Debates of October 25, 2006 (day 15)

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