Cabinet visit was top-drawer draw
About 100 residents gather to express concerns to GNWT leadership
Paul Bickford
Northern News Services
Monday, September 12, 2016
HAY RIVER
It was the first meeting of its kind in Hay River - a meet-and-greet hosted by the premier and all members of the territorial cabinet to hear issues and concerns from residents.
At a meet-and-greet on Sept. 1 at Soaring Eagle Friendship Centre, Premier Bob McLeod, left, talks with Diamond Jenness Secondary School principal Lynne Beck and Education Minister Alfred Moses. - Paul Bickford/NNSL photo |
About 100 people gathered at Soaring Eagle Friendship Centre on Sept. 1 to talk to the GNWT leadership.
"I really like it," said Julia Trennert of the event, after talking to Health and Social Services Minister Glen Abernethy about health-care services for aboriginal people. "It's informal and you get a chance to talk to the ministers one on one."
Sandra Lester said the informal format was interesting.
"I was surprised that they did it in the format that they did where there wasn't a public question and a public answer but it was quite nice to sit down with the ministers that I wanted to talk with one on one and it was very informative," she said.
"I got the information that I wanted. I think it was really good."
In December, Premier Bob McLeod committed to holding such open houses with cabinet in each region of the NWT.
Open houses were held earlier this year in Norman Wells and Inuvik, and meetings in Fort Simpson and Yellowknife are scheduled to take place later this year.
"One of our goals as a government is to open the lines of communication between residents and the people representing their interests in government," he said in brief comments at the beginning of the meet-and-greet.
"We are here to listen and that's what tonight is about. We want to hear from residents and help answer the questions you have."
The premier said talking to one another face-to-face is a long-standing Northern tradition and one that he believes cabinet should do more often.
Following the meet-and-greet, McLeod said he was pleased with the event and his interactions with residents.
"I'm glad we had a very good turnout," he said. "I think we'll be able to help solve some of their issues. From what I could see, some of them came very well prepared."
As for what issues were raised by people, he said many were concerned about the state of the economy and there was interest in the fishery.
McLeod called it a very positive experience for himself and cabinet.
"I can see ourselves doing this on an annual basis," he said. "I mean this is one of the few ways we have as ministers where we go directly to the people, no filters and we get first-hand information."
While in Hay River, the premier and his cabinet had a private meeting with town council.
