David Krutko

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.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Whereas Minister’s Statement 88-16(5), Sessional Statement, has been tabled in this House, and whereas this sessional statement requires further consideration, now therefore I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, that Minister’s Statement 88-16(5), Sessional Statement, be referred to Committee of the Whole for consideration.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, I’d like to ask the Premier why in the land claim agreements we specifically state that the Government of the Northwest Territories shall consult the aboriginal groups in regard to oil and gas and devolution in the Northwest Territories and why aboriginal groups have written letters to the Minister, which have been sitting on his desk for seven months? Is that the way that we deal with aboriginal governments when we make reference that this government shall consult and we’ve put the letters on the side table and, what, wait for the time to run out? Thank you.