Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to speak today about Bill C-530.The bill and our MP, Mr. Bevington, were in front of the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development on Tuesday, March the 8th, in Ottawa. I found that most of what our MP had to say about consultation with people here in the Northwest Territories and our government to lack, quite frankly, any semblance in reality.
In his opening comments to the committee Mr. Bevington used the word “legitimate” spending without actually defining what he meant by “legitimate.” Does our MP actually believe that sending a letter then selecting parts of the response you like is consultation with our government? He states quite clearly that, in his opinion, consultation has taken place. He said he discussed it directly with our Finance Minister, who happens to be his next door neighbour, but he does not say if this just happened over the fence over a glass of lemonade or in a formal meeting. The fact is, this consultation has not taken place in a meaningful way.
As Member’s well know, we have had numerous discussions with the Premier and our Finance Minister about our borrowing ability. What is most important to me is letting the review currently underway to look at the borrowing limits of the three territories continue to conclusion. What good would our MP’s solution do us if we continue to be required to treat all debt the same? We need to take the self-liquidating debt out of the equation. This is the way forward.
The review that’s currently under review, yes, needs flexibility; this is just not the right approach by our MP. I appreciate that our MP means well, but on this effort he is completely off base and we should let the federal government know that he has not consulted us nor does he have the blessing of all Members of this Legislature.
I would like to concur with committee member of that Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, Greg Rickford’s, MP for Kenora, take that with the review of borrowing limits underway for the three territories, Bill C-530 is a redundant exercise.
I was glad to hear the Premier set the record straight and later on today I’d like to follow up with some questions to the Premier.
Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, Mr. Robert McLeod.
