Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I mentioned, my questions today are addressed to the Premier, and I want to follow up on my statement and try to give voice to some of the concerns that I’m hearing from my constituents and some of the concerns that I have myself. When we were deliberating the budget, and also this week, between last week and this week, I’m hearing conflicting statements and getting conflicting information about where we’re going in terms of post-devolution final agreement and this consultation. I’d like to ask the Premier if he could elaborate for me and my constituents just what exactly the process is in this 40- to 50-day period that we’re coming up on. What is the definition of the process for consultation and, as he puts it, public engagement? If I could get some definition, some specifics, that would be great.
Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. The honourable Premier, Mr. McLeod.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m glad to hear from the Member that she supports devolution. I’m not sure where the conflicting information is coming from because I’ve been very clear in what I’ve been saying.
We have a communications and engagement plan. The plan focuses on engagement with three key audiences, following conclusion of negotiations of the Northwest Territories Land and Resources Devolution Agreement. We will be meeting with stakeholders and communities, Aboriginal governments who are not parties to the agreement, and Aboriginal governments who are parties to the agreement. What we will be scheduling will be community information sessions. Before the agreement is approved and signed by the participating governments, it will be shared with Aboriginal governments, stakeholders, and the public to explain its contents and benefits.
This period of public engagement and Aboriginal consultation is expected to take up to 60 days. Once the engagement phase is complete, the Government of the Northwest Territories, the Government of Canada and participating Aboriginal governments will decide whether to approve the agreement. Signing, the approving governments will finalize the agreement by signing it in a public ceremony. If devolution is agreed to, implementation will occur.
I want to make it clear that negotiations have been completed. This is take it or leave it. We will be explaining it to the public. There is no opportunity to go back and renegotiate a bunch of changes, if that’s what is put forward. If there is a groundswell of opposition, as the Member put it, then we won’t sign the deal and there will be no devolution. I expect there will be little incentive for the federal government to come back and start a whole new process of negotiation.
I want to thank the Premier for that very thorough response. I would hope that might maybe be posted somewhere so that people will be able to go and read it, if they haven’t heard it here.
The Premier has been very clear. Several times he has said it’s a done deal. I think that’s where I am finding it a bit conflicting. If it is a done deal, why are we bothering to go out and consult?
I’d like to know from the Minister, then, just for clarification, for those people who are not represented by an Aboriginal government, there’s public engagement. If I have a conflicting opinion, if I wish to see any changes, I think I heard the Premier say that’s not possible. Is that correct?
No, I didn’t say that we expect no conflicting opinions. We’ve heard a lot of conflicting opinions, even here in this House. I’ve also said that we were going to put it to a vote here in this Legislative Assembly. If you have a conflicting opinion, you can tell us when we have our team going around to all the communities or you can tell your MLA.
So I guess the next question I have is: What is the Premier’s, what is the government’s expected outcome from this public engagement and consultation that is going to happen over the next two months?
Well, in an ideal world we would educate everybody in the Northwest Territories about the draft Devolution Final Agreement and we would have the comfort of knowing that everybody supports it and everybody would vote here and pass it.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Final supplementary, Ms. Bisaro.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thanks to the Premier. That’s a good expectation. I expect that we won’t have a groundswell of support against devolution. I think there is general acceptance and people are very happy about devolution. I guess if there’s no opportunity for people to suggest changes to the agreement and if the Premier is willing to put it to a vote for Members, can I ask the Premier why he was not willing to put it to a vote through a plebiscite to the general public?
Well, I’ve said it before that we are the elected leaders of the Northwest Territories. We are here to represent the people of the Northwest Territories. I think we should stand up and be counted. I don’t think we should be running a government by plebiscite or by referendum.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.
