Floyd Roland

We would be willing to do that. We’re aware, for example, that the Food Mail Program affects quite a number of other jurisdictions in high-cost areas, and we’re going to plug into that to see how it works, to see if they’re feeling the same impact or have the same concerns we have. So we would be prepared to look at that type of initiative, yes.

There’s the overall hydro initiative across the Northwest Territories and trying to bring that to either investment or industry, as well as communities. The three mini-hydro projects, we’re looking at continuing investment in this year to see if they can be put in place. For example, Lutselk’e was a community that has been identified in that area. We’re looking to continue that work in this upcoming year.

The bigger picture, as the Members have said earlier, is correct. Some of these large initiatives are going to take quite a number of years for ourselves as government. We’re going to have to...

Let’s look at the facts. The record would speak for itself. The Members of this Assembly, and the Member himself, has talked about the fact that the government has grown substantially. It has grown too big. We can pull that out of Hansard. When we target these areas for reduction, and there’s unfortunately some impact there on individuals in jobs and positions, now it’s “Don’t do it.” And if you’re going to have to do it, notify them early. So we did that, but we did it wrong, so — no good. I don’t know what environment I’m in.

We’ve listened to Members. The Member himself raised the issue of a...

I give notice that on Monday, May 26, 2008, I will move that Bill 8, Appropriation Act, 2008–2009, be read for the first time.

Mr. Speaker, what we’ve done in the strategic initiatives is work from the goals and the visions and priorities set by this Legislative Assembly. We can align those and show what area is used in an important piece of investment. Early childhood: is that an investment we should make? Are the Members trying to say that’s not an area? The increased investment we’re putting into health care and social services in the Northwest Territories: is that something we shouldn’t invest in? We can align those with the vision and goals.

Now, some of the strategic initiatives, yes, have been driven by a number...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document entitled Main Estimates 2008–2009, Volumes 1 and 2.

Document 37-16(2), Main Estimates 2008–2009, Volumes 1 and 2, tabled.

One thing I’ve said to all the Ministers who have lead roles on these initiatives is to make contact with standing committees to set up some times to do the presentations and briefings of information we have so we can get some feedback and further work on a number of scenarios. That’s going to be something we’ll need to work out between committees and Cabinet as well.

Mr. Speaker, that issue has come up. I’ve also asked some questions about that and about looking at, as a government, our interpretation of our obligations under our contracts, with the unions as well. Sometimes it’s just our direct interpretation of things. There are a number of cases where there are staff who work in the same area within the same department where one position was targeted; three positions became potentially affected. So we’ve got to look at that.

Again, this scenario has played out in a way where we definitely don’t want to be using the same processes and where we get a clear...

We are indeed looking at diesel communities and power production. The rate base right now.... Through the existing structure we deal with communities at a community rate–based structure scenario. I think we need to have that debate as Members of the Assembly.

For example, at the Association of Communities I spoke to the fact that how we treat the Power Corporation as the sole shareholder in the Northwest Territories has to be reviewed in the sense of.... Right now we match everybody, as I said earlier, to the 700 kilowatt hours, but after that you pay a community rate base. Some communities...

Mr. Speaker, I as well have not just come into this environment. As I stated earlier, I’m very familiar with the process as a Regular Member, as a Minister and as Finance Minister in a previous government. That process has been followed. There’s always a glitch with the first budget of the Legislative Assembly. You can decide to either go ahead with the work that was done by a previous government, with some tinkering, or you can take control of it early on. We’ve decided to take control.

We’ve tried to mitigate the impact on employees. Again, I’ve heard from Members. Members said early on that...