Bob McLeod

Thank you. As three northern neighbours, we get together on a regular basis, and as a matter of fact, we just met recently in Ottawa as the Northern Forum. Obviously, the cost of living is a big topic for all three territories. We’ve worked together to try to find ways to reduce the cost of living and we’ve looked at approaching the federal government to increase the Northern Resident Tax Deduction and what we’ve found is it wouldn’t benefit the lower income levels. It would benefit primarily the middle class and middle-income earners. So we are endeavoring to work together.

When I discussed...

It was floated by all of the MLAs, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I myself have not specifically reviewed the audit, but I am aware of some of the findings and I think that the fact that the Government of Canada has seen fit to put more money into the program gives me some comfort that they will be able to benefit those that are most in need. Thank you.

The 10-year implementation plan for the Sahtu Dene-Metis Claim expired on March 31, 2014. The parties are reviewing and revising the plan to reflect the current status of obligations and associated activities. The final draft implementation plan is expected to be completed by April 2015.

Canada now has a financial mandate to negotiate implementation funding levels for its treaty partners for the next 10-year period and we expect negotiations to begin by April 2015. In the interim, the parties have agreed to a status quo funding. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just some of the comments that were raised, the Intergovernmental Council we see as a very important forum for the Government of the Northwest Territories to work with Aboriginal governments that have signed on to devolution and that have their own land, so it allows us to collaborate and coordinate.

The land claims are part of our curriculum in the high schools. The Indspire Awards are very inspirational to see successful Aboriginal people in all walks of life. The Aboriginal relations and consultation division is something that used to be housed in Justice and has now...

When we look at the benefits from decentralization, we have to take other elements into consideration such as diversifying the economy, sharing the wealth and also the fact that we are investing in the Northwest Territories. We have committed to spending $21 million over three years to build additional housing in remote communities so that we can have houses and office space for positions in the smaller communities.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I think the Member answered his own question, but I will ask, through you, for Mr. Robertson to go in more detail.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The government has what they call the Third-Party Accountability Framework where they review the funding, which is, generally, there are three categories of NGOs that they deal with. In this case, I’d say this is more of like a one-off situation because, from what I could see, the Status of Women Council and the Native Women’s Association of the Northwest Territories had never received any increase for a long period of time. I’ll ask, through you, Mr. Chair, Mr. Robertson to give a little more detail as to how we were able to come up with $25,000 in this difficult...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The criteria that we use are to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of programs and services that are delivered by this government.

It’s quite a complex arrangement. We have tried to make sure that the negotiations for land claims and self-government, although it’s coordinated, the lead on dealing with Thaidene Nene has been identified as the Department of ENR, working very closely with ITI, Lands, Aboriginal Affairs, Justice and other departments, whereby we expect to have a park complemented by Northern Tools, and there are some active discussions going on as we speak.