Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions have to do with the Premier’s statements in his recent press release on the World Wildlife Fund’s role in conservation. Does the Premier realize that the World Wildlife Fund has been a key partner, working with all of our communities — closely with all of our communities — for many years in the development and implementation of the NWT Protected Areas Strategy?
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The Hon. Premier, Mr. Roland.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m aware they do work in a number of initiatives with the government. The simple fact is we also disagree with some of what they say in the Territories, this one being the case.
It’s good to know the Premier is aware of that contribution.
Does the Premier also realize that his press release totally ignored the point that the World Wildlife Fund was raising while simply focusing on writing off the World Wildlife Fund of Canada as a southern organization?
When you look at what we do as the Government of the Northwest Territories, we’re committed to a number of things: World Wildlife Fund, other groups from outside the territory. They may do some work in the territory, but they originate outside the territory.
Not surprisingly, that failed to answer the question.
Does the Premier realize that the representative of the World Wildlife Fund of Canada is a 40-year resident of the Northwest Territories and that the previous representative is a long-term resident who has retired and currently lives on the land well away from any community in the Northwest Territories?
Whether I agree or disagree with the Member on the World Wildlife Fund and about who makes up that body, who gets appointed from time to time or who gets put on a contract, the fact is they made a request of the federal government that has a direct impact. In fact, if you look at what the Inuvialuit did, a part of the Arctic Council as well.... They’re dissatisfied with that result. You heard another Member in this House say something similar. The fact is we need to make those decisions in the North, not have lobby groups ask another government to make decisions that impact our lives.
This is very good actually to hear the Premier actually speak to the issue, finally.
Does the Premier acknowledge that organizations that partner with our communities and work with them have something to contribute sometimes, especially when they’re supported by a regional planning process, the Arctic Council and the majority of Canadians?
Mr. Speaker, as I said, we’re going to get our message out to the people who need to hear it. We’ve also worked with a lot of groups. Whether or not they are the ones that specialize in environmental concerns or issues across the country, they’re still welcome to help and work with us in partnership. The message here is the fact that we in the Northwest Territories need to be making decisions about what impacts our lives, the economy and our environment. They need to be made here, not through some office someplace else, advising another government to make those decisions for us.
Thank you, Mr. Roland. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.
