MLAs opposed to party politics should ask themselves a simple question: What has this government accomplished since division in 1999?
Beyond managing a budget from the federal government and providing basic public services for a population the size of a small southern municipality, our major achievements include a bridge, a hospital and a road 鈥� all financially flawed projects that needed to be done.
We finalized a devolution deal that benefited bureaucrats but changed little for everyday people. Meanwhile, many have come North for high-paying jobs, only to leave with padded resumes, larger bank accounts and generous pensions.
Dene, Metis, and Inuvialuit MLAs should reflect on their communities' realities. Since 2000, their people have remained at the bottom of nearly every measure of progress and quality of life. Despite welcoming and working with all the government and industry people who have come North to develop the vast resources of Dene, Metis and Inuvialuit land, they endure the lowest incomes, poorest educational outcomes, least employment in government and the highest cost of living. This is the legacy of the so-called consensus government.
How did we get here? In the 1950s, a trio of Ottawa officials laid out the NWT鈥檚 political framework. Yellowknife鈥檚 miners and prospectors 鈥� then the power centre鈥� were asked if they wanted party politics. The Dene, Metis, and Inuvialuit were not consulted. The miners and prospectors rejected party politics, believing they could govern themselves without outside interference. The result? An NWT assembly built to serve non-Indigenous interests, while Indigenous communities have remained under economic stress and been kept in poverty in a harsh and worsening 快盈v3 environment.
One undeniable Indigenous success 鈥� despite government resistance 鈥� has been the establishment of Indigenous governments. The GNWT fought against their progress for decades through land claim negotiations. Even now, they continue these battles. Recently, the GNWT joined a court case to prevent the Inuvialuit from gaining legal responsibility for foster children 鈥� a responsibility the GNWT had already failed at miserably. The GNWT鈥檚 priority wasn鈥檛 the children but maintaining jurisdictional control, even as they claim to be "partners" with Indigenous governments.
Had Dene, Metis and Inuvialuit MLAs voted together in the past on their people鈥檚 core needs 鈥� housing, education and jobs 鈥� our territory would look very different today. But they don鈥檛 vote together, just as most non-Indigenous MLAs don鈥檛. Instead, votes only serve GNWT needs, which are tied to the personal advancement of MLAs or pet projects with little impact outside government. Those who genuinely try to make a difference are left isolated and inevitably fail.
Consensus government is all about management. It has no vision or goals beyond management, which is measured by a balanced budget and growth of itself, not results for the people. There are no political consequences for not delivering on promises.
The NWT cannot grow by keeping half of the population in poverty. Some MLAs recognize this. Advocating for party politics means confronting a system designed to protect the ambitions of those in power, shielded from their failures by the myth of consensus government.
鈥擝ruce Valpy is a longtime Yellowknifer and former publisher of 快盈v3.
