Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Today I spoke about taking steps toward addressing the high cost of living, gaps in municipal services, infrastructure needs in small communities and a joint committee to address these issues.
I’d like to ask the Premier: when can the Members on this side of the House expect to receive notice of a meeting for this important joint committee?
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. The Hon. Premier, Mr. Roland.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Since I made that commitment to Members, we’ve had staff pulling the items together to see how we would structure this and some of the initiatives in that area that could be looked at. I’m hoping we can have something for Members, at least a draft form, to review and get some input on, if not by the middle of the week, early next week.
Will the Premier commit to placing the cost-of-living item on the Cabinet agenda so his Cabinet representatives can keep the committee informed and keep the cost-of-living issue on the front burner?
Mr. Speaker, the issue of the cost of living in the Northwest Territories is one we realize needs to be addressed. That’s why it forms one of our strategic initiatives. As we proceed forward, we will be dealing with that on an ongoing basis. Once we have this committee set up, we will be working with that committee on an ongoing basis to keep that forward.
Is it a type of situation where we actually have to have the item on Orders of the Day? I think as we deal with the initiatives that lead into the budget, working with the committee will help keep that going.
Can the Premier commit to assigning public service duties to a department that can support this important initiative?
If I understand the question right, assigning responsibilities for delivery in this area to a department…. All of our strategic initiatives involve a number of departments, so we would have a key Minister working with departments and then a committee.
I would be prepared, as well as committee, once we sit down with Members — and we’re hoping to have that before Members head off after session here — to look at how we can structure that. I’m prepared to add that to the list, to see how we can formulate and make this work.
Thank you, Mr. Roland. Final supplementary, Mr. Beaulieu.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to thank the Premier for his support in this important cost-of-living issue for the Member for Tu Nedhe.
No question there. This is question period..The honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, Mr. McLeod.
