Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Premier, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, on the potential of Deline proving their community government initiative tonight. I want to ask the Minister, are there within the life of this government here that Deline, should they be successful – tonight we’ll hear for sure – legislation in place for them to become enacted in legislation as a self-government body?
Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable Premier, Mr. McLeod.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think we’re all waiting with great anticipation for the results of the ratification vote tonight. Once we get the results, we’ll proceed with the next steps. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
In the Sahtu they are really excited and they hope they will hear the news tonight.
What are the next steps should the vote be a successful vote?
If ratified by the parties, a signing ceremony will be held possibly this summer of 2014 or maybe sooner. We see an effective date for the final agreement occurring in 2016. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, of course the federal government will also do due diligence on this legislation. Do we have any role in regards to working with the federal government in implementing Deline’s self-government agreement?
The GNWT is a signatory to these agreements and there are programs and services and assets that the Deline community will be taking over, so we will be participating in all aspects of those arrangements. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.
