Bob McLeod

Yes, I would, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. To my right I have Kelly McLaughlin, the director of Legislation with the Department of Justice. To my left I have Jamie Fulford, legal counsel with the Department of Justice. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize the Pages that have been here all week, especially two Pages from Yellowknife South: Benjamin Karstad and Brittney Bessette. I also want to recognize Charlie Furlong and Joanne Deneron. Welcome to the House. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. On my right I have Kelly McLaughlin, director of legislation for the Department of Justice; to my left I have Jamie Fulford, legal counsel with the Department of Justice. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. What we have been working on, we’ve been working on for over six years and that’s to develop a Land Use Sustainability Framework. We’ve also been working with Aboriginal government partners so we can together manage all of the land in the Northwest Territories. Obviously, as the Member knows, Aboriginal governments are the largest land holders in the Northwest Territories through land claim agreements. What we’ve agreed on is we will work together so we can manage all of the land under their respective jurisdictions and try to have a land management process that is...

As I’ve indicated, I will be pleased to work with committee to come up with a process that would be acceptable to all.

I just want to thank the Member for his comments. That’s the approach that we’re taking exactly and we will undertake a review soon. We’ll start working on that so that we can start working to that effect as of April 1st after we devolve and evolve.

Thank you, Madam Chair. We’ve already committed to doing a review. We committed to that to the Members. We’ve always said we are going to devolve and evolve and we can start reviewing as April 1, 2014, if this transfer goes through and these legislations are passed. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. It would be, in this case, the territorial Minister responsible for lands. That will come into effect on April 1, 2014. Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I can only commit to the life of this 17th Assembly. We, as a government, have committed to undertaking that review. A future government would have to undertake a review to address the five-year window that the federal government has indicated they would be prepared to review the MVRMA in five years. Thank you, Madam Chair.