Thank you, Madam Speaker. My questions are for the Premier today. I’d like to start by noting that a democracy works best when all citizens are able to speak their minds.
Would the Premier not agree that we should welcome respectful input from everyone if we want to get the best result?
The honourable Premier, Mr. McLeod.
Madam Speaker, that depends on the question. Thank you.
We have roughly 10,000 households in the Northwest Territories and at least 4,000 GNWT employees at any one time given our 10 percent vacancy. This means that potentially almost 40 percent of households could include a person directly employed by GNWT.
Would the Premier agree that GNWT employees and their families make up a significant portion of informed citizens of the NWT?
I guess it depends if you figure that 50 percent makes up a significant portion.
In reflection, I have to be quite disappointed that the Premier is not willing to welcome any input from our citizens on the issues that our people face. That’s shocking to me. It depends on what the question is on whether he is interested or not, so that’s a bit shocking, but let’s go with it.
With so many informed and caring citizens in our employment, and I assure the Premier, and although he sounds doubtful that we do have a significant number, there is some concern that GNWT may be tempted to silence public debate by preventing GNWT employees from expressing their opinions, even when the topic is not directly related to their job.
Can the Premier reassure us here in the House that the GNWT does, in fact, encourage its employees to participate in public debate on issues?
Finally, a question that I can answer. All GNWT employees sign a code of ethics when they enter into employment with this government, and as part of that code of ethics they have to adhere to certain principles and criteria, and I’m sure the honourable Member would be the first to cry out loud and clear if an employee of the Government of the Northwest Territories would come out and directly criticize it.
Thank you, Premier McLeod. Final supplementary, Mr. Bromley.
Thank you, Madam Speaker. I hope the Premier doesn’t think that he thinks for me, but I would like to ask our reluctant Premier my last question here.
There is currently a petition on the Legislative Assembly website. Could the Premier please reassure our employees that they will not face any recriminations if they wish to sign that petition? It’s not criticizing the government; it’s asking the government for action.
I’m not aware of any petition on any website.
Thank you, Premier McLeod. The Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.
