Michael Miltenberger

Mr. Speaker, it may only be two seats depending on what the final count comes to, but the fact is that we will have some seats at the table and we will look at, as appropriate, bringing other parties, stakeholders, to the table. Thank you.

Thank you. The bill, when it comes forward for first and second reading, will be as complete as possible. It will have been amended numerous times. We’ve fully briefed committee on this. We laid out all the very many changes that have been made based on a lot of the feedback that we have received from groups and individuals from across the North, outside of the North, from business, from industry, from the airlines. So we’re going to bring forward a bill that will be there to be further viewed by committee through a consultation process. We’ll look to advice that comes back from that process...

Mr. Speaker, all the legislation that we do as a government is reviewed by Justice to make sure it complies with the senior laws of the land, like rights and freedoms, Canadian Constitution. This bill was no different and is no different. It has been reviewed thoroughly, and while there are some assertions from some quarters that it does not comply, we are of the opinion, clearly, that it does. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We’ve heard the concern. There are some options that are out there in terms of ex-officio members, observers; as well, the GNWT will have two to three seats available, of which in any given time we can bring stakeholders to the table, depending on the issue being discussed. Thank you.

I have no present memory of the Member raising this issue before. If he has and I have forgotten it, I apologize. I will personally report back to him following our next Refocusing committee meeting.

I would point out that probably the ultimate remover of red tape for us, especially when the Members talked about regulatory reform and such, is going to be devolution. When we take over authorities in the Northwest Territories and we can adjust our systems, when we’re not reliant on systems and programs and regimes that have been set up by a government 5,000 miles away, that we will, in fact, be...

I, as well, have met with the Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses to have lunch with them and talk about some of their concerns. I will point out, back a number of Assemblies ago there was a division or a group within government that was struck to look at red tape, but there’s nothing current that I’m aware of. Thank you.

I’m not quite sure what type of distinction the Member wants to create. We had public meetings -- public meetings -- in every community. Some we went back to twice. Now, was the Member expecting us to do a head count and count who was Aboriginal and who was non-Aboriginal and apportion cost by head count? I don’t know what point the Member is making here. The fact is this process for Northerners cost well nigh into $2 million and, yes, we had note takers at the meeting. Yes, notes were taken. I will check to see what would be the best way to possibly put out a summary of the various...

I’d qualify that in terms of some non-Aboriginal hunters and they were represented very ably by the Government of the Northwest Territories. If the Member will wait until the first part of March for when we come in with the bill for first and second reading, then we’ll lay out all the work that’s been done, all the amendments that have been made in response to the feedback we’ve received.

If there were public meetings, we’ll have to see the best forum to respond. There were public meetings held in every community. As well, there have been e-mails and representations by individual groups and individuals themselves. We’ll have to see what the most effective way is to publicize this. Unless the Member is suggesting somehow that we do a blanket response to everybody and maybe publish in the paper or some such thing, I’m not sure what the Member has in mind.

Thank you. As I’ve indicated in this House previously, the proof will be in the pudding, as it were, as we come forward with a draft or the bill for first and second reading that will lay out the result of all that work, all the many iterations, the improvements, amendments and adjustments that have been made and are currently being finalized so that that fact can happen. Thank you.