Michael Miltenberger

This process fully respects the land claims, treaties, all the other obligations as it relates to Aboriginal rights. We are talking about public lands. We are talking about authority that now resides with the federal government to reside in the North. We have a process, a not legally binding process, to move us forward through a process of negotiation to resolve the issues that have been identified. We have funds put forward to do that. We have a request for additional funds to keep that process moving. It’s a process that folks can, if they’re not happy, they can leave. If they can negotiate...

Let me just set a quick context for the response. Yesterday I gave a fiscal update in this House that pointed to the extreme constraints that we, like just about every other government, are under in terms of managing our dollars and meeting our needs, and our ability to have new programs added on are minimal to none in the life of this government. We will have a plan in the life of this government that lays out what we recommend are steps to be taken in the coming years. With the addictions and mental health services, we will have a renewed strategic plan for Health and Social Services by the...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. All of the $4.2 million or all of the $17 million, should this project go ahead and start generating revenue, will be reimbursed to the Government of the Northwest Territories. We just had a fairly intense debate here about devolution and relationship with Aboriginal governments and the need to engage with our Aboriginal partners. This is an example of what’s possible. There’s more to equity, in my mind, for ourselves as politicians, than having straight cash. When we’re dealing with the major landowners or what will be major landowners in the area, there’s a benefit...

We will continue to work constructively with the Family Violence Coalition. We, as well, will look closely at the work that’s been done in regard to the recommendations for phase 3. As well, we are doing, at this moment, an evaluation of how effective our commitment and involvement has been and the outcomes that have been generated through the work through phase 2. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This process fully respects land claim obligations, treaties. What is being talked about is public lands.

It’s clear in the AIP what our commitment is, what the commitment of the federal government is, is to respecting land claims, settlements that are already there, treaties, and should land claims be settled subsequent to the signing and the conclusion of the AIP and whatever lands are chosen, we’ll of course be fully within the provisions, but we’ll meet the provisions and obligations of the federal government. What we are talking about is the management of public...

I indicated that I would share with the committee the report and the recommendations and will do that on a confidential basis.

I can assure the Member that the P3 policy, once it’s in place, will be followed by the government. There’s built-in, full engagement of the committees, as well. That policy has been developed based on the things we’ve learned through the last number of projects; the bridge and the Taltson project most recently. We believe we have pulled together a policy that reflects the lessons learned.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The government is committed to all the obligations that are there for phase 2. To date, through the life of phase 2 we will have committed nearly $4 million. This is an ongoing issue and as we move forward from phase 2 to phase 3, that work will go through the business planning process, and in this instance, while preparatory work will be done, it will be a decision in the life of the 17th Assembly on how we will proceed further. Thank you.

The exact construction of the public engagement process that the Member has raised is not clear. What we have here is funding to move this process along with the public government, and the Aboriginal governments, and the federal government. There is opportunity to meet in the regions, to do the work, and we’ve been working, for example, in the Sahtu holding meetings to explain some of the issues they had questions about in an attempt to give them comfort enough to move forward. That type of commitment is still there and the funds that are here are geared for moving the process along with the...

I believe in my first question I already made that commitment.