Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Electoral Boundaries Commission is touring the Northwest Territories to hear feedback on its proposals to change the number of MLAs in this Assembly and who they represent. I fear that most people do not know how important this is. It goes to the core of how NWT residents are represented and whether consensus government can work.
I have carefully reviewed the proposed electoral boundaries and they are very troubling. All would increase the very powerful influence on our government to an unacceptable level. It is so obvious that Yellowknife is already represented extremely well by its seven MLAs, and three of them Cabinet Ministers.
Our consensus system relies on a balance between the capital and the regions. All the commission’s proposals would distort that balance and exaggerate the divisions between rural and urban ridings that sometimes plague us even now.
The people of Alaska reduced this problem by choosing Juneau as the capital instead of the much larger Fairbanks, and British Columbia’s capital is Victoria, not Vancouver. I think maybe we should move our capital to Fort Simpson.
---Laughter
Seriously, Mr. Speaker. Besides boosting Yellowknife’s power, every proposal has fatal problems. They all ignore fundamental boundaries, deep historic rivalries, political realities, language and administrative efficiencies.
For example, the proposal for 18 ridings and one of the plans for 19 ridings create a new district made up of eight small Deh Cho, Monfwi and Tu Nedhe communities. Their first language is Slavey, Tlicho and Chipewyan. At least three Dene land claim regions are represented, plus Metis claims. Throw in the fact that transportation links between these communities are poor at best and you have a total nightmare for any MLA. It’s impossible to fully represent the people in this proposed riding. It appears that the potential for conflict of interest was completely ignored.
The final proposal for 19 ridings is similarly flawed, so is the one for 21 ridings.
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted
The final proposal for 19 ridings is similarly flawed and so is the one for 21 ridings. The latter actually includes nine ridings with constituents living in Yellowknife. That is beyond belief. I cannot support more MLAs for the capital, let alone two more.
In short, each proposal of the Electoral Boundaries Commission is a recipe for disaster. Adopting any one of them will compromise, not improve, representation of NWT residents. Adopting any one of them will erode or even destroy our consensus system. Until boundaries are proposed that are actually improved representation, I cannot support tampering with the current electoral system until, perhaps, next term. I urge the status quo. I also urge all constituents and/or NWT residents who care about consensus government to speak up during the remaining public sessions.
Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.
