Debates of November 30, 2007 (day 6)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my statement today is in regard to, from my understanding, an agreement that is in place between this government and the Gwich’in Tribal Council and a similar agreement in the Sahtu. Mr. Speaker, there was a meeting over a week and a half ago in regard to the review of the MOU between this government and the Gwich’in Tribal Council’s community leaders and business community. But yet, Mr. Speaker, there was very poor attendance by Ministers on the opposite side, deputy ministers and, more importantly, sending no senior staff to partake in those discussions.

Mr. Speaker, the Auditor General of Canada reported in the assessment of the Gwich’in Comprehensive Land Claim a number of years ago which clearly identified the objectives of the land claims were not being met, the lives of the Gwich’in people were not being improved and the social conditions in regards to making self-sustainable people a reality. Mr. Speaker, within four months, this agreement will be up for renewal. Mr. Speaker, it is important that this government does an assessment, but also take into account the recommendations of the Auditor General of Canada.

Mr. Speaker, there is an evaluation of the MOU which has to be concluded by April of this year and which includes the MOU. We will look at the objectives of the agreement, looking at the targets that were set and try to meet those targets and look at what we have done to fill Gwich’in business capacity, providing benefits to Gwich’in beneficiaries and, more importantly, meeting with stakeholders to express their concerns and issues. Again, Mr. Speaker, like I stated, there was a meeting scheduled, but yet this government did not have any Ministers present.

I think it is riding on this government to ensure that we do have a system that government-to-government relationships continue to be explored, especially with the Gwich’in agreements, agreements we have with aboriginal groups, land claims and, more importantly, what are we, as government, doing to improve the lives of people in those land claim areas by way of these agreements.

Mr. Speaker, I think it is important that we, as government, not only live up to the obligations, but do whatever we can to improve our agreements to make them workable. So, Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time, I will have questions to the Minister of ITI in regards to the Gwich’in MOU and the evaluation that this government is undertaking. Thank you.

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