Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A follow-up to my questions on red alert that was made by our Premier last November. My first question: the people of my region agree that Northerners should have the ability to make their own decisions, but federal policies and decisions like the Arctic Offshore Oil and Gas Moratorium affect the kinds of decisions that we are able to make. Can the Premier tell me how his efforts to lobby the federal government and raise awareness on Northwest Territories priorities through the red alert will help support economic development in the Northwest Territories, and more specifically, the Sahtu region? Thank you.
Masi. The Honourable Premier.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the red alert was about standing up for northern priorities and making the point that Northerners need to be making their decisions about what happens in the North. Also, it points out that, if the Government of Canada shuts down an economic sector in the Northwest Territories, for example, there should be an accompanying economic strategy.
As you recall, when the fishing industry was shut down in Newfoundland, there was a $9 billion compensation package that was announced at the same time as the moratorium. People throughout the Northwest Territories want to be sure that their children and grandchildren can look forward to a strong future with good jobs. Canada still has the power to make a lot of decisions that will affect the economy and the future of the North. We need to make sure they understand northern priorities when they make those decisions, particularly around their desire to have a strong economy.
The Northwest Territories' interests and priorities are not well-known or understood within the federal government or within southern Canada, which can lead to decisions that lead economic development and program and service delivery that has often been designed pursuant to settle self-government and land claims agreements.
The red alert is about bringing awareness and starting a conversation with the federal government, and making our interests and priorities heard and understood. Northerners need a plan for the long-term social and economic development of the Northwest Territories, and Canada needs to be a part of that, including making concrete commitments to strategically invest in areas that would create the greatest benefits for Northerners including new and existing sectors of the economy.
Thanks to the Premier for the reply. I understand the conditional challenges facing our territory, which leads me to my second question. The Sahtu, Dene, and Metis land claim confirms the rights of Indigenous people in my region to participate in decision-making about the land and resources and the benefit from the economic development. Can the Premier tell me how red alert helps support the rights of Sahtu, Dene, and Metis?
Partnerships with Indigenous governments is part of how we do business in the Northwest Territories. The land claim and self-governed agreements that have been negotiated in the North are an important way to achieve the kind of reconciliation that Ottawa is making a priority right now.
The Sahtu land claim confirmed and clarified some very important rights for Dene and Metis people of the regions, including management of renewable resources within the settlement area, land use planning within the settlement area, environmental impact assessment and review within the Mackenzie Valley, and regulation of land and water use within the settlement area.
The Government of the Northwest Territories is committed to the implementation of the land claim agreement and wants to ensure that Sahtu, Dene, and Metis continue to be able to exercise their rights. We are also committed to ensure Northwest Territories Indigenous people's share in the benefits of development in the Northwest Territories is reflected in an agreement our government signed with its Indigenous governments. We have provided for resource revenue sharing, and we will work with the Sahtu people to develop and contribute to the Arctic policy framework that will help guide federal investment and develop their vision for the Arctic up until 2030.
Thanks to the Premier for that reply. On the issue of resiliency, my third question: we know that the federal government is working on an Arctic policy framework to guide its decisions in the North. Can the Premier tell me how the GNWT is going to make sure that NWT priorities and economic interests are reflected in the Arctic policy framework?
The Arctic policy framework is still under development, and the structure of the framework is still being negotiated and confirmed, but the federal government has committed to a chapter for each territory to set out their priorities. It is also expected there will be a chapter on Indigenous priorities.
The government of the Northwest Territories will have the lead for developing the Northwest Territories chapter, and has been engaging Indigenous governments and other stakeholders to ensure Northwest Territories use and priorities from federal polices and plans. Also, Mr. Speaker, the three territories have developed a Pan-Territorial Vision on Sustainable Development to help inform territorial interests, including the need for economic opportunities for people in the North to build self-reliance; live in healthy, vibrant, prosperous communities; and build capacities to reach their full potential.
I want to see this vision clearly reflected in Canada's framework, and we will continue to do our best to support and be involved in this process.
Oral questions. Member for Sahtu.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thanks to the Premier for that reply. Being a supporter of devolution, the devolution agreement included a commitment to negotiate management of offshore oil and gas between Canada, the GNWT, and the IRC. Can the Premier tell me what progress has been made with Canada on keeping this? Mahsi.
Our government has been engaging with the Government of Canada to try to make some progress on a specific commitment in the devolution agreement to begin negotiations of a co-management of the Beaufort Sea. As the Member knows, we have just passed the one-year anniversary of Canada implementing a moratorium on offshore exploration in the Beaufort Sea. Specifically, they have said they are definitely off-limits to new offshore oil and gas licences, to be tested every five years by a science-based review.
Also, as well, federal officials have been approaching and asking oil and gas companies with licences in the Beaufort Sea what it would take to give up their leases and licences. Obviously, there's a different intention there. Canada negotiated specific commitments to negotiate co-management of offshore oil and gas resources with the Government of the Northwest Territories and the Inuvialuit Regional Council, and those negotiations are not taking place in spite of several requests. The Government of the Northwest Territories' position is that it has a right to be involved in management of offshore oil and gas resources, and this was recognized in the devolution agreement, and the unilateral imposition of a moratorium was contradictory to that.
Along with IRC, we continue to communicate to Canada our interest in getting started on negotiations and fulfillment of this commitment of the devolution agreement. Northerners need a plan for the long-term social and economic development of the Northwest Territories, and Canada needs to be a part of that. We are waiting for the federal government to give us a response as to whether we will proceed with negotiation of co-management. There is provisions for dispute resolution in a devolution agreement, and we are awaiting some feedback from the federal government before we look at our various options. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Oral questions. Member for Deh Cho.
