It's January 2025, and the world is aflame with rising temperatures, extreme weather, conflict and wars around the globe, with global politics feeding both those flames.
On Jan. 20, U.S. president-elect Donald Trump gets sworn in, triggering an acceleration of the unravelling of the American republic, contributing greatly to world turmoil.
January 6 was the Epiphany, a Christian feast day. It was also the experience of a sudden and striking realization. Coincidentally and ironically, it was also the day Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, seeing the writing on the wall, stepped down. The result is Parliament being prorogued until March 24, 2025. The Liberals are now in a political conclave mode, picking a new leader of the party.
Trudeau, the lamest of political ducks, will be staying in office until the white smoke comes out of the Liberal chimney, signifying a new leader has been chosen. In the meantime, the business of the country hits pause. The caretaker government manages day-to-day operations and keeps the lights on. This at a time when global political events will be very fluid, unfolding at warp speed, Canada will be on the sidelines and way behind the curve as Trump intensifies his attacks across the world, including Canada.
In the NWT, we watch with trepidation all that is happening in the rest of the world. We look, also with some trepidation, at what is going on, or not going on, within our borders. The 20th Assembly, now in its second year, with a little over 1,000 days left in its term. The legislature will soon be gathering for the winter session in Yellowknife. With the exception of SA国际影视传媒淣WT: Our Land for the FutureSA国际影视传媒� agreement, recently signed in Behchoko, there is little at this point to inspire optimism for the future. What I see is a legislature standing by while the GNWT continues its headlong push for centralization, ever weakening regions, an over reliance on unelected senior officials and high-priced consultants, and no vision or plan. We seem to be content to manage on a day-to-day, crisis-by-crisis basis. These turbulent times require political leadership and a vision to see us through the difficult journey ahead. That is what we elect MLAs and a cabinet for.
The economic and social indicators across the board confirm the failure of this approach started back in the 18th Assembly. For example, we continue to have the highest costs of power in the country and a power corporation that does not do the job Northerners need done. I want to commend the hard work done by NTPC employees on the ground in the communities, often under the most trying of circumstances. It is the political oversight and executive leadership that is lacking and has gotten us into this worsening situation.
Let me give you a quick example of the compounding negative impact this failure of political oversight and poor management has had on Fort Smith. The Taltson project required shutting off hydro to allow for repairs at the dam. The shut off of hydro required us to go on diesel for a few months at minimal cost. Due to poor planning, design and execution, the shutdown has experienced extensive delays of over a year and cost overruns nearing $100 million, plus the millions spent on being on full-time diesel.
This full-time diesel comes from old 1970s backup units that have been running flat out since the start of the repair project, something they were never intended to do. During this recent cold spell, the ancient, over-worked units started failing, leading to extended community blackouts during -35 C weather, requiring the set up of warming stations. So, in addition to botching the Taltson project, we have the deliberate failure of long-term investment in our community generation and distribution infrastructure SA国际影视传媒� the same as every community across the NWT. The GNWT/NTPC refuse to accept responsibility, citing factors beyond their control.
This is just one example. There is a fix, but it requires good leadership and management. We will all be listening closely to the premierSA国际影视传媒檚 opening address and the response from the MLAs. Will we be getting leadership and vision or a manager's report defending the status quo?
