David Krutko

I’d like to call Committee of the Whole to order. We have several items: tabled documents 4-16(5), 30-16(5), 38-16(5), 62-16(5), 75-16(5), 103-16(5), Bill 4, Minister’s Statement 65-16(5) and Minister’s Statement 88-16(5). What is the wish of the committee? Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The other area of concern was the impact of devolution from the GNWT taking on these powers, and more importantly, the affect on Aboriginal government and Aboriginal authorities, regardless if it’s land claims or unsettled or settled areas. I know that I heard comments on the radio from a legal counsel for the government, that this agreement will not affect the land claim agreements. This agreement is all about the land claim agreements, so I prefer to differ on that one. I’d like to know from the Premier exactly have we looked at the impacts on this agreement on...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, the Premier makes it pretty clear that the Aboriginal groups should come into the tent and we’ll all be one big happy family, but right now we’re not too much of a happy family. If anything, we’ve divided ourselves by regions, lands claims groups, and more importantly, the Dene and the Inuvialuit. I think that this government has an obligation, like I said in my statement, that it’s clearly stated the government shall involve the Gwich’in, the Sahtu and the Tlicho in the development and implementation of the Northern Accord, no questions asked. It’s in the land...

It is clear that the Aboriginal concerns by the Aboriginal governments were very specific with regard to the relationship between the federal government, the Government of the Northwest Territories and the Aboriginal governments. The impact on devolution to the Government of the Northwest Territories on Aboriginal government jurisdiction and authority over lands and resources, both in settled areas and unsettled areas. More importantly, the inaccurate funding that’s going to be in regard to the net fiscal benefit and how that will affect programs and services not only for Aboriginal people but...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Aboriginal people in the Northwest Territories have been self-governing nations since time immemorial and also under Treaty 8 and Treaty 11, which established a nation-to-nation relationship between the Crown and the NWT First Nations that required the Government of Canada to respect Aboriginal rights and the Government of the Northwest Territories to ensure that we protect the rights and interests in any process that happens in the Northwest Territories.

The process of negotiation of the devolution agreement is flawed in how it was conducted. There were many agreements...

Mr. Speaker, your committee would like to report progress. Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of Committee of the Whole be concurred with.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to ask the Premier if he would refer this question to the Minister of Justice and have the Department of Justice look at the constitutional viability of this agreement and the affect it has on Aboriginal treaty rights in the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, again, the Aboriginal groups clearly and specifically stated that being involved is one thing, but fully participating is another. I think that is the issue that’s at hand here.

In regard to the Gwich’in Tribal Council who submitted a letter to the Premier in April last year on six items, which basically they had a problem with the devolution process, to date they have not even had a response to that letter that was sent to the Premier. Yet he asked for Aboriginal people to have input into the process.

I’d like to ask the Premier exactly what extent of involvement will the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I’d like to call Committee of the Whole to order. What is the wish of the committee? Mr. Beaulieu.