Debates of May 30, 2005 (day 4)

Just a quick one, Mr. Chairman. This goes back to the issues that Mr. Handley has been talking about in the Northwest Territories. Is there somewhere in the plans with all these different negotiating tables happening and all the things that are coming to the fore, is there a point in this government that we will get together with the Circle of Northern Leaders and just have one topic on the go ahead of the pipeline, other issues? There are so many different facets to this proposal that just reading News/North that Deh Cho settles a suit, which was in today’s news. The Deh Cho is allowing some question of the pipeline. There are several regions that have settled land claims agreements. There are others that haven’t been settled and they are still trying to do their best to come to some conclusions to make a project like this go.

I guess I am saying is there somewhere in the cards, Mr. Chairman, where regions and communities should get together and focus our energy on one issue? There are many concerns out there. I support Minister McLeod’s initiatives in terms of helping out our communities. We need help like that to get going. We need to be there with them. More importantly is the leadership in terms of this government. There are many sensitive issues and we have to be careful how we make a go of it. I think people are looking for that type of direction. The Protected Areas Strategy is so important because the pipeline could go under our waters and on some of our sacred sites. We also want to leave some legacy in our communities. Mr. Chairman, are there any types of discussions that one day we will all get together and have a discussion on all these important issues that would contribute to the nation building of the Northwest Territories and have the federal government take notice of some of the urgencies in here that they need to act upon?

Mahsi, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would welcome the opportunity to get together with Members in a committee, possibly in AOC, to go through the negotiations that we have ongoing with Ottawa. The most immediate one in my mind is the pipeline. That’s the most immediate. The most important one in terms of our long-term solution is devolution and resource revenue sharing. But, Mr. Chairman, there are at least 14 different sets of negotiations between our government and Ottawa, some of them less significant, but there are a lot of negotiations happening all the time. Mr. Chairman, I would be happy to sit down with the Ministers and AOC and take a look at the whole list of things we are negotiating right now in order to determine the priorities and then what we can to get out to the communities and explain to people what we are doing on their behalf and why we are doing it the way we are. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Premier. Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am surprised to hear about the negotiations, Mr. Chairman. I know it’s a very complicated set of negotiations. I think that’s what we want in our communities. What is being done on our behalf? There are also aboriginal land claims agreements being talked about. Sometimes we miss communications and talking with each other on some of the issues. It’s really important for this government’s leadership to know what’s being done on their behalf in terms of looking at the agreements that are coming down. I think people would be very happy to know that we are working on their behalf on some of these really crucial agreements such as resource revenue sharing and devolution, and we are making progress. That’s the leadership I would like to see from this government acting on our behalf. Let’s let the people know what’s going on. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Premier.

Mr. Chairman, I think that’s good advice, very good advice. We will certainly consider that as we get ready for the general assemblies and for our own trips out to communities where we are meeting with them. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Mr. Premier. Does committee agree that we have concluded Ministers’ statements 1-15(4), 3-15(4), 4-15(4) and 5-15(4)?

Agreed.

There being no further business before Committee of the Whole, I will now rise and report progress.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, your committee has been considering Ministers’ statements 1-15(4), 3-15(4), 4-15(4) and 5-15(4) and would like to report progress that Ministers’ statements 1-15(4), 3-15(4), 4-15(4) and 5-15(4) are concluded and, Madam Speaker, I move that the report of Committee of the Whole be concurred with.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Question.

Question is being called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried.

---Carried

Madam Speaker, there will be a meeting of the Rules and Procedures committee at adjournment today; Accountability and Oversight committee at 9:00 a.m. tomorrow; full Caucus at 10:30 a.m.; and, Social Programs at 12:00 noon.

Madam Speaker, orders of the day for Tuesday, May 31, 2005, at 1:30 p.m.:

Prayer

Ministers' Statements

Members' Statements

Returns to Oral Questions

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Oral Questions

Written Questions

Returns to Written Questions

Replies to Opening Address

Petitions

Reports of Standing and Special Committees

Reports of Committees on the Review of Bills

Tabling of Documents

Notices of Motion

Notices of Motion for First Reading of Bills

Motions

First Reading of Bills

- Bill 1, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 1,

2005-2006

- Bill 2, Supplementary Appropriation Act, No. 4,

2004-2005

18.

Second Reading of Bills

- Bill 10, An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act

19.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters

20.

Report of Committee of the Whole

21.

Third Reading of Bills

22.

Orders of the Day

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Accordingly, this House stands adjourned until Tuesday, May 31, 2005, at 1:30 p.m.

---ADJOURNMENT

The House adjourned at 5:19 p.m.