Bob McLeod

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Dehcho First Nations has written, through legal counsel, to inform the Government of the Northwest Territories and Canada that the Dehcho First Nations is pursuing litigation against both governments. The correspondence accuses the Government of the Northwest Territories of negotiating in bad faith. The Government of the Northwest Territories does not negotiate in bad faith. The Government of the Northwest Territories understands that it is not bad faith to have officials work collaboratively for almost two years exploring creative solutions to land questions. It is...

I believe there is some exaggeration there. I look around the Northwest Territories and I don’t see any drilling, I don’t see any oil and gas activities. I’m not sure what the Member is referring to when he’s talking about millions of dollars being invested in plan A. As a government, we have to keep the buildings heated, we have to make sure the lights stay on, and we will continue to do so while, at the same time, investing in alternative and renewable forms of energy. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Member has pre-empted us. As we indicated at the second Energy Charrette, that is exactly what our intentions are – to invest in renewable and alternative forms of energy – and we will be rolling that out when our government responds to the recommendations of the second Energy Charrette. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, Northerners have long been known for their generosity, and each year the Government of the Northwest Territories employees continue to show their commitment to building stronger, healthier communities by supporting the United Way NWT.

I am very pleased to announce that this year the Government of the Northwest Territories Workplace Campaign raised just over $102,000. 

Mr. Speaker, this is the 12th year of the campaign and the most successful. The number of Government of the Northwest Territories staff generosity has doubled and their campaign pledges commit to donating nearly $100...

That’s why the main table is there. We have the Government of Canada, the Dehcho First Nation, the Government of the Northwest Territories, and as I said, the agreement-in-principle does allow for facilitation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Member’s questioning on behalf of the Dehcho First Nations brings to mind the old fable of the boy who cried wolf. The Government of the Northwest Territories has never left the table. We’ve never said we would not negotiate. We are prepared to negotiate. The Dehcho First Nations has gone through great contortions to show otherwise. Their legal counsel has written to us and said they absolutely reject our latest offer. Their legal counsel has written to us and threatened to take us to court, and we’re prepared to negotiate and always have been. Thank you.

As far as we’re concerned, nothing has changed. We are prepared to negotiate. The DCFN legal counsel has rejected out of hand our latest offer. He’s threatened to take us to court. He won’t say on what basis. We have always said we have never left the table. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I would suggest, Mr. Speaker, the next step would be for the Dehcho First Nations to attend the main table meeting. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. The Dehcho First Nations has written to the Government of Canada, asking for a bilateral process with the Government of Canada despite the fact that our government has increased the Government of Canada’s land quantum offer of 2007 from 33,448 square kilometres to 37,500 kilometres. Despite that, it appears the Dehcho First Nations would prefer a bilateral process with the Government of Canada. Despite that, we are prepared to negotiate at the main table. The Dehcho First Nations chief negotiator wrote to our chief negotiator, asking for a main table meeting and then turned around...

Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise Members that the Honourable David Ramsay will be absent from the House today due to illness. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.