Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Any further general comments? General comments on Bill 14. I’ll turn the chair to Mr. Pokiak.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Mr. Braden.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Mr. Braden.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Mr. Braden.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to seek unanimous consent to waive Rule 93(4) and have Committee Report 6-15(4) moved into Committee of the Whole for consideration on Monday, February 6th, 2006. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Standing Committee on Governance and Economic Development is pleased to present its report on its 2006-2007 Pre-Budget Review Process. This report covers both the committee’s review of the 2006-2009 Draft Business Plans, which took place in September 2005, and also its review of the 2006-2007 Draft Main Estimates, which took place in January 2006.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. What are the plans that are on the agenda at this time on the part of this government to ensure that, when we do go, that deal that we want to make is not going to be anything less than what the aboriginal governments are looking for as well, and, therefore, not derailed at some future time because we did not have buy in? What’s the agenda? Thank you.

I think that Mr. Hawkin’s statement was unparliamentary. It was disrespectful. I do not think he should refer to our Finance Minister as a little gopher. I don’t want to draw attention to it, but I think it just decreased the stature of our Assembly by those words. I would like him to retract them. Thank you.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I listened with interest today as the Finance Minister delivered his budget address. It was a rather abbreviated version from what we are used to hearing in budget addresses. For the benefit of those who came from distant communities, I think they expected a little more detail. For those of us on this side of the House, we appreciated the brevity.

The repeated reference to unprecedented opportunities and growth make a point that is very true. However, I think we need to analyze who the real beneficiaries are of that growth and opportunity. Industry is and...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, does the Finance Minister concur that we cannot negotiate devolution and resource revenue sharing alone, as a stand-alone government, and tell me what is in our process right now that guarantees or confirms to us that the participation of aboriginal governments is there? When he goes to Ottawa, is he going to take somebody who represents the Aboriginal Summit, who speaks for the aboriginal governments as well as for this government? Thank you.