Debates of March 17, 2004 (day 2)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I indicated in my Member’s statement, I am very concerned about the issue of benefits from the Mackenzie Valley pipeline being effectively responded to by our government. A lot of attention has been paid to the aspect of ownership interest in the pipeline by aboriginal community governments. I am certain that in the long run this will prove to be a worthy investment. I think in the short term, we can’t forget the array of other potential benefits to our people. My question is for the Premier. In light of the federal government’s initiative to appoint a special committee, chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister, mandated to guide issues in relation to the pipeline, what has our government done to ensure that this development proceeds in an orderly fashion, addressing all the potential opportunities or concerns that a development of this magnitude involves? Thank you.

Mr. Premier, Mr. Handley.

Return To Question 12-15(3): Preparing For Pipeline Development

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There has been a lot of concern and a lot of interest by our government on ensuring that this pipeline moves ahead, and moves ahead in a timely fashion. Since we have gotten into the new 15th Assembly, I had a meeting with the Prime Minister in late January, and this issue was raised with him. My suggestion to the Prime Minister at the time was that the Mackenzie Valley pipeline was critical enough to all of Canada that it really needed to be directed from the central agencies of the federal government, particularly PCO and by federal Cabinet. Since that time, he has appointed the Deputy Prime Minister, Anne McLellan, as the Chair of a federal pipeline committee. Deputy Prime Minister McLellan called me last week; I have had a telephone conversation with her. I have identified with her some of the concerns that we have and we have agreed that we would maintain open communications to ensure that we are doing everything within our capability to keep this pipeline moving on schedule. So, Mr. Speaker, that is an overview of the main issues we have been dealing with. We have also worked closely with aboriginal governments on the ownership issue as well as other matters. We have also begun the process of negotiating a socioeconomic agreement. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 12-15(3): Preparing For Pipeline Development

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Would the Premier agree to put in place a joint committee with the lead Minister on the governance side and participation from regular Members to address and respond to issues related to the Mackenzie Valley gas pipeline?

Mr. Premier.

Further Return To Question 12-15(3): Preparing For Pipeline Development

Mr. Speaker, that is certainly one consideration I think when we talked about setting joint special committees, the pipeline was one topic that was mentioned earlier on, in the early days of our government. Certainly, I will consider that. I like the idea of a joint committee, and if that's the wish of the Members of this House, then definitely we would give it favourable consideration. Thank you.

---Applause

Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 12-15(3): Preparing For Pipeline Development

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Further, would the Premier commit to assist, in terms of both financial and logistical support of local and regional aboriginal governments, to develop positions to negotiate things such as access and benefits agreements, protected areas, social impact responses and so forth? We really need help in our region with regard to this issue, Mr. Speaker.

Premier Handley.

Further Return To Question 12-15(3): Preparing For Pipeline Development

Mr. Speaker, our interests as a territorial government are within the areas of training, employment, contracting and so on. We are taking the lead on negotiating a socioeconomic agreement. As was the case with the communities in the areas impacted by mining, any impact benefit agreements that they were negotiating were issues that were really within their jurisdictions, so we did not contribute financially to any of the negotiations for those impact benefit agreements. That was something they worked out between themselves and the federal government, and I expect that expectation would be the same in the case of the pipeline. Thank you.