Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions today are for the Premier. The Premier is also the Minister responsible for Executive and Indigenous Affairs. Mr. Speaker, I spoke earlier today with regard to the urgency with settling the land rights agreements. We have obviously many good reasons for wanting to do that. Can the Premier start by updating this House and the public on the status of the unsettled land rights in the NWT? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. The Honourable Premier.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Government of the Northwest Territories is actively involved in land and resource negotiations in most areas of the Northwest Territories without modern treaties. Today, we are in final agreement negotiations with the Acho Dene Koe First Nation from Fort Liard and with the Northwest Territories Metis Nation. In addition, negotiations with the Akaitcho Dene First Nations are making good progress towards completing a draft of an agreement-in-principle. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
It seems like there might still be some hope to get some of these land rights agreements done. I won't go into detail in terms of asking about the Dehcho or the Metis at this point. I will maybe save that for a later date. I would like to ask the Premier about self-government agreements. They, too, are of value to us. The Premier has expressed confidence in this House in the past that we will get through a number of those, as well. I would like to ask the Premier: can he please advise us on the status of these negotiations, and does he still believe that, within the life of this Assembly, a number of them will get finalized?
I was very pleased to be able to go to Norman Wells in January to sign the self-government agreement-in-principle for the Sahtu Dene and Metis of Norman Wells. This is a significant milestone that all parties should be proud of. In addition, the Sahtu Dene and Metis of Tulita are reviewing a self-government agreement-in-principle for finalization, and self-government negotiations are also under way in Fort Good Hope and Colville Lake. Negotiations are also well advanced toward concluding an Inuvialuit final self-government agreement. I am also happy to report the self-government negotiations with the Gwich'in have resumed following a break in negotiations where the Gwich'in considered how they wanted to approach self-government.
All right. There is some positive information there for the public. That is much appreciated from the Premier. As we know, the NWT is seen as a favourable place to invest in with regard to mineral development. We also know that residents are counting on progress on recreational land-use plans, and the business community wants to develop new sectors of diversified economy like agriculture, forestry, and others. I would like to ask the Minister: how can we reassure these sectors that there will be certainty in the future as it relates to getting these land rights settled, the self-governments negotiated, and getting land-use plans in place?
The Government of the Northwest Territories continues to place a high priority on negotiating these complex and very important agreements. The Government of the Northwest Territories recognizes that the certainty provided by modern agreements benefits everyone. The need for providing clarity and setting out the rules has also informed this government's approach to the Mineral Resources Act by laying out the need for benefit agreements.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, some of these agreements, as I alluded to in my Member's statement earlier today, have taken decades and some of them, you know, longer than I have been alive to complete. Has the government looked at other processes or possibly increasing the capacity of the GNWT teams to get these agreements done faster? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
There are a number of reasons why these negotiations have taken a long time. Some NWT Indigenous governments more recently are waiting to see how new federal policies are evolving before they proceed and conclude their land claim and self-government agreements. We respect this decision and will continue to support Northwest Territories Indigenous governments' decisions around timing.
Masi. Oral questions. Member for Kam Lake.
