Joe Handley

Mr. Chairman, I certainly agree with the Member that we don’t want to centralize communications. I think that would cause immense failure in our communications as a government. We’re not thinking at all of going in that direction. But I think through technology there are ways for us to continually improve our communications. One, of course, is right to the basics of our communications people meeting regularly. On top of that, there may be things that we can do with better web sites and other ways of ensuring the communications is coordinated.

We are looking at ways of doing that but, as I said...

Mr. Speaker, my view or my vision of what this document will look like would be a document that would have pan-territorial chapters that would deal with things that go right across the North and then there would be chapters dealing with issues and priorities for the Northwest Territories. When we meet with the Circle of Northern Leaders, I want to present them with some draft action plans for them to start looking at and I hope at that time we would then have some feedback. I’m sure the Member will raise the issue about seniors at that time. We would take the comments from the Circle of...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. With me are Bob McLeod, deputy minister for the Executive, on my left; and Carl Bird, director of corporate services for the Executive. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Our elders are very important to us and to aboriginal cultures in particular. There is need, as we develop the strategy, to have some consultation as we talk about safe, healthy communities to ensure that there is a way for elders, whether it’s through band councils or through municipal councils or through their MLAs, to have some input into government and the things that we do as the Government of the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I am pleased to present the 2005-2006 Main Estimates for the Department of Executive.

For 2005-06, the Department of Executive is requesting a budget of $8.946 million, which represents a .83 percent, or $76,000, increase from the restated 2004-2005 Main Estimates.

The Department of Executive has identified economizing measures in the amount of $314,000 from the restated 2004-2005 Main Estimates.

$42,000 for the Beaufort-Delta office. When the department was first asked to identify areas of reduction, the regional office in Inuvik was explored as potentially rendering savings. At that time...

Mr. Chairman, that would be federal money. Thank you.

Mr. Chairman, I don’t have a number for how much the federal government would provide to the Inuvialuit, the Gwich’in and the Sahtu directly themselves, but what I have only is the amount of money that they flow through us, which is the $313,000. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. No, I think the committee is right and we are looking at that and, in fact, there are sections -- I think the main one is the policy and communication section -- where we may be able to integrate those responsibilities between IGRASP and MAA into one section, even before we get into the business plans for the next fiscal year, 2006-07.

Where we can, we will begin, but, Mr. Chairman, the committee’s recommendation is fair and one that we respect. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Let me say, first of all, that we do respect the Deh Cho process and the right of the Deh Cho people to negotiate the process that is underway right now. Our approach to this has been to be helpful and, at the same time, not be blocking anything that may be standing in the way.

At the same time, Mr. Chairman, while we want to be supportive of the Deh Cho, we also have to ensure we carry out our government responsibilities for all other regions in the Territories and other settled claims and other negotiations. We are continually needing to balance our activities and...

Mr. Chairman, we could in future take a look at doing it through Executive and have it as a standing part of our budget each year. The original contribution at one time was originally made out of RWED and then it was decided that wasn’t appropriate, that all departments should contribute to this cause. Many of the people who are selected from the Northwest Territories come from different areas. Sometimes they are long-time elders who have contributed that way. Sometimes it is people who have contributed with sports and so on. The best way is just to have it coordinated through the Executive...