Debates of May 26, 2005 (day 2)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Part of our work here requires that we make tough decisions. Along with that responsibility and expectation, Mr. Speaker, comes the essential, the absolutely essential need in this House that we also have tough consultations to help make those decisions good ones that we can all accept and can all work with.

Mr. Speaker, in the matter of the relocation, the government now says done deal to move the Territorial Treatment Centre from Yellowknife to Hay River. We were denied that essential, that very essential expectation of coming to us and talking to us and helping us make sure that we have a hand in making decisions as difficult as this that affect the lives and careers of employees and families and children who are going to be disrupted in this.

Mr. Speaker, I’m going to continue to demand, on behalf of constituents, people here in Yellowknife, the families and the workers, that we are given this opportunity. Too often, Mr. Speaker, Members on this side of the House are treated casually, I would say sometimes disrespectfully, when it comes to getting our views on various actions; and then on the basis of only the most casual, cursory discussion, decisions are made. This is not how consensus government is going to succeed. In fact, it may be one of the things that causes its downfall, because this side of the Assembly has got to be able to represent our constituents as fully as possible and the government cannot decide arbitrarily to sidestep that.

I am going to continue, Mr. Speaker, to demand that that obligation be fulfilled on this matter and every other issue that comes along. When tough decisions are required, let’s have those tough consultations. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause