Bob McLeod

Yellowknife South

Statements in Debates

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 60)

We were very pleased with the Prime Minister's positive response. He was very eager to meet with us and we are looking to meet in the early part of 2017. Each of our three Premiers who have been to Ottawa quite a few times have reinforced that message. When the Prime Minister was here a couple of weeks ago, he reconfirmed his availability, and we're very much looking forward to working with him in this area.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 60)

We have certainly identified for Canada and our provincial and territorial colleagues on many innovative approaches in working collaboratively with Indigenous people in our Northwest Territories. I was recently the chair of the Aboriginal Affairs working group for two years, which involved the five national Aboriginal governments and also every province and territory, the Aboriginal Affairs ministers, which included at least eight premiers, and we certainly took advantage of that opportunity to highlight many of the leading practices that we have here in the Northwest Territories and also to...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 60)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the Member noted, the Prime Minister has announced a review of laws and policies related to Indigenous peoples by a working group of federal Ministers. My understanding is that this working group of Ministers will be responsible for the review and will examine relevant federal laws, policies, and operational practices to help ensure the federal Crown is meeting its constitutional obligations with respect to Aboriginal and treaty rights; adhering to the International Human Rights standards, including UNDRIP, the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 59)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize three Pages from Yellowknife South, Aidan Allan, Jade Leathem, Sarah Chapman, and I also recognize all of the pages and all of the good work they do here. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 59)

Under the process convention, the government has committed to providing it to MLAs as it becomes available. As soon as we get the indication that is public information or that we are free to share it with the MLAs, whether they have any restrictions on the information but generally we share right away.

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 59)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to report that we do have a process convention on communications between Cabinet Ministers, standing committees, and Regular Members. This was approved by caucus, and it sets out the obligations and requirement around information sharing on all Members of this House. While there are provisions for sharing information on emergencies that the Government of the Northwest Territories is responding to, it is silent on the subject of sharing information about nonemergency situations or information about the activities of a body other than the Government of the...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 59)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The process convention that we have may be amended at any time at the agreement of caucus, the executive council, and the Standing Committee on Priorities and Planning. We would be happy to consider recommendations for amendments at the appropriate time, and as the Member knows the "Moccasin Telegraph," I guess, as some people refer to it, is a lot faster than any convention, so we will try to take that into consideration. Also, we are prepared to check to see if any reporting -- like for example the oil spill lines, I do not see why MLAs cannot be added to the list and...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 59)

The process convention provides that MLAs representing communities or regions affected by an emergency will receive summary operational reports on emergencies that the Government of the Northwest Territories is responding to. It further provides that reports will be provided by the responsible Minister for situations involving one department, and by the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs for situations involving multiple departments.

I also received information from Enbridge, and they stated that their protocol is to inform the government immediately and maintain regular contact with...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 57)

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document entitled "Package of Letters of Support for the Mineral Exploration Roundup 2017."

Further to my returns to Written Questions 15-18(2) and 16-18(2), Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following two documents "List of Northwest Territories Ministers and Staff Who Attended One or More Events Associated with the Mineral Exploration Roundup in Vancouver January 2017" and "List of Northwest Territories Ministers and Staff Who Attended One or More Events Associated with the Northwest Territories Mission to Ottawa, November 2016." Thank you, Mr...

Debates of , 18th Assembly, 2nd Session (day 54)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'll be pleased to answer his multiple questions. First and foremost, the terms of reference were reviewed and agreed to by both sides at least six months ago, and so everybody agreed to them, and the honourable Member from Kam Lake knows that we had a meeting. Everybody agreed that the next meeting would be when we received the reports from the two ministerial special representatives, and we expect to have those very soon and then we would have a meeting at the appropriate time to discuss these reports.