Marci cho, Mr. Speaker. I, too, would like to recognize some young ladies from Daughters of the Vote. First I'd like to recognize Laney Beaulieu. Laney Beaulieu is my brother Danny's granddaughter. I'd like to recognize two other young girls whose families originate from Fort Resolution: Jaylene Delorme-Buggins, Olivia Villebrun. Also, I'd like to recognize Dennis Drygeese and Maro Sundberg. Thank you.
Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Great Slave.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, to you and through you I'd like to recognize a resident of the Great Slave riding as well as a delegate of the Daughters of the Vote initiative. Ms. Nha Ly, thank you so much for being here today. Thank you.
Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Range Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to acknowledge some of the people who I consider role models at the Legislative Assembly: Mr. Tony Whitford, for all his service that he's provided to us; Sandy Lee and Jane Groenewegen, for being role models to all women to say that we need to get into political life, into the Legislative Assembly.
I want to also welcome the Equal Voice Canada here. I want to acknowledge the Daughters of the Vote, huge that they're there, and, of course, Olivia Villebrun, who will be our representative going to Ottawa to take part in 338 women taking part in the Equal Voice, which is important.
I want to say that 1960, the year I was born, was the year that Aboriginal women got their right to vote, and it's really exciting to see. That may seem a long time for you; for me it's like the day I was born.
---Laughter
So in my short lifespan it's exciting to see that we've gone from a place that we actually got the right to vote to having almost 20 young women sitting in the audience taking part and considering sitting in my chair and Julie's chair. Thank you.
And my chair.
And his chair.
Masi. Almost sounded like a Member's statement.
---Laughter.
Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Frame Lake.
Merci, monsieur le President. I, too, would like to recognize a constituent in the gallery, Jacq Brasseur. She is one of the delegates for the Daughters of the Vote group here in Yellowknife that's working with Equal Voice Canada. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Inuvik Boot Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, would like to recognize and welcome all the delegates for Daughters of the Vote. We do have two participants from Inuvik, who knows, might be taking over the Member for Range Lake’s position here. Ms. Alyssa Ross and Ms. Raven Firth, welcome, and I hope you enjoy the proceedings as well as take a very good understanding role in the work that we do as the 19 legislators of the Assembly.
I'd also like to recognize Ms. Sandy Lee, Ms. Jane Groenewegen and Mr. Tony Whitford for all the work that they've done in this House and I would also like to thank the participants from the interpreter and translator program, a very important program continuing our languages of the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Nahendeh.
Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. I, too, would like to welcome the Daughters of the Vote from NWT, in particular my riding Reannda Cli. Then, of course, I have to lump and tell a little bit of a story because there are four ladies who actually I've had the opportunity to work with through the Youth Ambassador's program: Alyssa Ross, Raven Firth, and Olivia Villebrun, and I'm supposed not to embarrass her so I will not do that. As well, I'd be remiss -- I would be really remiss not to recognize Jane Groenewegen because she's done that a number of times when I've been up there. So thank you very much.
Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Thebacha.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to, as others have, recognize the past Members Tony Whitford, Jane Groenewegen, and Sandy Lee for all their contributions to this Assembly. In addition, I'd like to recognize all the Daughters of the Vote delegates here, in particular Olivia Villebrun of Fort Smith. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Hay River South.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, would like to welcome all of the participants of the Daughters of the Vote, in particular Kiera Boulanger-Rowe from Hay River South who also participated in the Hay River session, I believe, for getting women into politics.
I, too, would like to also recognize Jane Groenewegen, Sandy Lee, and Tony Whitford for all the work they've done, and I'm going to take this opportunity to wish my wife happy Valentine's Day.
Masi. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Kam Lake.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to recognize a former Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Tony Whitford. I'd also like to recognize, along with the many honourable Members here, the Daughters of the Vote; those who will come after us and take these seats. Thank you for letting us keep your seats warm.
I'd also like to recognize Mrs. Groenewegen and Ms. Lee for their many years of public service and their contributions to political life in the Northwest Territories. Thank you.
Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Nunakput.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also would like to welcome everyone, all the girls from Daughters of the Vote and, in particular, Chukita Elias-Gruben who is my cousin from Tuktoyaktuk. Welcome. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member for Hay River North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Lots of constituents in the crowd today. I would like to welcome Jaylene Delorme-Buggins who is here with Daughters of the Vote; Beatrice Lepine; Myrtle Graham; and, of course, Jane Groenewegen; and someone who seems to be here all the time, my father, Rocky Simpson.
Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. I would like to congratulate four young female soccer players who are being selected to the U16 North American Indigenous Games soccer team. They are Leona Berrault, Briann Nelson, both from Fort Nelson; Akesha HardistyNorwegian from Fort Simpson; and Shaznay Waugh from Fort Simpson. As well, we have two who were selected as alternates, Mikala McLeod from Fort Liard and Emily Hardisty from Fort Simpson. On behalf of the communities, their parents, and coaches, we are very proud of their accomplishment. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier my Member's statement was on the rights under the Inuvialuit Final Agreement, and my questions are for the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations. Mr. Speaker, my first question is: what is the update on the status of the negotiations between the Inuvialuit, Canada, and the GNWT? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Honourable Premier.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am very pleased to report that the negotiations on Inuvialuit selfgovernment between the Inuvialuit, Canada, and the Government of the Northwest Territories are going very well. As a matter of fact, negotiators are meeting this week in Aklavik, and the negotiations are going so well that we expect that a final agreement can be concluded within the next few months. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I appreciate that answer from the Premier. Mr. Speaker, my second question is: what additional rights would this agreement provide the Inuvialuit?
The Inuvialuit selfgovernment agreement, once finalized, it will implement the inherent right to selfgovernment in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region. This agreement will provide the Inuvialuit the authority to deliver a broad range of programs and services, including social envelope authority such as K to 12 education, child and family services, and income support.
I appreciate the response. Mr. Speaker, my third question is: once the agreement is settled, how does the Minister expect the Inuvialuit's relationship with the GNWT to change?
This agreement will begin a new phase in the relationship between the Government of the Northwest Territories and the Inuvialuit government, and that relationship will continue to evolve as the Inuvialuit take on more responsibility for the delivery of programs and services and pass their own laws, similar to the evolving relationship with the Deline SelfGovernment Agreement.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nunakput.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I appreciate the response. Mr. Speaker, my final question on the agreement is: what implications would the final selfgovernment agreement have for the Legislative Assembly and the role of the MLA from the Inuvialuit Settlement Region? Quyanainni, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Our expectation is that the Legislative Assembly will continue its role as the public government in the Northwest Territories, including representation from communities in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region. As the Member knows, the Prime Minister recently signed a new declaration, the Crown Inuit Declaration, I think he called it. This is a reflection of their new, improved, ongoing collaboration with Aboriginal governments. We are looking forward to seeing how that all rolls out going forward.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Deh Cho.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier I spoke about the status of the electrical transmission that is affecting my riding. My questions today are for the Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Power Corporation. What is the status of NTPC's takeover of the Hay River power franchise, and how will it impact power rates in Fort Providence, Kakisa, Enterprise, and the Hay River Reserve? Mahsi.
Masi. Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Power Corporation.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As this House well knows, the Town of Hay River has decided several years ago to seek other providers for the franchise in Hay River. Currently, that matter has gone to arbitration to determine the price. So evaluators are being hired and, ultimately, the arbitrator will make a decision as to price.
That, of course, is only for the Hay River franchise. My understanding is that the other franchise arrangements that ATCO and Northland has will not be affected by that, but we believe that, assuming a reasonable valuation of the assets comes in and is provided to the arbitrator, that ultimately the price of power in Hay River will decline. Thank you.
In the meantime, communities remain uncertain in terms of the fate of the assets that perhaps could affect the price of electricity that is delivered into the homes, so communities are asking what resources are available to help community governments understand their power franchise agreements and how they work?
If there are other franchise agreements, as I understand there are, they are subject to negotiation between the parties. I am assuming the municipal governments that entered into these arrangements did the proper research. Of course, ultimately, decisions are made by the Public Utilities Board.
Thank you to the Minister for his reply. Can the Minister describe the Government of the Northwest Territories' working relationship with Northland Utilities?
The Government of the Northwest Territories does recognize that Northland Utilities is a good corporate citizen. I can advise that the Premier and I did have the opportunity of meeting with senior management of Northland and ATCO, I think it was a couple of months ago. It was an amicable meeting, and we have a good relationship with them.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Deh Cho.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My final question is: what role does the government envision for Northland Utilities in the future of power supply in the NWT? Mahsi.
Yes, Mr. Speaker. Northland was involved in the energy strategy. I understand they made submissions and had meetings with the government. As to what will take place in the future, that is to be determined. We do recognize that they are a good corporate citizen. We value their participation in the energy industry.
