Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Yellowknifers are passionate about their beloved multi-use green space park, Tin Can Hill. It is a favoured destination for fat bikes, dog walks, sled rides, and local photo shoots, just to name a few activities throughout all the seasons.
As Tin Can Hill is in my riding, one of the first conversations I had after Cabinet was selected was with the Minister of ECE. I asked the Minister about plans for the site by the Aurora College transformation project to seek clarity on what the situation was, what was coming, as it was not clear to me or the public at that time. Mr. Speaker, it's still not clear to me or the public now nearly a full year later.
Part of that conversation was about how ECE had set out on a path to undertake an environmental site assessment. I was given assurances that I would hear more about the ESA in March. Seeing as how it's nearly November, you can understand my frustration and the frustration of residents. Another part of that conversation with the Minister was my highlighting the GNWT's willful lack of consultation before entering an MOU with the city of Yellowknife for the parcel of land we know as Tin Can Hill.
Yesterday I tabled a journal article by Sherry Arnstein entitled A Ladder of Citizen Participation. Since 1969, it has been referenced by policy analysts and advocates to show how far governments take steps up the ladder of citizen participation and ultimately how much influence they have over government decisions.
I'd argue that the GNWT often only reaches as far as informing our citizens which you'll note that the article considers a form of tokenism. In my experience, most people would like to feel heard on issues like this one that matter very much for their quality of life. The GNWT's own public engagement employee guide advises of the GNWT's obligation to engage as being politically advisable, in brackets, (optional), which leads me to wonder where it was considered optional for talking about the development on Tin Can Hill.
Mr. Speaker, it feels as though because the GNWT knew what kind of feedback it was going to get, it did not seek that feedback at all on Tin Can Hill. This means we haven't even stepped the foot on the ladder of citizen participation. We should take the concerns of our residents seriously. Mr. Speaker, I ask for unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues. We should take the concerns of our residents seriously, seeking feedback on new initiatives and adequately incorporating feedback where appropriate or explaining why we can't. It's clear we haven't done a good job of this for the residents who care about Tin Can Hill, and I want to be crystal clear I don't blame GNWT communications staff at all. I'm frustrated with GNWT decision-makers. I will have questions for the Minister of ECE at the appropriate time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Great Slave. Members' statements. Member from Monfwi.
