Debates of February 11, 2005 (day 34)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Premier today and it’s in follow-up to my Member’s statement with respect to the Mackenzie Valley pipeline. Mr. Speaker, numerous people commented this morning. I was one of the ones who commented. I understand the Premier heard my comments on there. I have concerns; I think I’ve raised those concerns fairly consistently. I hope they are not interpreted to mean to anyone that I don’t support the Mackenzie Valley pipeline and I hope that in my constituency no ill will would be felt towards my constituency for that, because I believe that they are legitimate questions that need to be answered. So I’m going to pose the question to the Premier this morning. Is the Northwest Territories ready for a Mackenzie Valley pipeline? Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Premier, Mr. Handley.

Return To Question 363-15(3): Mackenzie Valley Pipeline Readiness

Mr. Speaker, no, we are not ready today for the pipeline. We’ve got a lot of work to do over the next 18 months/two years, however long. We’ve got a lot to do. I think it’s incumbent on all of us here and leaders outside of this Chamber, municipal leaders, aboriginal leaders, federal government, for all of us to work together to get ready. We have a short time frame. We need to get ready but, to answer the question, I would agree we are not ready today. At the same time, if someone had asked the Tlicho if they were ready to sign their agreement six months ago, they would have said no, we are not ready, but they were ready yesterday. They got there and we will get there with the pipeline. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Premier. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 363-15(3): Mackenzie Valley Pipeline Readiness

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A fairly direct question then to the Premier with respect to one of the things on one front for sure we are not ready for, and that is on this government and the northern governments being in a position to share in the immense royalty revenues that will be generated for the federal government. We are not in a position to share in those. If, when it comes time to start constructing a Mackenzie Valley pipeline and there is still no royalty sharing agreement in place, should the pipeline proceed? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Premier.

Further Return To Question 363-15(3): Mackenzie Valley Pipeline Readiness

Mr. Speaker, our government has always been clear with the federal government that we must have a resource revenue sharing agreement in place before the pipeline is completed. Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister, on December 14th when we signed the framework for the Northern Strategy, committed publicly to make substantial progress in the near future on resource revenue sharing and devolution. He committed to having an agreement-in-principle done and signed this spring and I want to hold him to that. He committed to finishing off the negotiations on devolution and resource revenue sharing by 2006. I am going to hold him to that. He did say to me -- and this is fair -- that he’s just one party. The federal government is one party, we are one party, the aboriginal leaders are one party, so it’s not all in his hands. Mr. Speaker, we all have to work together here if we are going to benefit from this opportunity that is in front of us. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Supplementary To Question 363-15(3): Mackenzie Valley Pipeline Readiness

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am glad to hear the Premier is on exactly the same page as I am and I think many northerners are. No long-term sustainable benefits, no revenue sharing, no pipeline. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

I would like to ask the Premier if he concurs that that is what he is saying clearly and succinctly and we are committed to work very hard between now and when it comes into place because we do support it, so let there be no misunderstanding about that. Thank you.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 363-15(3): Mackenzie Valley Pipeline Readiness

Mr. Speaker, I have been very clear on that all along and I will say it again: We cannot tolerate having zero royalties stay with this government and stay with northern people. We have to have an agreement and we have to have an agreement before the pipeline proceeds. That’s the bottom line for our government and we haven’t changed our position. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.