Debates of October 21, 2004 (day 25)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question today is to the Premier of Northwest Territories. In researching and looking at some of the past Hansards with regard to resource revenue sharing, in light of the complexity of dealing with revenue resource sharing and the issues that are on the table, can the Premier tell me when can we, as the Northwest Territories, as a northern aboriginal people, get our act together, go down to Ottawa and sit down once and for all and ask them what are the clear rules and guidelines of getting a deal done? We have been dealing with this a long time. The Premier knows it. Let’s get our act together. Let’s go down to Ottawa with everybody who is involved in the resource sharing scheme of things and tell Ottawa, once and for all, we need to do it. Thank you.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable Premier, Mr. Handley.

Return To Question 279-15(3): Aboriginal Representation In Negotiating Resource Revenue Sharing

Mr. Speaker, in my discussions with the aboriginal leaders a few weeks ago, I did propose to them that we need to have representatives from here and aboriginal leaders meet in Ottawa together with some of the key Ministers. I had hoped we would be able to do that by the end of October, but things have slipped. I still hope that we can do it this fall. I am not sure what everybody’s schedules are, but, I agree, we need to be there. We need to be there in enough numbers that the message is clear that we stand together on this. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 279-15(3): Aboriginal Representation In Negotiating Resource Revenue Sharing

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Premier. This issue is burning. It needs to get done. It is like we are negotiating. For example, if we were to negotiate a highway to the Sahtu, why negotiate a highway to Sahtu if we don’t have the money to pay for it? Things like this really bug me as a Member here. To see the amount of wealth that is coming out of this Northwest Territories and is going to Ottawa, we can see the amount of dollars that is coming back to us. Our aboriginal communities are also saying we need these programs and services. Again, Mr. Speaker, I will ask the Premier, does he have a plan to sit down with the aboriginal governments, work out a strategy, and clear the agendas if we have to on behalf of the government and get the other MLAs involved, go down to Ottawa, step it up and say we made a deal? Like you said, Mr. Premier, the diamond mine has been here and a lot of dollars have gone out. Still, we haven’t seen a deal. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable Premier, Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 279-15(3): Aboriginal Representation In Negotiating Resource Revenue Sharing

Mr. Speaker, yes, I have talked to the aboriginal leaders. They were going to look at their own strategy and then sit down with myself and the Minister of Finance, and we would then formulate a more comprehensive strategy for getting down to Ottawa. The involvement of MLAs is something that I had not talked to them about, but I will certainly raise it with them. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 279-15(3): Aboriginal Representation In Negotiating Resource Revenue Sharing

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Premier because this is a very sensitive issue to all of the people involved. It is very complex. Mr. Speaker, I understand that the federal government negotiator doesn’t yet have the mandate in terms of devolution. He only has the mandate for programs and services, and Finance Canada has the mandate to negotiate the net fiscal benefits such as resource revenue sharing. I would really like to see any type of movement that the Premier can give our federal MP some leverage or some coaxing to Finance Canada to sit down with us. I would like to ask the Minister if he would raise that with our Member and really table a response in the future with regard to this discussion with our compadre in Ottawa. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 279-15(3): Aboriginal Representation In Negotiating Resource Revenue Sharing

Mr. Speaker, when I go to Ottawa this week, I will definitely raise that with our MP, the Minister of Northern Development. I will also raise it with the Prime Minister and the other federal Ministers that we meet with. Further, I will certainly clarify the unanimous words of support that we heard today from the MLAs. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Final supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 279-15(3): Aboriginal Representation In Negotiating Resource Revenue Sharing

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, Premier. I understand, reading through the Hansards of previous sittings here, that the federal government really was not too sure of or may have a problem with sitting with the aboriginal organizations or aboriginal governments in terms of negotiating resource revenue sharing or devolution. Has the federal government changed its views on that? I understand they just want to deal with the GNWT. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 279-15(3): Aboriginal Representation In Negotiating Resource Revenue Sharing

Mr. Speaker, generally, and I would have to say at the officials or bureaucrat level, the message that has come from Finance Canada is that Finance Canada negotiates arrangements that work with provincial and territorial governments. It does not enter into agreements with municipal governments or aboriginal governments and so on. To my knowledge, they have not changed their view on that. I have not heard that same sentiment from the political leaders, Mr. Speaker. I have heard it, though, clearly from the officials in the department. Thank you.