Caroline Cochrane

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to advise Members that the Honourable Caroline Wawzonek will be absent from the House today and tomorrow to attend the Prospector and Developers Association of Canada's convention in Toronto, Ontario. Also, Mr. Speaker, I will be absent for a portion of today's proceedings to participate in a meeting with honourable Anita Anand, Minister of National Defence of Canada. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think, and that is that question kind of goes back to my statement in that it's going to take longer to review that. It's not something that should be done in a rushed fashion, for example in the life of this Assembly. I think that it needs to be really a comprehensive review. Each of the corporations have different needs, different goals, different purposes. So I'm not even sure if you could have one governance for all. So like I said, Mr. Speaker, I don't think it's a bad idea; I just think that the timing is not correct at this time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can say that no, not all of the Crown corporations' governance models have been reviewed. However, I can say because of the issues that we're having with Marine Transportation Services, that one is being reviewed. And we're also looking at the NTPC. But not all Crown corporations. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So I do know that within this session that we will be putting forward a proposed bill for the United Nations Declaration for Indigenous People. Part of that work is actually to be it's not just putting out a bill and saying it's done. If we really take the United Nations Declaration to heart, then it means ongoing work. So I think that in fairness to the Member, that every single program and service within the GNWT, including our Crown corporations, should be looking at the United Nations Declaration for Indigenous People and seeing how that fits within all of the work...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think that the Member has a point. I think there is some confusion in the public. And even myself when I came into government, understanding how Crown corporations are different from government departments. So I do think that there needs to be an effort on perhaps clarity to the public and maybe looking at the structures of those Crown corporations. Although, Mr. Speaker, I want to be clear that in the life of this government, I don't see this happening. It might be something we put in the recommendations for the next government. But at this time, we're looking at...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize Range Lake constituent Ms. Samantha Stuart. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you for asking for the clarification; that's what I was hoping to get. We are going to have a draft bill before this session is finished. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Yes, I do, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Actually, yes, so I'm going to try to do this politically correct because negotiations are confidential so you can't really share the process where they are. However, what I can say is that I'm just going to be bringing an information item to Cabinet within the next day or two, and then I'll be providing a confidential briefing, if AOC wants, to the Members to actually tell them where they are. What I will say, Madam Chair, is we're really close and we're a lot farther along than I thought we'd be. And if things aren't done in this government, it'll be really early in...

Thank you, Madam Chair. I can't rattle off which ones I don't but I can rattle which ones I do based on the sheet. So we have them in Lutselk'e, Behchoko, Gameti, Whati, Wekweeti, Fort Resolution, Hay River Reserve, Fort Liard, Fort Providence, Nahanni Butte, Jean Marie River, Sambaa K'e, Colville Lake, Deline, Fort Good Hope, Tulita, Aklavik, Fort McPherson, Paulatuk, Sachs Harbour, and Tsiigehtchic. Thank you, Madam Chair. I think that's it.