Bob McLeod

Thank you, Mr. Chair. In my estimation, there’s been no policy shift. We continue to work at having good working relationships with Aboriginal governments. If anything, we’ve taken on additional responsibilities in a number of areas. I think also some of the recent court decisions with regards to Aboriginal treaty rights and harvesting certainly have clarified a lot of the case law in those areas. I think the best example I can use is the development of the legislation for the Wildlife Act, where we shared with all of the Aboriginal governments to make sure all of the provisions of their land...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Actually, we’ve gone from 15 tables down to 14 tables with the successful conclusion of the Deline Self-Government and Land Claims Final Agreement.

I’d like to remind the Member that this is the Department of Aboriginal Affairs and we do, in my mind, consult on a regular basis with non-Aboriginal people and we fulfill all of the requirements of this government in that regard. Thank you.

I expect I’ll be seeing the federal Metis interlocutor on February 27th of this year.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. We have set up that division in order to fulfill the consultation requirements with Aboriginal people and treaty rights, which is a specific and unique Aboriginal rights relationship with the Government of the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

The increase happened two years ago. Thank you.

Yes, I do.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. They get $13,000 a year in core funding, Mr. Chair. Sorry, Mr. Chair. Since then, we’ve done a review and increased it to $20,000 in core funding for Metis locals.

We’re not in the business of taking over programs that are legitimately with the federal government. I think the fact we’ve always said the best way to show our Arctic sovereignty in the Northwest Territories is to have healthy, sustainable communities and the best way to do that is to have food that’s available and to have food security. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m pleased to say that all Premiers of all provinces and territories are very supportive of holding a roundtable on missing and murdered Aboriginal women and girls and planning is well underway. The roundtable date is set at February 27, 2015. Thank you.