Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have been approached by a number of leaders to explain how the Intergovernmental Resource Revenue Sharing Agreement worked. From what I have been able to find, prior to implementation of devolution 2014, the GNWT and Aboriginal groups signed the NWT Intergovernmental Resource Revenue Sharing Agreement with 25 percent of the net profit going to Aboriginal groups according to our formula. It is my understanding that allocation is made each year of the signatories of the development devolution agreement. In that, the formula says: "Aboriginal population not yet party to the agreement shall be retained by the GNWT." My questions are for the Premier. Can the Premier please explain what is meant by "retained by the GNWT"? Thank you.
Masi. The Honourable Premier.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The retained portion is an estimated calculation for those Indigenous governments who have not signed on to devolution. Each year, once annual net fiscal benefit figures are available, these retained amounts are distributed according to intergovernmental council negotiations that are guided by the provisions of the Intergovernmental Resource Revenue Sharing Agreement. These negotiations occur after intergovernmental council members receive their respective allocations of the net fiscal benefit under their Intergovernmental Resource Revenue Sharing Agreement.
I appreciate the Premier providing that answer. Mr. Speaker, does the government hold the shares for Aboriginal organization populations that have not signed on to the agreement?
No. The Government of the Northwest Territories identifies for the other parties to the agreement that there are retained revenues available and begins discussions on how they are to be allocated. The other parties are the Indigenous governments that have signed on to devolution, and they see this as Indigenous government money.
I thank the Premier for clarifying that answer. Mr. Speaker, does the government allocate funding from the retained part of this part of the money to the Arctic Energy and Emerging Technologies Conference and Tradeshow in Inuvik? If not, how does the GNWT help support this conference and trade show?
No. Once again, retained amounts have not been used to support Indigenous governments to attend the Arctic Energy and Emerging Technologies Conference and Tradeshow in Inuvik. The Government of the Northwest Territories' infrastructure department has not provided funds for Indigenous governments' delegates to participate in the Arctic Energy and Emerging Technologies Conference and Tradeshow and does not anticipate doing so in the future. Indigenous governments, however, are free to allocate the funds however they see fit.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, thanks to the Premier. This is probably a redundant question, but I'm going to ask it to the Premier anyway: does the government allocate funding from the retained part of the pot to be set to send to Aboriginal group government delegates to the Association for Mineral Exploration in Vancouver?
No. Retained amounts have not been used to support Indigenous government delegates to attend AME. For AME Roundup, the GNWT ITI department uses funds allocated under the Mineral Development Strategy to client services and community relations for Aboriginal capacity funding. From those funds, a certain amount is used to support Indigenous government delegations to attend AME. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Frame Lake.
