David Krutko

Mr. Chair, the majority of these royalties that we’re talking about comes from Dene territory, from the groups that are not party to this agreement, regardless if it’s the Tlicho, the Dehcho, the Sahtu, the Gwich’in, and I for one feel that you cannot take resources out of anybody’s treaty area without their consent. That is exactly what you’re doing here. I think it’s important to realize that we have to basically agree.

I was at the northern leaders’ meeting a couple of weeks ago and it was pretty clear from all of the Aboriginal leaders that spoke there, that if we cannot resolve the...

Again, Mr. Chair, there are land claims agreements in the Northwest Territories. There are three claimant groups that basically have not signed on -- the Gwich’in, the Sahtu, and the Tlicho -- which makes up almost two-thirds of the settlement of the Northwest Territories. I’d like to know, as a government, and I have a letter from one of the former federal Ministers basically making it clear that he would not negotiate provincial-like powers to the Government of the Northwest Territories if there are large parts of the territory who do not want to be included in this process, regardless of...

Again, I mean, for me the way that this thing is set up is you pay the people. You can call it a signing bonus. The people that signed on get a signing bonus. The people that didn’t sign on don’t get anything. The only way that you’re going to get something is you have to sign onto a bad deal. For me that’s exactly what’s being projected here. The funds are based on both individuals who have signed on will get the funding. Those groups that haven’t signed on, sorry, you either sign on in order to get the funding. That’s bribery.

I’d like to ask the Minister why it is that this government is...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Again, I believe that the way this money is being allocated is not fair, and also it does not take into consideration that we have a fiduciary obligation under land claims agreements to the Gwich’in, to the Sahtu, to the Tlicho, and their land claim agreements clearly states that they shall be involved in the development of a northern accord or basically what you call devolution. It clearly tells me that we do have an obligation to those organizations, especially in regards to the land claims, regardless if it’s at the negotiating tables or even at a side table, but we do...

I’d like to call Committee of the Whole to order. Consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters: Tabled Document 9-16(6), I’d like to ask what the wish of committee is. Mrs. Groenewegen.

There was a letter submitted May 9th to the Premier of the Northwest Territories that recommended some 40 suggestions on the amendment process and things that need to be considered in light of the land claim agreements, the Tlicho land claim, and the whole element of independency of regulatory boards from the political arms of the Government of the Northwest Territories or the federal government. I’d like to know the government’s positions on those amendment areas and have we responded to the letter from Alternatives North, who was working with the Gwich’in Tribal Council, Tlicho Government...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions are directed to the Deputy Premier. With regard to the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act, apparently there’s been a list of prescribed amendments that the federal government would like to meet which has been shared with this government. I’d like to ask the Deputy Premier what the government’s position is when it comes to the amendments, the possibility of having a centralized board and having regional boards which presently are part of the land claims agreements. I’d like to ask the Deputy Premier what position this government is taking when it talks...

Well, again, I have to totally disagree with that from somebody who was at the negotiating table when the Northern Accord was being negotiated, in which the Dene-Metis were guaranteed that they will be able to negotiate a Northern Accord agreement throughout the Mackenzie Valley and they would take ownership of the royalties and resources throughout the Mackenzie Valley under the Dene-Metis claim. That is what was agreed to. That is what was committed to the Dene-Metis people during those negotiations. Nowhere was the GNWT going to be there to pillage the Dene-Metis lands at the 11th hour with...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I do look forward to that information.

Again, I think that we have to be realistic here that we are operating under a tight timeline and we do have to ensure that we are able to accomplish the work that has to be done, and more importantly, realistically, a lot of cases, because of weather conditions or basically the rain and the weather does hinder a lot of our timelines, and again, regardless if it’s the Deh Cho Bridge or any other project, we do have to be aware that we do operate in an environment that is not friendly and I think that we have to be realistic on...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. A lot of these dollars are tied to the federal stimulus funding. There was a deadline date that was set and I know it was carried forward. Realistically, can we conclude these projects within the timelines that we’re looking at, and more importantly, with the capital investment, then, from the carry-overs from previous years? Can we realistically accomplish all the work that needs to be done and that we don’t find ourselves having to either to pay back these dollars or lose these dollars because of the timeline that’s been put forward in regard to having these projects...