Floyd Roland

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The second part of the question is the approach we are using to stay engaged with all the Aboriginal groups throughout the territory. We’ve done a number of things. One, first and foremost, is the door remains open, and the funds we are requesting, these are prorated amounts for the remainder of this fiscal year. The future year includes an amount that would incorporate a full year’s approach and contributions for Aboriginal groups. That we budgeted to have all Aboriginal groups take part if they decide to sign on to the AIP. That’s the first door and avenue of being...

We have limited opportunity left in the life of our Assembly to make approaches to the federal government. As I stated, this is of national significance and importance when you look at what happened to the natural disasters that did occur in Alberta and the prairie provinces for the flooding, and other disaster areas in Ontario, for example. The idea of dealing with the issues before they become disasters is being discussed and will continue to be discussed. There seems to be some favourable language coming from the federal government.

Specific to our communities, we will have a challenge...

We have -- and I must say the Member has been consistent on that -- raised the issue, invited us to meet with the community leadership. We’ve done that on a couple of occasions. We’ve come up with an approach to help the community looking at the actual conversion that has to happen as gas supplies run out. I believe the target for residential customers is 2014. We’ve started working on that. We as departments have started conversion of our own assets to ensure that we reduce the demand for natural gas to try to extend that gas season, I guess we can call it.

The ongoing work, and I know the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In July 2009 the Northern Leaders’ Forum was created as a means for all leaders in the NWT to work collectively to advance the interest of our territory and its residents.

We set ourselves a task of developing a common vision and road map for the future of the NWT with input from northern residents, industry, NGOs, and youth. We accomplished what we set out to do, concluding the initiative with the release and tabling of the report in May entitled “Forging the Future - Anchored in our Past, Building on our Present.”

One of the most rewarding experiences throughout this...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The budget that’s being allocated for them is to help them in preparation for the negotiations and being involved in the direct negotiations that they would be included in. For example, the bilaterals or the overall preparation for main table discussions.

The funding we’re asking for incorporates all groups being involved. It’s their choice to come to the table. The invite is there to become part of the process we have built into the budget looking at all groups being part of this discussion.

Earlier the question was about a side table reprofiling dollars for a different process. We don’t have dollars identified for a different process. This budget amount has been built on the AIP in preparation for negotiations and getting ready for that, as well as incorporation of contributions that would go to Aboriginal governments for their role as we go...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I guess, for the record, I have to say this for the record -- and Mr. Miltenberger touched on it a bit -- supp one had some dollars identified for participation in preparation of the AIP. The Department of Executive also used internal funds to support the work leading up to the protocol that was discussed by the Member. We worked that right through until late January where we brought all the leadership in and provided meeting space and tried to come to a conclusion on that protocol. Unfortunately, the protocol was another negotiation tool, not a protocol on how we...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document entitled Forging the Future, Anchored in Our Past, Building on Our Present, Youth Conference Report, July 7 to 8, 2011.

I believe that the situation as we find ourselves in Norman Wells also is being felt in another community supplied by natural gas, Inuvik. There the utility provider is looking at their options and approaching the federal government. We know that throughout the territory we have to come up with a process that works.

This is such a large issue that in fact at the Western Premiers’ Conference that we held here in the Northwest Territories the idea of disasters and disaster mitigation was discussed and then brought to the larger table at the Council of Federation to address this, and we’re hoping...

As I was saying in my earlier response, work with the city is going to have to be undertaken to see where they are on this file and how they would see, looking at other options, how they could deal with that.

Clearly, as we’ve just dealt with one emergency, for example, in Norman Wells and the natural gas situation and we heard Mr. Yakeleya stand up and tell us that we shouldn’t have made them go back to their coffers and the taxpayers within that community, but our policy applied and that’s the way we had to look at it.

So we have to work with the city on this and we would look at that...