On Feb. 13, three MLAs walked into the great hall of the legislative assembly on a mission to save consensus government. I'm one of those MLAs, along with Robert Hawkins and Richard Edjericon.
We are Northerners SA国际影视传媒� fathers, husbands, cousins and neighbours. Richard's ancestors signed some of the first treaties and have called the North home since time immemorial. We are profoundly committed to the success of the NWT and the well-being of all its people.
So when we say we are going to save consensus, what we mean is we are going to fight for transparency, accountability and change. We will find common ground on the issues our constituents care about and work together with unshakable resolve to get results that matter. It's out of our love for our land and our people that we cannot stand by as our future is put at risk through inaction and self-serving decision making that puts the needs of the government ahead of the people it serves.
Apparently, some people donSA国际影视传媒檛 think consensus is worth saving, because even after three consecutive elections where the majority of incumbents have been voted out each time, little has changed in our system of government. These people accuse us of divisiveness and pushing 'party politics'.
There must be some mistake because our message has been clear since day one: we are the ones working together to save consensus government. Before the creation of Nunavut in 1999, the legislative assembly was working well but since then, our system has slid into the politics of 'cabinet plus three'. This is the only 'party politics' in the NWT and we aren't afraid to call this out for what it is: a one-party system that squashes any dissenting opinions or efforts to course correct our government at a dangerous time.
Don't believe me? Just think about how often we see Northerners fearing reprisal from the GNWT. We see it in the news, on social media and in our offices as MLAs. People should not be afraid of their government. This must stop.
Anyone defending this system is defending cutting Northern Student Bonuses, eliminating P1 and P2 hires, making people pay more for extended health benefits, over $1 billion in public debt, and shutting down community learning centres and the Fort Smith Correctional Centre without a plan in sight. Policies that hurt working people and small communities.
Our plan to save consensus isn't dangerous. What's dangerous is supporting further bad decisions and inaction at a time we need our government to keep us safe at a dangerous time. So it's a bit rich to see former finance ministers SA国际影视传媒� those who write op-eds every other week calling out a weak and ineffectual GNWT SA国际影视传媒� clutching their pearls when sitting MLAs propose new ideas, and very small pearls at that. LetSA国际影视传媒檚 not let the gravitational pull of the old guard dictate whatSA国际影视传媒檚 best for us. It was always whatSA国际影视传媒檚 best for them. There is history to prove it.
Building consensus around cabinet priorities is not consensus government, especially when it only takes three amigos from the regular member pool. That's not consensus, that's convenience. Today, our government has become the ultimate 'insider' political system, so opaque that the only way to understand how it really works is to get elected.
This has led to the rise of elite bureaucrats who call the shots and the outsourcing of NWT policy development to a growing class of southern consultants, all while Northern public servants are overlooked as their wages remain stagnant. Ask yourself this: how many deputy ministers retire in the NWT? You'll probably find them in the south instead working as GNWT consultants.
The politics of getting along to get ahead are over. Instead, we will replace it with the politics of getting things done for everyday working people in all our communities. No one else is going to save us, so we have to save ourselves. And we will save consensus government. Our independent members' caucus is about the people we serve and the results we promised them when we got elected.
Unlike other MLAs, we will be true independents SA国际影视传媒� independent of cabinet and their influence, standing committees and unelected officials. No one will pull our strings.
The constituents of Range Lake, Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh and Yellowknife Centre just went from one vote to three to support their needs and aspirations. We invite others to join us, add to our strength and make our system work for all Northerners. We need your help to make this possible, so raise your voice and let those in power know you're ready for real change. We have a long way to go and this is but a new beginning.
The system's ice has cracked, now it's time for Northerners to break through.
Kieron Testart is the MLA for Range Lake.
