Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Once upon a midnight dreary, whilst this Cabinet pondered weak and weary,
Over a quaint curious volume of forgotten lore, dreaming of pensions, travel… need I say more.
Whilst the Premier nodded, nearly napping, suddenly a Regular Member like myself came a rapping,
As of some, one gently rapping, upon the Cabinet door.
’Tis a Member with ideas, and community problems that needed to be solved,
Then the Premier muttered, tapping at my Cabinet door – Only this, he laughs, nothing more.
Ah, distinctly I remember it was a bleak December,
With the Members’ cap-in-hand, asking for a hand, something slightly more than spam.
Eagerly the Premier wished the moral; - Vainly I sought to borrow simply his ear to talk about a Plan Nord, a future, a tomorrow.
From my finance books surcease of sorrow – sorrow for the lost Members’ quest, there is no money to borrow.
The Member hath ideas, the Premier jests… I say no more.
Nameless, hopeless we stood there evermore.
Opportunities for growth lost forevermore.
And with silken, sad, and certain rustling of opportunities struck down without a tussle.
Thrilled me – filled me with fantastic terrors, filled before a people working, families fed, children happy, a future with bread.
So now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood firm and repeated to the Premier of our chance.
A Plan Nord I say will help this territory advance.
This Premier scoffed, some Member still entreating entrance at my Cabinet door;
Tis a Member wanting to see “Plan Nord”? – Ah, nothing more.
Presently my soul grew stronger, hesitating then no longer,
“Sir,” said I, “truly your forgiveness and all I ask if for your ear.”
Plan North will put people to work and it will make those bellies fed.
But the fact is, this Cabinet kept a napping, so gingerly as Members like myself kept a rapping.
And I scarcely sure I heard you say, open the door wide and hear us more;
Darkness there seems to pour.
All I ask is for the Cabinet to look at Plan North.
Merely this and nothing more.
Back into the Cabinet the Premier goes turning, all my soul starting within me to burn.
Sooner or later this Premier must hear the tapping of the Members’ call and a clapping.
What we need is some assurance, not a threat, Mr. Speaker, we ask for more.
Let it be sure and queer, all we are asking for during question period is this government to consider a plan just like Quebec, Plan Nord. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
---Applause
Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Member for the Deh Cho, Mr. Nadli.
