Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, would like to take some time today to comment on my time here at the Ledge. It’s certainly not 16 years. It’s only been four, and that’s quite short in contrast to the Premier, but I just have some comments that I’d like to make and summarize where I’m coming from today after four years here.
It’s certainly been an interesting four years, to say the least. I came to this job full of optimism and hope and looking forward to the new experience. I think I am a person who believes in planning, strategic planning, certainly, I think, is really important to me, and I thoroughly enjoyed the strategic planning session we had early on in our first year. I came away from that feeling extremely positive, pumped up, ready to tackle absolutely anything and all the problems of government and the NWT, and fully expected that we’d fix a lot of those. We tackled a lot of those. It certainly wasn’t smooth. There certainly have been ups and downs during this Assembly’s life.
I may not be as optimistic and as positive as I was back in October of 2007 but, in general, it’s certainly been an enjoyable experience for me.
I’m very proud of the part that I played in advancing the operation of the Food Rescue Program here in Yellowknife. The opportunity to sponsor the Donation of Food Act was really gratifying and I am very pleased that my little bill had such a positive impact. I’ve been very vocal and, I think, pretty passionate about social issues. It’s a strong interest of mine that’s probably rather obvious. I am that way because social issues are the areas that are closest to our constituents and they affect our constituents the most.
In my time here, the constituent concerns that have come to my office in the last four years basically fall into four categories: health, social services, housing, and income support. That’s the majority of what I think all of us deal with. But I’ve enjoyed being able to help people with their problems and to get them fixed, sometimes, certainly not all the time. I lay that blame, of course, at the feet of the Executive.
Another highlight for me was participation in the Child and Family Services Act review. Committee heard so many heartrending stories on our travels through the territory. It was an excellent series of public hearings. We learned, I learned particularly, so much about the impact that that particular act, the Child and Family Services Act, has on our residents, particularly in the manner in which we implement it. We heard that firsthand and it’s an experience I will not likely have again. I learned so much from it and I think it was a very valuable experience for me. The chance to consider the input that we heard from that public hearing and to make recommendations to the government to try and fix the Child and Family Services Act was something that I really appreciated, and I think it’s probably one of the biggest opportunities I felt as a legislator to try and make improvements in our legislation.
That review process proved to me that our system does work. I had my doubts along the way, certainly, in the last four years, but I do believe, in general, standing committee activities can be extremely valuable and can be productive and assist us in being good governments.
Consensus government is a really strange animal. Many of our residents have said to me that it’s time to give it up, that we need to go to a party system, but I do not believe that. I think our governance model has been strengthened by some of the actions that we’ve taken in the last few years. I think the development and the publication of our caucus protocols, principles and conventions have clarified the work that we do here in the Legislature, and I think that it’s improved the relationship between the Executive and Regular Members.
As chair of Caucus, I have to say that I have appreciated the cooperation that I have received from all Members of this House throughout the four years. We had meetings here, we had meetings in retreats, and I want to thank each and every one of you for the cooperation and the good discussions, the brainstorming that we did on many occasions.
One thing that I am somewhat regretful about, though, is I still couldn’t get Members to tow the line to the starting time. I almost got you guys there but we never did actually start on time, and I hope that the next time around the next chair of Caucus can get you guys there.
I want to provide my perspective about government programs and services, and some of the things that I am regretful about, and some of the things that I’m positive about. I think there’s quite a bit that’s been left undone. There’s been an awful lot accomplished, but I think there have been a number of things undone and I’d like to highlight those:
I believe we need an ombudsman office.
I believe we should be assisting communities in establishing 911 service.
I believe that we have to not only commit to, which has been done, but we have to get serious about starting the development of an Anti-Poverty Strategy.
I believe we need to continue the reform to Health and Social Services, well, our health system, pretty much, to minimize the costs and create more efficiencies and more effective delivery.
I believe we need to re-examine the level of health services that we provide to all of our communities, especially to our smallest communities.
I believe we need to be really careful about electricity rates. I think the government has taken a bit of a blind view in regard to the recent electricity rate system changes. I’m very concerned for the effect on rates when the rate freeze is lifted in a year or two. I believe we’ve robbed Peter to pay Paul and the bill will still be due and payable when the two-year freeze is done.
I am dismayed that finding a solution to the infrastructure needs at Northland Mobile Home Park was not a priority of this government.
I believe that the whole Supplementary Health Benefits Policy implementation was a horrible experience. It certainly was for me. It’s not one I wish to repeat. I see that process as a great example of how not to do things. Those who most need extended health benefits coverage still don’t have it. They have no access to extended health benefits, and that’s something that the next Assembly must tackle.
I believe we need a better focus on homelessness within all government, and the establishment of a secretariat would do that, in my mind.
I believe we need to revise our housing rent scale and provide a better continuum of housing for residents who struggle to provide for themselves. I think the Shelter Policy review which is now being undertaken will go a long way to helping us with that. I am anxious to see the recommendations.
Lastly, but certainly not least, I believe we need to find a way to get all partners to the devolution negotiating table and I think it can be done, but I think everybody involved has to be open and give a little bit.
I have to say, though, that my biggest regret is the consistently narrow view of many Members on the issues facing the NWT and us here at the Ledge. I regret that some Members are unwilling to consider the decisions we make from a point of view that is good for the whole territory. I found that too often the focus is only on their own riding. Yes, absolutely, each MLA has concerns specific to their riding, and they have to focus on their own riding, and that should be a large part of an MLA’s focus, but there are certainly decisions we make that we have to take the view of the whole territory. I am dismayed that many people did not balance the impact that their decision would have on the whole of the NWT. They only consider their own riding.
This may sound like I’m all gloom and doom, everything has been negative, but I am not all doom and gloom. It hasn’t been all that bad. There have been positives, Mr. Speaker, and the recent amendments to the Motor Vehicles Act are a very positive one for me. The signing of the AIP was also a positive for me. It’s about time we started down this road. The increase to minimum wage was very much a positive, and lastly, a positive for me has been the interaction with Members on the floor of the House and in meetings wherever we happen to hold our meetings.
We’ve debated issues, sometimes heatedly. I’ve never agreed totally -- I shouldn’t say never -- I often did not agree with opinions expressed by either other Members or by Executive across the floor, but it was all good. I appreciated the differing views and I think one of the things about debate is that we do have to have differing views. It forces us to think outside our own box. It forces us to consider other options that we may not have thought of. If we don’t have open and free debate, we’re never going to advance in the direction that the Premier is telling us that we need to go.
I’m very thankful that I’ve had the opportunity to represent constituents in this great institution. I want to thank Frame Lakers for their support and counsel as I’ve gone about my job.
I would be remiss if I didn’t thank Ledge staff. Thank goodness you’re around. You’re an awesome bunch and you do make us look good. I have to thank you for that.
I also have to thank my CA, Kerry, who is now working at the Department of Justice. She left me in June and left me high and dry, so to speak, but she provided great service while she was here.
So as the 16th Assembly draws to a close, I want to say it’s been fun. Some days have been pretty dark, but it’s been fun. I look forward to campaigning. I look forward to seeing constituents as I go door to door. I want to wish all my colleagues well, whether it be on the campaign trail or on other non-political pursuits.
Mr. Speaker, Mr. Premier, MLA Krutko, I want to thank you for your years of service. I want to thank you for the counsel you’ve provided me and the opinions and the learning that I’ve been able to get from listening to you and interacting with you. I think each one of you can come back and tell us if there really is a life after politics.
Best of luck to everyone in the coming months and, as the saying goes, thanks for the memories. Thanks, Mr. Speaker.
