Statements in Debates
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I just wanted to follow up on my Member’s statement as well. Most particularly, as the MLA that’s in the whole Deh Cho riding, the communities that I went to and speaking with the leadership, they’re concerned about the Dehcho process. They’re not too sure about the implications about the agreement-in-principle. I think one of the questions they asked me is, okay, it sounds like if we’re going to continue with our Dehcho process, now we have to negotiate with the NWT. Can Mr. Premier tell me how the process will continue for the Dehcho process from this point...
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I will be supporting this motion today and as a result of Mr. Bromley’s and Mr. Yakeleya’s interest in this topic, it certainly identifies a gap that we must address.
Throughout the last couple of weeks we’ve talked about poverty and helping our people, and giving them access to education by filling this one gap is one of the most positive and beneficial ways that our government can give our people the hand-up and not a handout.
I certainly support the cause of the ADK Band membership to submit their bills of $10,000. Is the Minister willing to review this particular request once again? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier this year I was working with the Municipality of Fort Liard. Unfortunately, they had lost a member in the river and they had quite a few expenses for search and rescue. I understand it is under the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs. We do have a fund to assist with search and rescues. I would like to ask the Minister to tell me a little bit about the program. Thank you very much.
Mr. Speaker, the Dehcho First Nations are looking for that kind of action by our government to stand behind them on this one particular issue. It is a win-win situation, because all the stakeholders are looking for this type of action by our government. What can the Premier do? What other actions can he take in order to get the federal government to change their Order-in-Council? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just want to follow up on my Member’s statement asking the honourable Premier and in his capacity as well as Aboriginal Affairs Minister. The Dehcho First Nations are really quite upset about the Order-in-Council by the federal government. I would like to ask at what stage was our government involved or notified of the decision to remove the subsurface rights aspect of the protection of the Edhezhie area, Mr. Speaker. Thank you very much.
Mr. Speaker, all stakeholders in the NWT are befuddled by Ottawa’s decision, so this is a win-win situation wherein our government has nothing to lose by backing the Dehcho First Nations on the issue of Edhezhie.
Mr. Speaker, I urge the Premier and our Cabinet demand that Canada alter the Order-in-Council to include subsurface protection in the proposed Edhezhie protected area. Mahsi cho.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Recently, Canada has terminated the protection of the ecologically sensitive Edhezhie/Horn Plateau area. Those lands had protection from development since 2002 under an interim agreement between Canada, the Dehcho First Nations and other partners. That agreement is a critical step in the Dehcho First Nations’ negotiations towards resolving the Dehcho land claim.
The Dehcho lands have been blessed by great national resources and the Dehcho First Nations would like to see them preserved as long as the grass grows and the water runs. They work long and hard on the Dehcho...
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I understand that some of the parameters are that the contributions are to the officially recognized municipalities, the hamlet or whatever, but we have had instances in the past three or four years where we did provide contributions over to the band councils, because they’re the ones, it’s their membership, they’re the ones that expend the most money there, Mr. Speaker, and I’d like to ask the Minister if that will be considered as well. Thank you.
In this case, the municipality, actually the Acho Dene Koe of Fort Liard did actually put in a request to access these funds because they expended quite a bit of money, and I certainly supported that. I sent in a memo to the Minister and it was denied. I’d like to know how does a community access that fund that’s sorely needed, especially when it calls on the resources of communities, families, friends, et cetera. Thank you.