Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier this morning I gave an overview in terms of just the initiative on the proposed Wildlife Act changes. My question for follow up is for the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources.
Can the Minister comment in terms of the update of the progress of the proposed changes to the Wildlife Act?
Thank you, Mr. Nadli. The honourable Minister responsible for Environment and Natural Resources, Mr. Miltenberger.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There is a major gathering planned for the early part of November where the working group members are going to come into town, and hopefully the Aboriginal leaders, to have a discussion amongst themselves, and then with ourselves and myself as Minister and the department officials, to look at the issue of the conferences the Member talked about. We’re hoping, at that point, to come to consensus on the way forward.
We’ve been working, as well, with the stakeholders, the Wildlife Act advisory group, and the feedback they’ve provided us, and we want to be able to respond to the SWAAG, as well, on a go-forward basis. The intent now is to be able to conclude the work and be able to come forward in February to introduce this bill. Thank you.
Can the Minister comment on the outcomes of public consultations that were held last spring and summer?
The consultation feedback has gone well. The bill has been reviewed and the bill was substantially the same as what was before the House in the last Assembly. The issues that have come up, there have been some technical issues, there have been some issues of processes for ongoing feedback. For example, for groups like the SWAAG. But overall, we’ve concluded all the reviews. The one contentious issue that is really out there is the structure of the conference, and as well, we want to give a full and comprehensive response to the concerns put forward and recommendations put forward by the stakeholders, the Wildlife Act advisory groups.
I’d like to thank the Minister for that. There are two major initiatives happening right now. One of them is devolution, of course, and the other one is the proposed changes to the Wildlife Act. They touch on the very core of fundamental treaty rights and Aboriginal title, so I wanted to ask the Minister how will the devolution negotiations affect the proposed Wildlife Act.
The Wildlife Act discussions have been going on for well over a decade, into the last century, so I can recollect it all the way back to the 13th Assembly. This will be done and is being done independent of devolution. Even if there was no devolution, the Wildlife Act would go forward. It’s been identified as a priority by nearly all the Aboriginal governments, by this government, by people in the Northwest Territories as long overdue. They will be compatible at the end of the day. They reaffirm the respect and recognition of Aboriginal rights, both the Wildlife Act and the work being done with devolution. In that regard, there’s clear consistency. But the Wildlife Act is a piece of legislation that this government, this territory has to look at and it’s been intent on getting done now for a long time and stands on its own as a separate initiative.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Nadli.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. What is being done to address the Aboriginal people’s concerns about the new Wildlife Act in terms of its potential effects on treaty rights and Aboriginal title? Mahsi.
The Wildlife Act is a unique piece of legislation that has, in fact, been drafted in partnership with the Aboriginal governments. We’ve had the working group members comprised of members from Inuvialuit, Gwich’in, Sahtu, Tlicho, Metis, as well as seats at the table for the Akaitcho and representatives from the Dehcho First Nation, should they choose to attend and when they choose to attend. It has been that collective that has worked to draft the Wildlife Act, a unique process in this country of Canada, a unique bill that has no equal in this country. We have made tremendous efforts to involve the Aboriginal governments, including the First Nations, and we will continue that commitment. We reflect that practice in a whole host of areas with our discussions on devolution, with our discussions on water, and the Wildlife Act is indicative of that kind of commitment to process as well.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.
