Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to reflect on the tumultuous life of the 16th Assembly. Cabinet, Regular Members and the public have had fierce debate on issues such as board reform, the Deh Cho Bridge and certainly the supplementary health benefits.
Our first budget sent the public service reeling with the threat of layoffs and cutbacks that seemed to come out of nowhere. Earlier this week, the YK Seniors, in collaboration with the Union of Northern Workers as well as many other concerned citizens, staged yet another protest, an excellent protest against changes to the supplementary health benefits.
Mr. Speaker, these major issues, as I have noted, can be all traced back to significant policy decisions made by the former Cabinet during the last election period. That points to a glaring need to improve public accountability. Let’s be clear. Changes to the supplementary health benefits are not the invention of the 16th Assembly; they are a result of policy changes began in the 15h Assembly. They were moved forward by that Cabinet while they are no longer accountable to the Members of this House, by signing off such substantial government commitment and direction while the rest of us are completely unaware of this and while we are out face to face with the electorate. Something needs to be fixed, Mr. Speaker. Something needs to be fixed fast.
The next election is a little more than a year from now. If the 17th Assembly began today, it would already be faced with monumental challenges. They do not need added financial administrative surprises by the Cabinet and they definitely won’t want to get their legs in a trap or painted into a corner if this government signs them to a contract or passes an initiative while the rest of us are out on an election campaign that they are unaware of.
Mr. Speaker, I can’t describe the situation more than it is like a hornet’s nest that has been stirred up and it has been thrown into the Assembly and they have locked the doors, because every time this government seems to fix something, it makes things worse. My feeling is stop fixing things because it is making things worse.
The people of the Northwest Territories can’t afford the guidance and direction that the Cabinet does in closed doors while the rest of us are out campaigning. They certainly deserve better and the people of the North deserve better.
Mr. Speaker, the Supplementary Health Benefits Policy, among other issues, has taught us a very serious lesson certainly the hard way. I urge this government to commit to an accountable process that ensures no significant Cabinet decisions or commitments are made while the rest of the House is out doing its business during the election period. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
