Debates of March 1, 2006 (day 39)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Premier, Premier Handley. I'd like to ask Premier Handley in terms of the territorial vision or the territorial next step in terms…For example, if we get the devolution agreement and if we get resource revenue sharing by the time this government finishes its term here, I'd like to ask the Premier what's the vision, what's the next step once we get devolution, once we get the resource revenue sharing, what's the vision? Where is the Premier leading us, Mr. Speaker?

Mahsi, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable Premier, Mr. Handley.

Return To Question 497-15(4): Resource Revenue Sharing And Post-Devolution Plans

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The preamble to the question really is when we get devolution, when we get resource revenues, not if. We're past that point, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the next step, once we begin to receive our fair share of resource revenues, is to move ahead on aspects of our strategic plan that we set as a government when we first took office almost three years ago, two-and-a-half years ago. There are pieces on that in people becoming more self-reliant on use to complete infrastructure requests that Members have raised, in fact, today, to move ahead with that quickly.

Mr. Speaker, on devolution, that will give us the authority to be able to determine the pace and the rate of development. We currently have a lot of development happening in the Territories and some people would say, in fact, it's happening at a rate faster than we can manage it. So, Mr. Speaker, I look forward to the day when we have that kind of control over development, over the use of the land, and the water, and the resources, and also the fiscal resources available to meet our strategic plan and our goals. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Premier. Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 497-15(4): Resource Revenue Sharing And Post-Devolution Plans

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When will we have the resource revenue sharing agreement signed, and when we have a properly satisfied devolution agreement with this territorial government, I'd like to ask when, when will the Premier again involve the people of the Northwest Territories in any type of post-devolution and resource revenue sharing. What's our next step? We're now masters of our own land, so I look forward to that day. I think that's going to be a great day for the Northwest Territories when we have those two deals in our back pocket when we can determine our own future. So when will any type of territorial-wide discussions in terms of the next steps to these two important things? Thank you.

Mahsi, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Premier.

Further Return To Question 497-15(4): Resource Revenue Sharing And Post-Devolution Plans

Mr. Speaker, I hope to have that kind of discussion on an ongoing basis. I can't predict exactly how fast resource revenue sharing arrangements will be negotiated, or devolution completed and so on. But, Mr. Speaker, I intend in the meantime that we continue to have a lot of open dialogue. We have opportunities; we have the Circle of Northern Leaders meeting coming up in April. I meet regularly with the regional aboriginal leadership. We have the Association of Communities who we meet with at least once a year, probably twice a year on average, or more. We meet with the communities, Mr. Speaker. I hope that we, as a Legislative Assembly, look at another NWT Day in Ottawa to involve people in that.

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So, Mr. Speaker, there will be a lot of opportunity for us to involve the people in the North. We have proposals that are put forward connecting Canada from coast to coast to coast, Corridors II. So, Mr. Speaker, there's going to be ongoing discussion and I'll be sure that we do involve all of our constituents to the extent possible as we move ahead with this. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Premier. Final supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 497-15(4): Resource Revenue Sharing And Post-Devolution Plans

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I heard once in a negotiation meeting that in order to get to the Promised Land you have to negotiate your way through the wilderness. So I'm hoping that Mr. Premier could negotiate us out of the wilderness to the Promised Land the North has always been looking forward to. So I want to ask the Premier, the Northern Strategy was much celebrated and a success of the Northwest Territories. I want to ask the Premier what's the status of the Northern Strategy. Thank you.

Mahsi, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Premier.

Further Return To Question 497-15(4): Resource Revenue Sharing And Post-Devolution Plans

Mr. Speaker, the Northern Strategy was an agreement, a document that we were working on with the previous federal government. Mr. Speaker, we're now working with a new government. I've had the initial meeting with the Prime Minister and with the Minister of DIAND, and I expect that they are going to want to put their own vision on how they will work with us on development of the Northwest Territories. So, Mr. Speaker, I think we are going to look at a new arrangement yet to be determined by the Prime Minister and his Cabinet. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.