Yellowknife South

Statements in Debates

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 5th Session (day 25)

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...

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 5th Session (day 25)

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

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 5th Session (day 25)

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.

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 5th Session (day 25)

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.

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 5th Session (day 25)

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.

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 5th Session (day 25)

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.

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 5th Session (day 25)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The federal government, or AANDC, still has responsibility with regard to some specific lands, so through you, I’ll ask Mr. Fulford to go into more detail, Mr. Chair.

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 5th Session (day 25)

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

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 5th Session (day 25)

Thank you, Mr. Chair. On occasion, especially in the discussion with the proposed Mackenzie Valley pipeline there was an indication there that a surface rights board would have facilitated some discussions, because without a Surface Rights Board Act, the only tool available to deal with disputes would be arbitration. But with regards to the specific question, Mr. Chair, through you I’ll ask Mr. Fulford to respond. Thank you.

Debates of , 17th Assembly, 5th Session (day 25)

Thank you for the opportunity to speak to the Bill 1, the Reindeer Act. The passage of this legislation is an important step towards implementing the Northwest Territories Lands and Resources Devolution Agreement.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources will administer the Government of the Northwest Territories’ new authorities under the Reindeer Act.

Under the Devolution Agreement, the GNWT is committed to “substantially mirror” Canada’s statutes and regulations that are being repealed or made inapplicable to all land, except federally retained land, transferring to the GNWT...