Debates of June 5, 2006 (day 5)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to address some questions to Premier Handley. This is in relation to the ongoing and, perhaps this is the point of my question, Mr. Speaker, whether or not there is indeed any ongoing activity related to the Northern Strategy process.

Mr. Speaker, indeed, we have seen some positive things flow from this, not the least of which was the $120 million fund that the previous government set aside for all three territories. We are now, in fact, going through the process in deciding how to invest our $40 million. The Council of the Federation and the expert panels have also given their thumbs up to the kinds of things we want to see, but the real crunch is, is there a process underway between Canada and the three northern territories to continue the ideals that were started about a year and a half ago, Mr. Speaker?

Thank you, Mr. Braden. The honourable Premier, Mr. Handley.

Return To Question 54-15(5): Update On The Progress Of The Northern Strategy

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As Members know, the Northern Strategy was an initiative that was undertaken jointly by the three northern Premiers and the Prime Minister of the day. There was an agreed need to take a long-term vision on northern issues as well as to deal with immediate issues. That strategy has resulted in the $40 million that was made available to our territory. Thirty-five million dollars has gone to the communities in community initiatives.

Mr. Speaker, with the new federal government, Minister Prentice has indicated that, yes, he wants us to work with him on what he referred to as a northern vision. He has asked us to provide him with some of our ideas about what should be included in this vision.

Mr. Speaker, even though the new government is only 100 and some days old, this initiative has been undertaken. We have provided them with some ideas. As it becomes more formalized, I would expect that we would see the same kind of consultative process happening. Again, that is in Minister Prentice’s hands right now. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 54-15(5): Update On The Progress Of The Northern Strategy

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess I would ask, is this really all in Minister Prentice’s hands? I think this is a process that all three territories undertook, as well, in good faith. We made investments in it and I remember considerable discussion among our committees and at levels of this Legislature. Do we have a new northern vision process under Minister Prentice, or is it, in reality, a continuation of the Northern Strategy process that we have already agreed to and already put significant investment in, Mr. Speaker?

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 54-15(5): Update On The Progress Of The Northern Strategy

Mr. Speaker, certainly our vision, from our government’s perspective or from northerners’ perspective, our vision of the North has not changed because the federal government changed. It is still the same vision. So when you look at the basic principles, those principles have not changed. We look at some of the main goals, whether it is on governance, protecting the environment or establishing a strong foundation for economic development, so those are the same.

Mr. Speaker, all of that information has been provided to the federal Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development. It is now in the hands of the federal Minister in the sense that he will want to put his own vision together with those that we have provided to him and I think come up with a vision that is probably going to be very similar from our perspective, but yet will be a document between his government and our governments. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 54-15(5): Update On The Progress Of The Northern Strategy

Mr. Speaker, the $40 million that is now under review for investment, $35 million of which at the community level, was something that I believe was extended to this government and our sister territories really, Mr. Speaker, as a down payment toward the establishment of a new deal with Canada, not so much something that was going to be looked at as a payoff, if you will. Here is some money; take it and have some fun. This is a down payment, a promise toward a better deal with Canada. What are we doing to continue these negotiations, Mr. Speaker, and to make this a reality?

Mr. Speaker, the Member is correct; the $40 million was a down payment. The government-of-the-day agreed to provide $40 million to each territory to be able to deal with issues that were of greatest urgency in each territory. That is why we allocated to the community governments to allow them to determine their first priorities.

It has always been felt that resource revenue sharing and fixing the formula were a key piece of any northern vision. That is the piece that we have been focussed on recently with the two expert panel reports, the most recent of which was released today. Fixing the resource revenue sharing so more of that revenue stays in the North will enable us to be more self-reliant, self-determining ourselves. That has been our thrust up to now. Mr. Speaker, in doing that, we have laid out to the federal government a number of strategies saying here is what our priority is, whether it is on infrastructure or on social programs or any other areas. Clearly, the focus over the last few months and probably over the next few months will be on a new formula and new resource revenue sharing arrangements. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 54-15(5): Update On The Progress Of The Northern Strategy

Mr. Speaker, one of the key ingredients in this is the understanding, support and collaboration of the provinces in Canada. The report by the Council of the Federation really is a striking endorsement of our goals. I wanted to ask the Premier what his plan is for continuing to strengthen that relationship with the provinces, as he says we have done with the federal government, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 54-15(5): Update On The Progress Of The Northern Strategy

Mr. Speaker, I assure all the Members in this House that we are going to continue to work in cooperation with all of the Premiers. We met last week in Gimli. We did talk generally about this. This is the expert panel report. The Premiers all assured myself and the other northern Premiers that they are 100 percent on side with us. We are meeting again on Thursday. We will be talking about the territorial report as well as the provincial report dealing with equalization. We have full agreement that they are 100 percent behind us, that our situation is unique, that we shouldn’t be drawn into some formula that applies to the provinces, Prince Edward Island and Saskatchewan or something. Ours is unique.

Mr. Speaker, I will be taking every opportunity to make sure that we maintain that kind of solid support from all the Premiers. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.