Mr. Speaker, my language is a passionate language and in my introductory remarks I spoke about how government keeps our people’s money but has a hard time hearing the people. I am reminded of residential schools where our allowance was given out to us.

At any rate, I will also speak of one of my communities that will remain nameless at this point…

---Laughter

…but it’s very important for them to have a community gymnasium. The government talks about how broke they are and how communities have to wait. Mr. Speaker, when and how will the government help our communities?

Mr. Speaker, I spoke earlier in the week in this House about how astounded I was to get government to listen to our needs. There are several issues that I just cannot seem to get any momentum on. During my campaigning days, a good friend of mine provided an allegory that I continue to use to this day. He said government is like an ocean liner, you make small corrections and eventually it changes its course. But I am taken aback because it has been over a year since I was elected and I should have checked, but now I know that the helm of this government is lashed down. The captain and crew will have to open their eyes and see that the storm has passed and that the way is calm now.

That being said, there must be and there can be an appetite to listen to the priorities of our communities, Mr. Speaker. We should show the political will of this Assembly and do what is requested of us and that should be reflected in our budget. Therein lies my frustration. Here we have initiatives and needs, real needs, Mr. Speaker, brought forth by our people, by our communities and by the regions. In fact, some of these initiatives, for the most part, are supported by the federal government, yet our own government remains inflexible claiming we have a process that is alienable and un-interruptible. To me, we have a big brother saying we know better than you, we know what is good for you.

It is my experience with the capital planning process -- which they say has moved to the regions -- we tell the communities we will give you more say, but the plans will remain the same.

Mr. Speaker, the following initiatives from my riding have received the most white washing and minimizing that I will cry foul. Number one, the Nahanni Butte gymnasium, Mr. Speaker. I will continue to lobby and maintain this high on my agenda as long as it is the will of my people. I will exert every influence and power I have to get this government to listen and take the cotton balls out of their ears and put it in their mouths, Mr. Speaker.

---Laughter

Nahendeh Air; communities in my riding have an opportunity to capitalize on the market share of the pipeline project, yet this government cannot in a year-and-a-half advance this as their priority. They may lose an opportunity here, Mr. Speaker, and I don’t want them to lose the opportunity. The window is very small and people have been very patient, but it’s time for this government to act and make it their priority.

Regarding quality of education in our communities, I provided a course that I found to the Minister of Education; a proposal, Mr. Speaker. It’s a proposal that provides up to 80 percent course completion rates; up to 80 percent graduation rates in our communities. In fact, people expect this from us, to be the wise government to help them and encourage them to move these initiatives along. Here again, Mr. Speaker, the Minister and the government give the appearance that there is no money for this small expenditure. I believe that this qualifies without question for a small school project. All I asked for was a meagre $10,000 to gather all interested parties to review and entertain this initiative that will show our government, our communities, how they are succeeding on the reserves in Calgary; and these are very small communities, Mr. Speaker. It’s our responsibility to take these new initiatives and show them to the people and, indeed, use it in our system as well before finding success.

One other item that the government fears and remains to be blindfolded on is the whole issue of hamlet and village, Mr. Speaker. It is my opinion that it’s going to cost the government money. That’s why they have been resisting it for the past 25 years. The Minister says it’s a new issue. It’s not a new issue. It’s a very old issue, Mr. Speaker. It goes back to the late 1900s, Mr. Speaker. Here is another initiative that the people want, the hamlets want it, the bureaucrats know it doesn’t belong as a village. Everybody knows it doesn’t belong, yet it remains there. Once again -- I may have to use my word of the week -- I am astounded why government doesn’t listen and take all the considerations in. You guys don’t want to be there? Yes, we’ll do it. But, no, they want to keep us there for God knows how long, Mr. Speaker. We don’t belong there. Our taxation roll is $40 million and in 10 years of projected revenues, it’s not going to grow any more, Mr. Speaker. I don’t know how they expect us to generate revenues from taxation from 130 people. Actually, I do have a solution, Mr. Speaker. Perhaps the Minister can put it in his budget, as well. If we tax everybody at $200,000, we will meet our needs of expenditures to handle our O and M, Mr. Speaker.

I would like to thank my colleagues for hearing me. I just wanted to use this opportunity to convey my frustrations. I hope that government heard me and I will be back. Mahsi cho.

---Applause