Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I was pleased last night to host an information session for Great Slave constituents and Yellowknife residents on the Tlicho land claim and self-government agreement. I was gratified to see on a cold evening, here in Yellowknife, an audience of about 30 people who came out representing a diversity of views and opinions. I would like to acknowledge the support, Mr. Speaker, of the Tlicho First Nation and James Wah-Shee, a former Member of this Assembly and now a senior advisor to his people, for his presentation and response to questions. As well, I would like to recognize the participation and involvement of the Honourable Joe Handley in his capacity as the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs. Staff from the ministry also came out and helped with the presentation. Our colleague, the Honourable Henry Zoe, the MLA for North Slave, was also present. I appreciate and thank them all for their contributions.

When the 14th Assembly passed the Tlicho Land Claim and Self-Government Agreement Act last October, there was concern among many about the awareness and lack of public input and the lack of time for a process that we would normally undertake to pass legislation. I undertook then to provide an opportunity for people to be better informed about the Tlicho agreement and the next two bills that this Assembly will be considering.

Mr. Speaker, these bills will propose the establishment of community governments in the four Tlicho communities, and the establishment of service agencies to help implement the agreement and provide for services by the Tlicho for their own people. The federal government also has to pass enabling legislation, which we learned is to be introduced in Parliament at the end of March. Hopefully, we will see passage before the anticipated federal election call.

Land claims and self-government are complex issues. They affect us all, Mr. Speaker. One of the points that was made at this meeting is that process is important. There are not easy or simple answers to many of the questions that were asked. We heard points of view and questions of the North Slave indigenous Metis, mining and resource development, the impact of boundary issues, community governments, land tenure and resource harvesting, to name a few of the issues. It was a lively exchange of views, Mr. Speaker. I should ask, at this time, for unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

The Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. You have unanimous consent to conclude.

Bill Braden

Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. What we heard last night, Mr. Speaker, was a strong signal that Yellowknife residents are taking an active interest in what is going on with our neighbours to the north and the east. The feedback that I received was that the meeting was informative and generally well received. I hope that there will be more. Mr. Speaker, I am a supporter of the Tlicho people’s goals and dreams to have their own governing institutions and take charge of their own affairs, through the responsibilities that this government and this legislature has to pass these laws and implement the legislation. We have important work ahead of us. I look forward to seeing that being completed. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause