Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. The Member is requesting a recorded vote, Mr. Clerk. All those in favour of the motion, please stand.
Mr. Abernethy, Mr. Menicoche, Mr. Ramsay, Mrs. Groenewegen, Mr. Beaulieu, Mr. Hawkins, Mr. Jacobson, Ms. Bisaro, Mr. Yakeleya, Mr. Krutko, Mr. Bromley.
All those opposing, please stand. All those abstaining, please stand.
Mr. Lafferty; Ms. Lee; Mr. Miltenberger; Mr. Roland; Mr. McLeod, Deh Cho; Mr. McLeod, Inuvik Twin Lakes; Mr. McLeod, Yellowknife South.
The results of the recorded vote: 11 for, none opposed, seven abstaining. The motion is carried.
---Carried
---Applause
Colleagues, before we go on to the next order of business, the Chair is going to call a short break.
---SHORT RECESS
I will call the House back to order. The Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.
To my colleague Mr. Jackson Lafferty, a very up and coming finding his stride in a difficult environment, but deserves a lot of our respect too. I wished he was a little more hands on and left a little bit less to his staff in terms of his communications. But somebody with absolute promise in the long term. I thought I would never be back in this government again, but I would say keep your eye on Jackson Lafferty from the Tlicho, because he is somebody that will be here for a long time I hope and will do good things for the people of the Northwest Territories.
---Applause
To the Premier, I just very respectfully ask that he would do good by the people of the Northwest Territories and hold to a standard that has been the normal practice of this House, and that is to order your affairs in such a way as to not erode public confidence. I’m sorry; but no matter what he’s done in the past or how good he’s done, the turn of events of the last six months has caused people in the North -- we’ve heard it all over the place -- to lose confidence in him as Premier. If he could do the honourable thing and resign, he may find himself back on that side of the House again, in a different capacity.
But I do support the motion. I support it and understand fully the frustration of those.
I forgot to mention Mr. Robert C. McLeod.
---Laughter
I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I’m sorry. A very pragmatic leader as well. Somebody who calls it like he sees it and, again, getting acquainted with the role and the job that he has been elected to do. I’m sure that he’ll find his stride. It’s a learning curve; it’s a steep learning curve. I’m sure he’ll find his stride, he will bring great integrity and great service to the people of the Northwest Territories.
---Applause
So, Mr. Speaker, the motion is on the floor. I’ve taken enough time. The Members have shared their view. Please do not take this as a personal issue. This is about getting the business of the House done. I would ask that there be a recorded vote on this. I thank my colleagues for sharing. Thank you.
Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The Member is asking for a recorded vote, Mr. Clerk. All those in favour of the motion, please stand.
Mrs. Groenewegen, Ms. Bisaro, Mr. Yakeleya, Mr. Krutko, Mr. Bromley, Mr. Abernethy, Mr. Menicoche, Mr. Ramsay.
All those opposed to the motion, please stand.
Mr. Beaulieu; Mr. Hawkins; Mr. Jacobson; Mr. Lafferty; Ms. Lee; Mr. Miltenberger; Mr. Roland; Mr. McLeod, Deh Cho; Mr. McLeod, Inuvik Twin Lakes; Mr. McLeod, Yellowknife South.
All those abstaining, please stand. The results of the record vote: eight for, 10 opposed, zero abstaining. The motion is defeated.
---Defeated
Colleagues, I want to take just a moment to comment on the motion that has just been defeated and how it impacts the work ahead of us.
From my vantage point in the Speaker’s chair, I have witnessed many times and occasions when Members from both sides of the House have displayed a lack of respect for each other and the roles that all Members play in carrying out their duties.
I’ve heard comments during the motion that tries to bring maybe some humour to this. None should walk away from this vote with a feeling of victory or defeat. Each of us, all 19, must walk away from this with a lesson learned.
There are many critics of our system of government. There are many that might suggest that we have not matured enough as a political institution to govern ourselves responsibly. There are many who suggest that party politics is the answer to our problems.
As Professor Graham White of the University of Toronto has written: ”It is the possibility and the frequency of cooperation, compromise and accommodation that defines consensus government.”
It is up to us to prove that we can make this system of government work. We can’t do that through backroom deals, token communications and personal agendas. We can only do it through open and honest communication, and an understanding of and respect for our respective roles and accountabilities.
The time has come for us to focus our energies on the many challenges facing the people of the Northwest Territories.
I wish each of you luck and perspective as we continue the important work that lies before us in the weeks, the months and the years to come.
