David Krutko

Page 4-27, Aboriginal Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations, information item, work performed on behalf of others.

Mr. Minister.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Soccer players in my riding have a challenging task in regard to making the NWT Team and making it to the Western Canadians this summer. Mr. Speaker, soccer players in Fort McPherson who have been trying out for the Western Canada Games have more than training to worry about. Five players needed to raise $27,000 to keep up with the costs associated with representing Team NWT in Kamloops, B.C., this summer.

Mr. Speaker, each player on the team is responsible for the costs associated with travelling, meals and accommodation during their time in regard to the tryouts. Mr...

I might as well use up my three minutes, I guess. Again, I think the federal government has an obligation here to the treaty obligations and also the fiduciary obligations with regard to their obligation to protect the rights and interest of the indigenous people and First Nations people of Canada under Section 35 of the Canadian Constitution. They also have the right to consult the existing organizations and also the band councils, the band organizations, ensuring their rights and interests are being protected. That is the issue that has to be resolved somewhere and probably it will end up in...

Thank you, Minister. Does committee agree that that concludes general comments?

Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. In regard to comments made by the Premier in regard to his opening remarks, and more importantly, the Department of Aboriginal Affairs. Again, I think the whole objective of the Aboriginal Affairs is to bring together our northern partners, especially the Aboriginal community and Aboriginal leadership and work with them to basically include them in our processes as government, not only from the Aboriginal claims perspective but the responsibilities we have as a government and as the Department of Aboriginal Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations, but I think sometimes we...

Page 4-25, Aboriginal Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations, activity summary, information item, intergovernmental relations, active positions.

We are moving on to page 5-21, activity summary, budget, treasury and debt management. Mr. Bromley.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Just following up from Mr. Bromley’s questions, I know that I heard the Premier saying that I don’t think he could probably find too many people that wouldn’t suggest that we want devolution or want to take over more power of responsibilities from the federal government, but I think also the question is at what cost. I think that by approaching it the way we did, where we basically had a minority of people signing on and a majority of the Mackenzie Valley being left out, I think that is the issue in regard to how do we include those Aboriginal groups. I think that could...