Debates of October 25, 2006 (day 15)

Thank you, Ms. Lee. Mr. Roland.

Further Return To Question 182-15(5): Stanton Territorial Hospital Human Resource Survey

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, from the Human Resources' side I think we can show a positive track record in trying to deal with the issue of nurse recruitment, of nursing program in the Northwest Territories, as well as at Stanton. When it falls into the whole territorial aspect of how we deliver services from the Human Resources' side, we can show many examples of what we’re trying to do government-wide in trying to deal with this specific issue. On the side of dealing with the Stanton issue, we will work with the Department of Health and Social Services to ensure that the review is an adequate one. Thank you.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. (Translation) Mr. Speaker, I’d like to question on my Member’s statement regarding revenue sharing. (Translation ends)

…stress to finalizing this important deal that we’re faced with, resource revenue sharing. It is essential we unite as one voice in the North.

Mr. Speaker, my first question was already asked by my colleague Mr. Hawkins. I will just continue with my next question. Mr. Speaker, to date, over the past 20 years how much have we spent approximately to date, just a rough figure on these negotiations with the federal government? I think the public needs to be aware of how much we’ve spent to date. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Premier, Mr. Handley.

Return To Question 183-15(5): Amount Of Resource Wealth Losses

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don’t have a calculation and I’ll have to take that as notice and provide the Member with a written response on that. Sorry. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m going to direct some questions to the Premier as our point man, our lead on devolution and resource revenue negotiations. Mr. Speaker, a little bit earlier today the Premier said we have to find a way to work together with aboriginal leaders. I think that was the context and the whole theme. One of the big themes today is northern unity.

You know, Mr. Speaker, as a number of my colleagues have already said, we’ve been trying to do that. This has been our goal for 20 years, yet we still keep saying the same thing. We have to find a way to work together. So we’re struggling to find that one common agenda. We know we have dozens of areas, Mr. Speaker, where we’re different, we’re apart, we’re separate. We don’t have to be one big mixing bowl on this, but how can we find the one common agenda that will bring us together?

Mr. Speaker, my question is, what can we do in this Assembly to help the Premier, to enable the Premier to take that case to the aboriginal leaders in the Northwest Territories and achieve that core unity that we need to move our agenda ahead, Mr. Speaker?

Thank you, Mr. Braden. The honourable Premier, Mr. Handley.

Return To Question 184-15(5): Assistance Required To Build A United Northern Voice

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think the main thing we do is what we say right here in this House, because people are listening to what we’re saying. I think the Members’ statements today sent a strong message that we are ready and willing to sit down and work with aboriginal leaders.

Mr. Speaker, having said that, we also need to think through how do we do this in a way that those who have settled claims are able to realize the benefits and begin to implement the benefits out of their claim and do that in a way that isn’t somehow going to forfeit or compromise the rights and benefits of those who have not yet settled a claim? I don’t know the easy answer to that one, but there has to be an answer and there has to be a way of doing it, whether it’s following what Yukon did and putting monies in trust or whatever it may be, but there’s got to be a way of doing that.

But, Mr. Speaker, the reality in the Territories is that we have some regions with settled claims and some without settled claims, and there are clearly different priorities of what’s the most important thing to focus on. And limited capacity. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 184-15(5): Assistance Required To Build A United Northern Voice

Mr. Speaker, the Premier also said earlier today that he would like to see a target or time frame on achieving this at the end of the fiscal year. It’s more or less consistent with what he said a few years ago that perhaps four months was an achievable time frame for this. I’d like to ask the Premier, Mr. Speaker, just why is he choosing this time frame? What is significant about it? How is it going to be achievable within that time frame, if not less, Mr. Speaker?

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 184-15(5): Assistance Required To Build A United Northern Voice

Mr. Speaker, I have consistently said that I believe that we can achieve an agreement-in-principle within four months. Whether it’s the end of February, end of March, I don’t know. But somewhere before our new fiscal year we need to know where we stand financially. My reason for choosing that is we’re starting a new fiscal year with a situation that I said in my sessional statement that is just not sustainable. We cannot keep up with the needs with the current amount of money that we have.

Mr. Speaker, I believe four months is lots of time for the federal negotiator Harvie Andre to get up to speed and get on. Mr. Speaker, we’ve been close on devolution, except for six issues that are largely around finances. I think with the attention of the federal government we can resolve those six within the time frame we have. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 184-15(5): Assistance Required To Build A United Northern Voice

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We’re close and perhaps getting closer to some answers. To paraphrase what’s been said here a bit earlier today, does the Premier have the concurrence, the agreement, the cooperation, along with the aboriginal leaders in the NWT, Mr. Speaker, to achieve this AIP within that time frame? Are we all at least agreed on that time frame to get this deal done?

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 184-15(5): Assistance Required To Build A United Northern Voice

Mr. Speaker, I can’t speak for all the leaders and say that we have this. I believe I have the agreement from all of those with settled claims to get on with getting this resolved and to be able to begin to, as I say, exercise the benefits out of their claims. Those without claims I’m not sure. I’m not sure whether they see this, as I said earlier, the highest priority. But, Mr. Speaker, I want to emphasize, I’m not trying to speak on behalf of all the regional leaders. That’s not my place. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 184-15(5): Assistance Required To Build A United Northern Voice

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. For those First Nations that do not yet have a settled claim, recognizing that situation, respecting it, should we be considering that as a reason for us all not to join together? Is that in effect a deal breaker, Mr. Speaker?

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 184-15(5): Assistance Required To Build A United Northern Voice

Mr. Speaker, not in my mind. I think we can work out a deal that can be worked out either regionally or with those who have settled claims and do it in a way that doesn’t compromise the rights of those who have not settled claims yet. I think that can be done.

Mr. Speaker, I might say that that is the message that I have heard from Minister Prentice as well. So politically he’s on side, I’m on side, if those with settled claims are on side then let’s get on with the job and let’s do it in a way that doesn’t compromise someone else’s rights and benefits. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, last week I did a Member’s statement on the beluga whales and…(inaudible)...Listening to the CBC report this afternoon, half of the 200 whales are making their way out of Husky Lakes. DFO is apparently watching and monitoring them very closely. Also, subsequently in the report this afternoon the president of hunters and trappers in Tuk indicated that if it comes down to it, if it’s necessary to harvest these beluga whales, that they don’t have the funds to do that. So I’d like to ask the Minister of ENR, will the funds be available at a certain point of time when they have to harvest these beluga whales? Thank you.

The honourable Minister responsible for ENR, Mr. Handley.

Return To Question 185-15(5): Beluga Whales In Husky Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I haven’t had a chance to talk to the deputy minister on this issue. I heard the reports this morning, but I can tell you that -- and I haven’t heard from the hunters' and trappers' association either -- but if there is a need for some support in harvesting those whales and not just waste the meat, then, yes, we will work with them. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Pokiak.

Supplementary To Question 185-15(5): Beluga Whales In Husky Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the Minister’s response. I will keep him informed in regard to the beluga whales that are still stranded in Husky Lake and I will continue to work with him. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Pokiak. I don’t know if I heard a question there, Mr. Premier. Mr. Handley, I don’t know if there was a question there. Do you want to respond?

Beluga Whales In Husky Lake

Mr. Speaker, I didn’t hear a question, but I’d appreciate hearing from the people in the area and, as I said before, we’re ready to help in whatever way we can. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Minister, the Premier, had indicated to us the next six to 12 months are very critical for us, the people of the Northwest Territories. Survival, I said in my Member’s statement, of a nation and of a people is critical in terms of the issue that we’re talking about here today. I’d like to ask the Premier if he would call an emergency meeting of all people, of all leaders in the Northwest Territories, to deal with this issue once and for all. Strike a plan that would see the benefits stop leaving the Northwest Territories and stay in the Northwest Territories. Would the Minister, Premier, call a meeting of all the leaders of the Northwest Territories who have a stake in the resource revenue sharing and devolution? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable Premier, Mr. Handley.

Return To Question 186-15(5): Comprehensive Vision To Address Resource Revenue Sharing

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’ve had those discussions with not all the leaders, but some of the leaders. They have asked that I wait until they have a meeting of the leaders of the summit, which is scheduled for November 9th. I told them I would. At that meeting they want to iron out some issues amongst themselves first. But if, for some reason, that isn’t ironed out, then I think we have to call a meeting in any case. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 186-15(5): Comprehensive Vision To Address Resource Revenue Sharing

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also referenced the book I called, I read “The Genius of Sitting Bull”. Sitting Bull, in order to save his people, save his nation, rallied the leaders around that country to get a job done. He did it swift and quickly. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Premier, in terms of doing things in the North as Mr. Braden has indicated, millions are leaving here as we speak right now. There’s thousands leaving this community and the Northwest Territories. Would the Minister consider with the aboriginal leaders having some discussion about constitutional reform issues? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 186-15(5): Comprehensive Vision To Address Resource Revenue Sharing

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Certainly, in terms of constitutional reform issues, we want to take our rightful place in the country. We are paying our fair share. We are earning our share through resource revenues and I will entertain doing that. I want to do it with all northerners, whether it is Metis, Dene, Inuvialuit, other people, whoever, all of us together. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 186-15(5): Comprehensive Vision To Address Resource Revenue Sharing

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I certainly support the Premier’s comments in terms of all northerners have a stake in this nation here. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Premier if he would invite the regional director, Mr. Bobby Overvold, also to this very important meeting, because he is a key person in this whole issue of devolution and resource revenue sharing. He can give us insight as to how Ottawa is behaving towards the Northwest Territories and explain why this craziness in terms of why we are not having a devolution and resource revenue sharing deal in the North today. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 186-15(5): Comprehensive Vision To Address Resource Revenue Sharing

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Minister Prentice has made very strong statements of support for the Northwest Territories. He has visited the Northwest Territories three times in the last eight months, more than any other Minister has in that short period of time. Mr. Speaker, rather than inviting a senior bureaucrat to join us, I would invite an elected leader. I would invite Minister Prentice to come here and sit down with us. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 186-15(5): Comprehensive Vision To Address Resource Revenue Sharing

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I certainly support Mr. Premier’s invitation to have Mr. Minister sit in the middle of all of our leaders so they could talk to him. Mr. Speaker, shortly after the November 9th meeting, how soon can the leaders from the Northwest Territories settle our unsettled land claims, come together and have some real discussions as to how we save this nation in the Northwest Territories? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 186-15(5): Comprehensive Vision To Address Resource Revenue Sharing

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I said before, time is of the essence. We need to do this quickly. I want to respect the aboriginal leaders’ request to meet themselves on November 9th first. I want to follow it. I will continue to meet with the national chief, Bill Erasmus, and other leaders. But we need to do this soon. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Before I go on, I would like to draw Members’ attention to the gallery to Mr. Fred Carmichael, president of the Gwich’in Tribal Council and Mr. Tom Williams, chief operating officer for the Gwich’in Tribal Council.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I know Fred is up there, so I better sound intelligent here.

---Laughter

Mr. Speaker, we heard talk of resource revenue sharing now for years and years. As I said before, it seems like we are going in circles. I would like to ask Premier Handley what is the single biggest issue that is preventing us from moving this agenda forward? Thank you.