Kevin A. Menicoche

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Much has been said about devolution today, including my Member’s statement on the protection of Aboriginal rights. I’d like to ask the Premier and the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations, as well, about devolution and their definition of Aboriginal rights as it applies to the Devolution Agreement. My constituents include the Dehcho First Nations, which has an unsettled claim. Maybe from that perspective to see how their rights will be protected in this devolution deal just for the public’s digestion, as it were.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. As my respected colleagues on this side of the Assembly know, the job of MLA is not an easy one. We are not like Official Opposition down south. We don’t oppose the government just for the sake of opposing. We, in fact, elected this government. Our job is to represent the interests of our constituents and to build consensus in this Assembly, and this is what I try to do.

Today I would like to give credit where credit is due. On Monday we celebrated a progress that has been made on finalizing the Devolution Agreement. Congratulations to our Premier, the...

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. I move that consideration of Tabled Document 51-17(4), Supplementary Estimates (Operations Expenditures), No. 1, 2013-2014, be now concluded and that Tabled Document 51-17(4) be reported and recommended for further consideration in formal session through the form of an appropriation bill. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

---Carried

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I know that the Aboriginal groups that have signed on will get some money to help them to do that same kind of consultation work. What will be available to the Dehcho and/or Akaitcho to help them understand devolution as well?

I’m sure part of that consultation process will be approaching the Dehcho and Akaitcho First Nations. What does the Premier see in laying out the assurances that devolution won’t abrogate or derogate any Aboriginal rights that they might be negotiating currently at this point?

I encourage my respective colleagues in this Assembly and all residents of the NWT to consider the opportunities devolution provides. Within my own constituency of Nahendeh, I encourage the Dehcho First Nations to carefully consider the merits of devolution. Devolution offers an important opportunity for the public government and Aboriginal governments to work more closely in land and resource management. Devolution also means that important decisions around land and resources will be made closer to home with the priorities of the people of the NWT in mind.

Devolution will also provide resource...

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. Committee wishes to consider Tabled Document 50, Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 1, 2013-2014.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Sorry, Madam Chair, I was just getting clarification. The committee wishes to consider Tabled Document 49-17(4), Supplementary Estimates, No. 1, 2013-2014, and Tabled Document 50-17(4), Supplementary Estimates, No. 3, 2012-2013.

Madam Chair, I move that consideration of Tabled Document 50-17(4), Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 1, 2013-2014, be now concluded and that Tabled Document 50-17(4) be reported and recommended as ready for further consideration in formal session through the form of an appropriation bill. Thank you, Madam Chair.

---Carried

I move that consideration of Tabled Document 49-17(4), Supplementary Estimates (Infrastructure Expenditures), No. 3, 2012-2013, be now concluded and that Tabled Document 49-17(4) be reported and recommended as ready for further consideration in formal session through the form of an appropriation bill. Thank you, Mr. Chair.