Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Let me just start by congratulating Mr. Tony Whitford on his appointment as the 15th Commissioner of the Northwest Territories. I really look forward to building a meaningful working relationship with the new Commissioner over the remainder of the 15th Legislative Assembly. I also would like to welcome all the distinguished guests in our gallery today.
Mr. Speaker, I’m not only thrilled to be back in the House, but also thankful that all of my colleagues are also here, safe and in good health. I’m optimistic that we can continue to work effectively and collaboratively to finding agreeable solutions and plotting positive directions to resolve many issues of concern raised by my constituents of Tu Nedhe and northerners alike.
Mr. Speaker, we’re all aware of the recent political developments that have been unravelling in Ottawa over the past couple of months and I know the recent developments can have a profound impact on our Canadian political landscape which, in my view, could move the NWT into a more prominent role within the Confederation over the next decade and into the future.
But that is over there, Mr. Speaker, in Ottawa. What I want to talk about is here, in the NWT, and it’s about our people. I would like to express my dismay with the haughty attitude and the low level of attention towards many grassroots issues in the smaller communities displayed by this government, namely our bureaucratic system.
During the Circle of Northern Leaders meeting in Inuvik in April 2005, all leaders clearly expressed the same concerns that I feel, in that it is imperative that this government begin working more collaboratively and closely with the residents of our smaller communities in the delivery of important programs and services, like housing, health, education and economic development and, also equally important, in the streamlining of our ever-growing bureaucracy here in Yellowknife, so that the other 32 communities in the NWT realize some of the many tangible benefits as people do here in Yellowknife.
Mr. Speaker, I will commit to working on these territorial or what I deem to be very important home turf concerns so that they are given serious priority in this House. I hope that my colleagues here share this vision and my enthusiasm to developing and integrating agreeable solutions and working toward an equally prosperous territory across the board from Inuvik to Fort Smith, from Lutselk’e to Nahanni Butte. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
---Applause
