David Krutko

Thank you. Mr. Speaker, in my four terms in this House and 12 years as a sitting Member, I have never seen the relationship between the Gwich’in Tribal Council and the Government of the Northwest Territories at such a low point. Mr. Speaker, after concluding a meeting earlier with the Gwich’in Tribal Council and the Premier, Minister of Transportation and other officials, I thought it was going to give them an opportunity to sit down and work out their differences, but, Mr. Speaker, all that came out of it was that the Gwich’in do not have any rights in Inuvik and they don’t have a land claim...

Again, that clearly shows this government is leaving aboriginal organizations and development corporations out of the decision making process of this government. There are other partnership arrangements between the Government of the Northwest Territories and aboriginal companies with regard to power distribution, residual heat, and other types of projects. I’d like to ask the Premier why other aboriginal groups are not given the same ability to submit a proposal on their ability to buy into the power corporation instead of having a southern company do it for us.

Mr. Speaker, I, too, would like to get into the proposal that was brought forward in regard to ATCO. I, for one, being a previous Minister, know pretty well that ATCO has been trying to get their foot in the door in the North but that they already have their foot in the door. I’m just wondering why is it that this government is not in discussions with Northland Utilities, which is a northern company in partnership with ATCO but yet nowhere has there been any discussions with Northland Utilities in regard to their joint venture with the Dene Development Corporation. Why is that discussion not...

Mr. Speaker, under the Gwich’in agreement, the whole principle of negotiations was that self-government negotiations will be addressed. The Gwich’in desired to have self-government exercises as close to the communities as possible. Mr. Speaker, I believe the board reform will totally take away those powers that we are trying to negotiate for powers in our communities, which again will establish these regional structures and take away those authorities we are trying to develop in our communities. I would like to ask the Premier or the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, is the government still...

Just following up on Mr. Bromley’s question, I know that this issue is out there. I know there are ways that you could probably get around it. It is either have some land tenure for 30 years, we get a lease for 30 years subject that that land is in the negotiating process.

I know when we did land selection in the Sahtu and the Gwich’in area, they selected lands where the Housing Corporation had units on it. Basically it was subject to those lands that were IAB lands. We selected those lands but the Housing Corporation was aware that those lands did have that title on it. Once the claim was...

I’d like to recognize any constituents of the Mackenzie Delta who may be in the gallery. More importantly, I’d like to take this opportunity to recognize a former Member of the Mackenzie Delta, Edith Bourke. It’s nice to see you again, Edith.

Mr. Jacobson.

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

---Unanimous consent granted

Thank you, Mr. Minister. Welcome, witnesses. General comments. Mr. Yakeleya.

Committee agree the Minister brings in his witnesses?