Caroline Cochrane

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to recognize the former Premier Bob McLeod, who is in the gallery. Today the Legislative Assembly will be unveiling his portrait to join the other previous Premiers.

Premier McLeod dedicated his life and career to making the Northwest Territories a better place for residents and businesses. He worked in civil service for 28 years, including serving as a deputy minister in three different departments as well as secretary to Cabinet during the 15th Assembly.

He was first elected in 2007 as the MLA for Yellowknife South. In his first term as MLA, he...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to go back to recognition of visitors in the gallery.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think it's the right thing for the Pope to come to the Northwest Territories, to Canada to speak to the people that are survivors. I think that the Pope does deserve to give or the people deserve to get an apology from the Pope. However, the GNWT, Mr. Speaker, is not taking a forefront role in this visit from the Pope, but we are here to support Indigenous governments in any actions that they wish to pursue as this work goes forward. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We wouldn't call them selfgovernment agreements if we didn't believe in the concept of them being able to selfgovern. Within all selfgovernment agreements, there is clauses within each chapter that identify the paramountcy of laws. And many of those chapters, Mr. Speaker, the Indigenous government has paramountcy over the territorial government. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The finalization of selfgovernment agreements and land claim agreements are a trilateral agreement. It's done with the federal government, the Government of the Northwest Territories, and the Indigenous governments. We are dedicated, though, Mr. Speaker, to doing our best to make sure that the agreements are finalized; however, I'm respectful of the Indigenous governments, and the work shall be done on time on their time as well as so that everyone feels that they got a fair shake of it.

So it's not about rushing the agreements. It's about doing them right. Thank you...

For.

In favour.

Thank you. Respectfully, Mr. Speaker, it's usually the Premier that would speak on Executive Council issues. So if you're all right, I'll take that question.

So the purpose of the provision in all actually in all policies in the GNWT are similar to that stating that the Executive Council, nothing in the policy shall in any way construe the limits or the prerogative of the Executive Council to make decisions to take action respecting a lot of policies.

And the reason is for that is because although Ministers have specific departments, it's the Executive Council, as a whole, that is responsible...

Abstain.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document, Emerging Stronger: Planning the Northwest Territories's Social and Economic Recovery Together, June 2022 Update. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.