Bob McLeod

I’m not sure when the Member checked the website, but I checked it today and it looked like it was updated. But for the Member’s information, for 2013-14 there were 16 applications and 11 organizations were granted funding. For this upcoming year we have guaranteed that we will have our request for applications before the end of May and that we will have the money out before the end of July. Thank you.

Thank you for the opportunity to speak to Bill 3, Surface Rights Board Act. The passage of this legislation is an important step towards implementing the Northwest Territories Lands and Resources Devolution Agreement.

The new Department of Lands will administer the Government of the Northwest Territories’ new authorities under the Surface Rights Board Act.

Under the Devolution Agreement, the GNWT is committed to “substantially mirror” Canada’s legislation that is repealed or made inapplicable to public lands transferring to the GNWT through devolution.

Mirrored legislation means that the GNWT’s...

Thank you for the opportunity to speak to Bill 2, Archaeological Sites Act. The passage of this legislation is an important step towards implementing the Northwest Territories Lands and Resources Devolution Agreement.

The Archaeological Sites Act will provide the Northwest Territories with the authority to mirror the Northwest Territories Archaeological Sites Regulations under the Northwest Territories Act. The mirroring of these regulations is a requirement of the Devolution Agreement.

Under the Devolution Agreement, the GNWT is committed to “substantially mirror” Canada’s statutes and...

Thank you, Madam Chair. We’d be pleased to make sure that the public is aware of what we are doing so that they will have adequate time for input.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I’ve always said from the start of this process that we will devolve and evolve, and I think I’ve indicated to the Member several times now that we can start evolving as of April 1st, and if that’s following due process that we can make those changes.

I’ve already committed to working with committee and with participating Aboriginal government partners and whomever else that committee would see fit to involve in the review process, and I committed that we could start soon, as of April 1st, and we would develop a process and a plan that would be acceptable to all parties.

What we all agreed to was following the mirroring principles that have been in place and have been followed. There are precedents and also we’ve adhered to the mirroring principles. So through you, Madam Chair, I’ll ask Jamie Fulford to go into those details. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. There are provisions in the bill so that as land claims are settled they’ll be added on to the Surface Rights Board. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I don’t believe anything prevents this Assembly from putting a triggering mechanism in place. I think there would be some issues if the triggering mechanism would fetter future governments. I think that, as a government, we have committed to undertaking a process of educating and making information available on all of the legislation and all the responsibilities that have been devolved, and it was also committed, as I’ve said many times, we will devolve and evolve and we have committed to establishing a process to review throughout the Territories and to look at all of...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Our government policy or rule of thumb is that in every instance we will appoint members from the Northwest Territories. I’ll ask, through you, Mr. Chair, Ms. McLaughlin to point out the exact clause and confirm that.