Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to address the Assembly on the subject of devolution resource revenue sharing and why it is so important to the riding I represent in the Inuvialuit.
In my riding, we have some serious social and economic problems. For example, Canada in 1991 had a graduation rate of 61.8 percent. The Northwest Territories had 59.9 percent. In the Inuvialuit settlement region, including all students, was 53.8 percent, a difference of 6.1 in the Northwest Territories and 8 percent in Canada. By 2009, it increased to 17.8 percent to 79.6. The Northwest Territories increased 9.4 to 69.3 percent and the Inuvialuit settlement region went only 5.5 percent to 57.7. Statistics on Inuvialuit graduates have been only collected since 2004 and to 2009, graduation rates 38.6 percent, a difference of 34 percent within Canada; 30.7 percent of the Northwest Territories, almost twice the difference, Mr. Speaker.
There is also a dependency on the government for income support, low income levels in the region with average medium family income in 2006 in small Inuvialuit communities of Tuktoyaktuk, Aklavik, Paulatuk, Ulukhaktok and Sachs Harbour of $37,395 compared to Canada’s $63,600, 1.7 times greater in the Northwest Territories of $88,800, 2.4 times greater than those in the communities. This is also coupled by a high cost of living for these four small communities that have an average of twice the cost of living compared to here in Yellowknife. In reviewing education income levels, disturbing trend, Mr. Speaker, but curing the gap between Inuvialuit and territorial, national levels are widening. This means the efforts of this government do not focus on reducing the cost of living or improving the ability and skills so the next generation is able to achieve higher standards of living.
Communities still continue to pursue subsistence harvesting to close the income gap to feed their families. However, there is a concern and dependency on social housing, and income support reduces the motivation of individuals to improve their education, employment skills and seek meaningful employment. This is likely further coupled by the lack of economic activity in the region. With the Inuvialuit beneficiaries, the unemployment rate is 2.5 times higher than the Northwest Territories rates and three times higher than Canada’s unemployment rates. The Inuvialuit culture remains strong, mainly through the dedication of our elders and growing interest of Inuvialuit youth. However, the youth of Inuvialuktun continues to decline, with 37 percent of Inuvialuit fluent in the language in 1984 to 23 percent in 2009.
There are also severe health and social problems in the communities, in particular addiction to alcohol and drugs. In our home community, last year’s survey conducted by the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation of close to 90 percent of people surveyed responded they experienced problems of addictions. This is something wrong, Mr. Speaker. The Inuvialuit are seeking to improve the standard of living. I would say the primary goal as set out in the Inuvialuit Final Agreement that we will continue to work towards the achievement of the goal without support of this government or other Aboriginal governments.
Devolution will provide additional resources that can be used to provide better education to address all social problems, but more importantly, to use as a tool to control major economic decisions. Implemented properly, we can control the resources that will generate wealth for all the people of the Northwest Territories including additional revenues for the Northwest Territories governments, both public and Aboriginal.
As you are aware, negotiation of the devolution of powers from the federal government to the North has always been difficult, particularly the relationship of land resources in which are a great concern to Aboriginal people. The Inuvialuit have consistently participated in these negotiations since the signing of the Northern Accord 20 years ago. Throughout this period, the Inuvialuit represented their interests and at times the negotiation process was stopped because there were differences between the parties. Last time the negotiations were halted, in 2007, the Government of the Northwest Territories refused the final offer from the Government of Canada. The Inuvialuit supported the Government of the Northwest Territories efforts to obtain a better deal and also agreed to a revenue sharing agreement-in-principle. The Government of the Northwest Territories did not achieve that all positions that there were some improvements, of course, and some realities we must all face.
The sharing of wealth, since 2007 the world economy has crashed; an economic downturn we’ve never seen and never known. Governments are continuing to address the problem by stimulating the economy. Canada is in no position today to increase the share of revenues but did achieve an equalization formula that is provided for a new sharing arrangement for the resource revenues. It is extremely unlikely at the time that the Northwest Territories will be able to get a special deal or change the formula until the economy can support and improve transfer payments for resource sharing.
In regards to sharing the revenues, the Aboriginal people’s current revenue sharing arrangement, the Inuvialuit are part of 25 percent net fiscal benefit. The revenue sharing AIP also allows the sharing arrangement to be revisited through the context of self-government and transfer payments to the Aboriginal governments. These revenues will help the Aboriginal governments to address many social and education disparities and continue to strengthen their cultures and languages. Is it enough? No, Mr. Speaker, but it’s a start.
With an improved economy and control of the economy, other revenues negotiated with the Government of the Northwest Territories we should engage Aboriginal governments to fully achieve arrangements to share the government revenues and relationships and responsibilities. Again, there is no provision in the current AIP that allows for a revenue sharing arrangement to be negotiated before the final agreement between the Aboriginal governments and the Government of the Northwest Territories. These bilateral negotiations should begin as soon as possible to achieve mutually and beneficial arrangements for all.
The sharing of powers, the Inuvialuit Final Agreement was the first land claim agreement in the Northwest Territories and the fourth comprehensive land claim agreement in Canada. Since 1984 the Inuvialuit have worked hard to ensure the goals of the IFA be implemented with the spirit and intent of that agreement. That has not been an easy task, Mr. Speaker. Since 2007 we have encouraged our Government of the Northwest Territories to begin negotiations of the bilateral agreement of sharing of responsibilities related to the land, resources and water. The Government of the Northwest Territories refused to enter these negotiations until the AIP was signed and this created some discomfort with the Inuvialuit and other Aboriginal groups, because at the same time the Government of Canada proposed to reform regulatory systems that may impact the provisions of the land claim.
We have promoted the devolution and the instrument to take control over our land and resources, but we’re not working together to meet this goal. Negotiations between the Aboriginal governments, the power sharing arrangements should begin now to provide the necessary to all stakeholders, including industry and the authorities under the stakeholders the devolution agreement will be exercised in a responsible manner and improve implementation of the treaty and land claim arrangements.
Again, a whole chapter of the devolution agreement and the principle of obligations that the Government of the Northwest Territories be negotiating bilateral agreements to clear evidence that these negotiations are going to be difficult should motivate the Government of the Northwest Territories to engage Aboriginal governments immediately. Aboriginal peoples and representative governments, the complementary of the world land claim of the agreements of opportunity to continue to work with the federal and territorial governments to clearly define their respective roles and responsibilities. The Inuvialuit will continue to protect the provisions of their land claim agreement and believe that they ought to be the primary beneficiaries of wealth generated by the resource development and devolution agreement is one step to achieving this objective.
This does not preclude others from making money, but impacts the Inuvialuit as a people of their region that face the social and cultural impacts of employment, business opportunities and programs, services that will help raise the living standards and manage potential impacts.
Mr. Speaker, I’d like to make it clear to this Assembly that I do support the devolution agreement-in-principle and I’d strongly encourage the Premier to initiate discussions with further bilateral agreements between the Government of the Northwest Territories and the Aboriginal peoples necessary in order to conclude the final agreement. Mr. Speaker, we must work together for the betterment of all the people in the Northwest Territories and make sure that everybody comes away from the table wanting to work together in an open-handed approach and not taking things personally. At the end of the day we’re here for our people, our people are suffering and this is a good way to help the people of the Northwest Territories. Thank you.
