Henry Zoe

I rise on a Point of Privilege, Madam Speaker.

Thank you. Madam Speaker, I rise today on a matter of personal privilege to inform the House and my constituents that it has been my honour and privilege to have been chosen by the people of North Slave to serve in three legislative assemblies. I have not taken this responsibility lightly. I want to take this opportunity to publicly thank my constituents for their support and confidence in me during the time I have been their representative in this House. I want to let them know that I have always had their best interests at heart.

Madam Speaker, spring is now in the air throughout the...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize a number of students who are here from Chief Jimmy Bruneau School. They are a class of Grade 10 with their teachers, Patti Turner and Chris Harrison. I would also like to recognize chief negotiator for the Tlicho Nation, John B. Zoe. Thank you.

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Thank you, colleagues. Mr. Speaker, what kind of message does this send to the NWT residents, to the Sahtu people, to the Gwich’in people and the Tlicho people, not to mention the groups out there who are still negotiating?

I don’t know what to think anymore, Mr. Speaker. With the ratification of the Tlicho agreement and the recent progress on devolution talks, I was feeling very optimistic about our future. Finally, it seems like we are getting somewhere in our struggle to take back control of our lands and resources, and then the federal government comes out with this colonialism action...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. (English not provided)

Mr. Speaker, after my previous statements and statements by my colleagues over the past few days, it was with great disappointment that we heard on the 5:30 news last night that the Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs has gone ahead and named a British Columbia resident who was not nominated by board members as the new chair of the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board.

Mr. Speaker, the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act says very clearly that the Minister shall appoint the board chairs from among persons nominated by the board members...

…in our May sitting. On that same issue, I wonder if the government also would consider having their Members having a free vote on this. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I concur with my colleague from Nahendeh and the comments that Mrs. Groenewegen has made also. I believe that the process that’s been outlined by Mr. Yakeleya. I just want to make a couple other points. Although Ms. Lee has indicated that they follow the normal routine and follow a process of putting advertisements out so they can have general public input, I don’t think they’ve gone far enough, particularly on such a sensitive issue as this particular bill is. I think they should have gone a little bit more in consultation with aboriginal and municipal governments...

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I’m sure reluctant to support anything at this point in time pertaining to the committee report discussing this particular issue. I understand that the committee has solicited in the papers, I believe, and I’m not sure if they did radio broadcasting and stuff like that to have public input, but at that time my understanding is that there was no public input except from the Chief Electoral Officer that made the report. The recommendation that he made was the first Monday in October to have a fixed date for election. I feel uncomfortable at this time to say I...

Thank you. Mr. Speaker, I, too, would like to recognize a former resident of my constituency of Rae Lakes, Ms. Betty Quitte. Thank you.

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