Bob McLeod

The Government of the Northwest Territories made a comprehensive offer to conclude the outstanding land and resource issues and a draft agreement-in-principle. The Government of the Northwest Territories offer included a land quantum of 37,500 square kilometres. This would result in the Dehcho First Nations having title to 37,500 square kilometres of land with surface title and approximately 17.78 percent interest in the subsurface of the entire Dehcho Settlement Area.

The Government of the Northwest Territories’ offer also included elements that would guide the completion of a Dehcho Land Use...

I’m very pleased to point out that we were able to provide for a $25,000 increase to a combined Status of Women Council and Native Women’s Association of the Northwest Territories. It may seem like a small amount, but when we’re holding the line on new initiatives on forced growth, I think that was an accomplishment, and we’ve been able to work with the Status of Women Council on an ad hoc basis and certainly, as part of that transition, that would be something we would identify for the next government that should be a priority, is to work the funding for women’s organizations that we work...

Mr. Speaker, all around the world International Women's Day represents an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of women while calling for greater equality.

Each year International Women's Day is celebrated on March 8th. The first International Women's Day was held in 1911. Thousands of events occur to mark the economic, political and social achievements of women. Organizations, governments, charities, educational institutions, women's groups, corporations and the media celebrate the day.

In the Northwest Territories we have made great strides for women’s equality. We have many powerful...

Thank you, Madam Chair. I can confirm to the Member that this will be a priority. As we’ve laid out the timetable, the government will be preparing a response to the recommendations of the Energy Charrette report, and at that time, for those recommendations that are accepted, we will identify the sources of funding accordingly.

All inmates sentenced, remands and intermittents, should receive case management assessments. We agree and we will be working to ensure case plans to guide inmate rehabilitations are developed for all inmates including release dates. Plans will need to be documented, monitored and adjusted as necessary. This is what the Auditor General has recommended and we have agreed and we accept all of his recommendations.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To enhance accountability, the development of a performance assurance and accountability framework commenced last year. This framework outlines consistent and effective management as well as proper monitoring of procedures and protocols and improved rehabilitative and reintegration programs. The framework will be fully implemented by 2016.

On behalf of the government, we will commit to ensuring we do that as we do all of this important work to implement the recommendations of the Auditor General. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Earlier on, the government made a statement about on-the-land programs with the Department of Justice. We did have a number of programs and they fell by the wayside because of a number of operational issues. The Department of Justice is going out for expressions of interest to have these programs come into effect. I did discuss it with the office of the Auditor General as part of the rehabilitation. As you know, having inmates go out on the land has to be a voluntary situation. We can’t force them to go on on-the-land programs. That is part of the issue as well.

Mr. Speaker, I’d like to recognize and congratulate the people of Deline for their success in developing an agreement that will not only serve the people of Deline but will also provide a model for other communities in the Northwest Territories and throughout Canada to consider.

This agreement is a made-in-the-Northwest Territories model for implementing the inherent right of self-government that follows the vision that the elders and leaders of Deline have held to for many years. This agreement could not have been possible without the hard work of many people, and I would like to take a few...

Mr. Speaker, I seek consent to proceed with third reading of Bill 46, Deline Self-Government Agreement Act.