Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m compelled to use my first statement of this session to speak to an ongoing issue affecting my riding. Only a few weeks ago this government refused a request from the City of Yellowknife for a no-interest loan, a loan that would have been used to assist the residents of Northlands Mobile Home Park – some 1,100 Frame Lake constituents – to assist them with the replacement of the water and sewer infrastructure in their neighbourhood.
I have spoken many times about this predicament that these Northerners are in, and I really thought that a no- or low-interest loan from the GNWT to the city was a viable solution to this problem. But the government’s response to this suggested solution was an unconditional no.
To say that I was disappointed would be a major understatement, but what was even more disappointing was that our executive simply said no without trying to find other potential solutions. Admittedly, the letter to the city did provide an answer to the direct question, but there was no indication of a willingness on the part of the GNWT to help out at all. There was no attempt to offer a different kind of help or to look for other ways to solve this difficult problem.
One of the reasons given for the refusal was that no policy currently exists to cover the request. That may be so, but if Cabinet had really wanted to help my constituents, they would have considered how to develop a policy that could help them.
We, as MLAs, whether in Cabinet or not, are elected to develop policy and to make laws. That we don’t have a policy for a particular situation has seldom been a problem before now. As long as the government wants to do something, it will happen. The necessary policy to cover the action will be put into place. Stated differently: If the political will is there, a policy can be developed to fix the problem.
My battle with the government to help my constituents is not yet over. I truly believe that there is something that this government can do to help the residents of Northlands. It may not be, nor does it have to be, a loan. It can be program assistance. It can be a policy or a regulation change. It can be a “yes we can” attitude instead of a “no we can’t” attitude.
I am committed to pursuing this issue on behalf of Northlands residents, who are a significant portion of my riding. I only hope that my colleagues across the floor, now that the city’s request has been answered, do not now wash their hands of this problem, that they actively look for something the GNWT can do to help, and that they remain open to considering different solutions when they are presented.
I will have questions for the Minister of Finance at the appropriate time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.
