Yellowknife South

Statements in Debates

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 5th Session (day 28)

Mr. Speaker, in a little more than two weeks, the Government and Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories will be taking on new responsibilities for public lands, water and resources. For the first time, Northerners will be able to pass laws and make their own decisions about how our environment is managed and protected and our resources are developed. As we have acknowledged many times in this House, this is an historic occasion in the ongoing evolution of this territory.

We sometimes forget, Mr. Speaker, that history does not just happen, history is made. As we open an important new...

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 5th Session (day 28)

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife Great Slave, that Bill 17, Northwest Territories Intergovernmental Resources Revenue Sharing Agreement Act, be read for the third time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 5th Session (day 28)

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife Kam Lake, that Bill 15, Oil and Gas Operations Act, be read for the third time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 5th Session (day 28)

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Monfwi, that Bill 13, Devolution Measures Act, be read for the third time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 5th Session (day 28)

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, that Bill 10, Northwest Territories Lands Act, be read for the third time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 5th Session (day 28)

Thank you. We had a meeting with our Aboriginal government leaders on March the 7th where we discussed the Intergovernmental Council and the proceedings and all of the different leaders all raised some of the issues of concern to them. Certainly, the Sahtu Secretariat leadership expressed issues that they are interested in and together we’ll work to deal with these issues. I don’t recall, I don’t think fracking was raised, but there is a body through this government that will deal with it, as the Minister of ENR has indicated would be coming out with a document on that as well. Thank you.

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 5th Session (day 28)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We were participants in the negotiation of land claim agreements and we certainly stand by what was negotiated. The Devolution Final Agreement provides for non-abrogation of treaties or land claims. We have that language throughout the Devolution Final Agreement where there will be no negative impacts on those areas. Where or if it ever happens then what’s in the land claim would trump what’s in the Devolution Agreement. Thank you.

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 5th Session (day 28)

If ratified by the parties, a signing ceremony will be held possibly this summer of 2014 or maybe sooner. We see an effective date for the final agreement occurring in 2016. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 5th Session (day 28)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m very pleased to recognize all GNWT employees who worked on the devolution file that are here in the gallery. There are too many to name, but I’ll ask them to stand up and be recognized and also accept our thanks. Thank you very much.

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 5th Session (day 28)

Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, that Bill 16, Northwest Territories Intergovernmental Agreement on Lands and Resources Management Act, be read for the third time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.