Debates of February 18, 2005 (day 39)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I want to ask the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs a question with regard to the Akaitcho Territory Government’s treaty negotiations that are still ongoing. Just what measures is this government currently incorporating with providing the Akaitcho Territory Government a smooth transition through their treaty negotiation process and how are they supporting them in this process? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. The honourable Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, Mr. Handley.

Return To Question 422-15(3): Akaitcho Treaty Negotiations

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Our government is one of the parties involved in the negotiations. We continue to participate in the negotiation sessions that are going on. We certainly are supportive of the other partners in negotiations that aim at trying to have an agreement-in-principle this year. The main table discussions and negotiations are ongoing. The next session, I believe, is March 1st to 3rd in Ndilo and we will be there with the objective of trying to make this a win for all parties; the aboriginal Akaitcho people, for the non-aboriginal residents in this area and all parties. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Supplementary To Question 422-15(3): Akaitcho Treaty Negotiations

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Minister for that response. Hopefully I’ll be able to attend the next session on March 1st to the 3rd in Ndilo. I just wanted to ask the Minister in respect to some of the land development issues that are going on around the city of Yellowknife by Members of this side of the House and two Members on that side of the House about the treatment and exclusion of city council in this government’s so-called preferential treatment of Akaitcho territory residents. I just want to ask the Premier what measures he is going to take for the Akaitcho people in this region to ensure that they should be given the preferential treatment when it comes to any kind of future land development that is currently now under Akaitcho Territory Government negotiations. Thank you.

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

Further Return To Question 422-15(3): Akaitcho Treaty Negotiations

Mr. Speaker, first of all we do, as a government, certainly respect the Akaitcho’s right to negotiate an agreement. Second, we have an interim measures agreement in place, which deals with, among other issues, how land transfers in the interim will be handled before we have a final agreement. Mr. Speaker, it is a process that we respect very much and one that we will ensure is followed as closely as we can. In saying that, Mr. Speaker, we also recognize that the Akaitcho have not yet moved into the land selection phase part of their negotiations. I hope that comes very soon, but there has been some land identification made available to us and, again, we respect their right to do that. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Villeneuve.

Supplementary To Question 422-15(3): Akaitcho Treaty Negotiations

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The land selection phase that the Akaitcho Territory Government will be embarking on in their next phase of negotiations with this government and the federal government is probably something that we all, especially Yellowknife residents, would be looking forward to reviewing. What commitment does the government have to ensure the Akaitcho Territory Government that the land selection process that they present to this government and to the federal government, which is probably going to include a lot of land around the city of Yellowknife…I know the city council is probably going to have a lot of issues with regard to that land selection process and it’s probably going to be a close selection around city boundaries. How is this government going to mediate negotiations and help move this Akaitcho Territory Government process forward when the city comes forward with their objectives for selection process? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 422-15(3): Akaitcho Treaty Negotiations

Mr. Speaker, we won’t know until the land identification stage of the negotiations whether and what kind of conflict or disagreement there might be on land selection. Mr. Speaker, it has to be recognized that there are three parties at the table: the Akaitcho, who are negotiating their rights; the Government of the Northwest Territories, which has responsibility for those things that are under our jurisdiction; and, of course, the federal government. So we can’t really play the role of a mediator in the negotiations. But we are aiming at having a result that is fair and that is a win for all parties. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Supplementary To Question 422-15(3): Akaitcho Treaty Negotiations

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Let me just rephrase the question to the Minister. I guess the lands in question are Commissioner’s lands right now, with respect to the sandpits and the Con Mine area and other land around the Ingraham Trail, which is in the Minster’s constituency. All these lands are currently under Commissioner’s authority, so this government definitely has authority over that land withdrawal, land application, land permitting, land use process. When the land selection of the Akaitcho Territory Government, which is going to include probably all of that put forward, how is the government going to ensure that the Akaitcho residents and the Akaitcho Territory Government have precedence over what the City of Yellowknife is demanding?

Thank you, Mr. Villeneuve. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 422-15(3): Akaitcho Treaty Negotiations

Mr. Speaker, in our view, any Commissioner’s land which is not third party land -- which is land that is owned by someone else, fee-simple title -- is available for the Akaitcho negotiators to identify as part of the land that they would have an interest in. When they do that, then there will be opportunity for others who may have interest to bring forward their case. Through a negotiating process, there will be a determination of what the final land selection will be. Mr. Speaker, I can’t predict what will happen at the sandpits or outside of Con Mine area or wherever else the Akaitcho may choose land because I don’t know right now whether it will. Mr. Speaker, as I say, we as a government want to be fair to everyone in this process. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.