Floyd Roland

Mr. Speaker, I’m understanding a little more on the question. The approach is coming up with a process of informing people and coming up with what people would like to see in a final agreement and, as we implement that agreement, what it should look like. I think we can have a discussion and I will commit to sit down with Members and with this Assembly and let’s talk about how we may be able to put that parallel to the work that we would take on. Thank you.

Some might say, in fact, that has been done in the past in the Northwest Territories when people say no, that’s not it, and walk away. We then talk about the revenues we left on the table, for example, as we have spoken with others in the past five years, we’ve left on the table $200 million of potential revenues that could have been a net benefit to northern governments.

As we were talking about earlier, in fact, a report that we just read earlier today highlights there’s going to be a need for more resources to implement any of those types of changes. In our environment today, we are unable...

Again, this AIP that’s before all the partners in the North as well as the federal government spells out an ongoing government-to-government relationship between aboriginal governments and the public government. This agreement-in-principle that’s before us as a government is one that recognizes the aboriginal rights. It does not take away from those. In fact, the language protects those rights in place of existing and future aboriginal governments.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Believe me, over the life of this government I have tried to respect that process. We do need to be careful. At the same time, I think, I know in my time when I leave this Assembly, the new Assembly that comes to do their work, I’ll leave them to do their work.

The numbers, unfortunately, that were used, again without the proper context, can spell a rather inflammatory process and response. As we have scheduled time with the committee around this, we hope that we’ll be able to supply all that information for Members to be aware.

The unfortunate part is we’ve got to deal...

The record will show that we have tried to work with every regional government in the North. We have given dollars to be at the table, to help with the technical evaluations, to travel to our meetings, to put items on the meeting agenda. In fact, we’ll have another one. We had one at the end of August, a regional leaders meeting in Inuvik, that all the parties were invited to. Unfortunately, sometimes their busy schedules mean they’re unable to make it. On top of that, there are many calls made on the technical side to provide additional information.

We’ll continue to work with all parties to...

Again, I will provide that and it will all be spelled out in the policy what the members are able to claim for. The process that they go through when making a claim will be spelled out, we’ll get that information.

The issue is of trying to get that information and as we have, right through this process, had full working relationships, technical as well as through the negotiation sessions. Of course, as we’ve pointed out, we’ve had some groups or one group particularly stay away from the negotiations since it’s been picked up again. The work throughout has continued to have that door open and invite all to continue to be part of the process. As we hear back from them, we will consider how we progress forward together.

The residents of the Territories are eligible for this program if there is a claim or something that has occurred that caused the equipment failure in their residences or businesses. There is a process of evaluating those, and approvals that are in place, but I’ll get that policy and provide that to Members.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would say it is a shame that it has come about in this manner. To think what may have happened if the first land claim was being negotiated and this type of document was put out before the groups had a chance to really look at it and make their decisions on that, we may never have had an agreement. I think that is, in fact, a concern.

More importantly, now that it is out there, we do need to look at how we inform the people of the North of what’s there and clear the air. That’s the confusion that’s been caused. We are looking at our options of trying to get that out...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to advise Members that the Honourable Robert C. McLeod will be absent from the House today to attend to a personal family matter.