories. They are in the Yukon on Monday; they’re here in Yellowknife on Tuesday and Wednesday; then they’re going to Iqaluit on Thursday.
I think it’s important, Mr. Speaker, that we as government intervene and also have a say in regard to what — especially with the cost of living in the Northwest Territories for our residents, especially in rural parts of the territories, and realizing that part of our deficit situation is just that: it’s the cost of delivering programs and services and providing to communities where we don’t have an economic base for people to be able to live on. I think it’s important that this government also takes part in these hearings and also that they intervene on behalf of the residents of the Northwest Territories.
I’d like to ask the Premier: are there any scheduled departments or people from the Department of Health and Social Services, or EC&E, who will be intervening on behalf of this government during these hearings?
Mr. Speaker, we are aware that the Senate committee is doing a number of trips, or a trip, across Canada. I’m not sure exactly where they’re stopping. We have been approached on that basis about their meeting here, and Minister Bob McLeod will be attending on our behalf.
Mr. Speaker, I do encourage all residents of the Northwest Territories, especially here in Yellowknife…. There will be hearings at the Northern United Place on Tuesday at nine o’clock in the morning. I think it’s important, even as MLAs, that we do talk about the issue of rural poverty, because it is something that affects all our residents.
Again, I’d like to ask the Premier: will the cabinet be meeting with the Senators to also, in light of other issues that we have in the Northwest Territories such as the Northern Accord and also dealing with devolution and any other problems we may have…? Has that effort been made to meet with the Senators, when they visit the Northwest Territories, to address other issues with them?
No. We have not set up a meeting as a cabinet or other Ministers. The point of contact will be through Minister McLeod, going on our behalf of when they are sitting on this specific issue that they are travelling on.
Mr. Speaker, I think it’s very important that we do, whenever possible, have dialogue with the Upper House by way of the Senators that do come to the North, because they do have a role to play in what happens in Ottawa.
I think it’s important that we do get our message to not only the MPs or the Prime Minister but also the Senators by way of influencing them on issues that we’re trying to deal with. I think we have some big challenges, especially with the devolution file being where it’s at.
Again, I would like to ask the Premier if he has spoken to our Senator. Will he be meeting with Senator Sibbeston if he is also a part of this panel?
For the record, I have a lot of faith in Minister Bob McLeod and his being able to carry our message to this Senate committee.
As for the specifics with our Senator in the Northwest Territories, I haven’t yet been able to get a meeting time or made contact with his office on initiatives that we are looking at.
I do have a lot of faith in my cousin too.
Laughter.
I think it’s important to realize that as a government and as the Government Leader in this government, your voice carries a lot of weight around here. And I think it’s important that we do voice our concerns, especially in regard to the Conservative Senators who didn’t make an attempt to be here.
I think, as a government, we should write a stern letter to those Senators to make them aware that we do not appreciate being put aside because of the cost and not having the time to be here. I think, as a government, we do have a responsibility to stand up to these types of statements.
I’d like to ask the Premier: will he be writing a stern letter to the Senators who did not make an attempt to come here on the basis that they didn’t have time and the cost was too high?
It’s not my intention at this time to be writing a letter to the Senators who are not making the trip. Thank you.
