Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to follow up on my questions earlier today and ask questions of the Premier as the Minister responsible for Aboriginal Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations.
The proceeding on with the AIP with the agreement of our aboriginal government partners is not a good start to the process nor a desired start, I know. The decision by the Premier to proceed without agreement and in the face of clear condemnation from aboriginal governments not only sours these beginnings, it could seriously damage the long-term prospects of ever reaching an amicable partnership.
To complete this work we need a respective, collaborative relationship with willing and engaged aboriginal partners. Does the Premier realize the long-term and future consequences should he take this unilateral, much criticized action? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The honourable Minister responsible for Aboriginal Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations, Mr. Roland.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. No doubt, as the Premier of the Northwest Territories, as the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations, yes, I know just exactly how important this agreement is to the Northwest Territories, to the GNWT, to aboriginal governments and to the people of the Northwest Territories. Thank you.
I was speaking about the consequences to the future, and I’m sure that’s what the Premier was responding to.
The Premier claims the AIP is a good deal for the NWT and for aboriginal government partners who may eventually sign on, and it looks good to me. I have to wonder why, though, if this is such a good deal, our aboriginal partners are not already signed on and moving towards the strength in numbers that the partnership could bring to this. Obviously, we’re not there yet. I realize there are meetings scheduled for this evening and I hope that’s not the only step that the Premier is going to take towards really dealing with this. Recognizing that we really need the willingness and approval of our aboriginal partners, will the Premier listen to the criticism, pull back from his with-or-without-you stance, and take the time necessary to do the groundwork for a good deal on the agreement so we can go forward with this AIP? Mahsi.
Let’s put the full context on the table. As we’ve been trying to say and as I’ve said in many of my statements today, this process has been nine years in the making, that has involved aboriginal governments and will continue to do so if they want to move with us. We have to yet make a decision if we proceed with this or not. But let’s be clear. If a decision is not to proceed, there are no more discussions to be had, because the AIP has been signed off by the negotiators who have reached their mandate. So it is time for decisions of the North. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Premier. Of course, I would say that’s sort of illogical. That’s simply a negotiating position. I’m all for getting this AIP through, but it has to meet these conditions. I won’t say that the Minister is absolutely false there, but clearly his logic is lacking, perhaps, in the conclusion.
Respecting northern values requires that those affected by a new regime, which is every citizen of the NWT, has an opportunity to comment and participate in developing our political future. Assuming resource management power is the single biggest political issue at this stage of our movement towards provincehood, will the Premier commit to a timely, comprehensive and inclusive consultation process involving all NWT governments and citizens in identifying our unique values as the basis for a northern management regime? Mahsi.
Now, I guess -- and I’ll have to tread carefully here -- that the Member’s logic sometimes might be well placed, but I wonder where it goes at times. If we want to play that game, we can. But the simple fact is, in this forum where we are nine years-plus working… The Member for Mackenzie Delta raises the Northern Accord, raises the Dene-Metis comprehensive process. Years in working together in trying to move authority from Ottawa to the North. This is the time for a still, stable approach as we try to progress on and allow aboriginal governments to have their time to look at the deal as it was penned by the two chief negotiators. We’ve been doing the same and now we get to have a meeting, at least to start the direct discussion about some of the issues and concerns that have been raised publicly between the leadership, and we will continue to be working and incorporating that approach as we look to the future. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Roland. Your final, short supplementary, Mr. Bromley.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will give up on the logic bit here, but I’ll just say that the many years the Premier talks about has been the time during which, thanks to our aboriginal partners, we have made considerable and great progress towards benefits that accrue to all residents of the Northwest Territories. Our history shows that Northerners have high standards for the way our government should cooperate with all citizens in building a sustainable future. We are patient and we make progress towards our goals one step at a time, regardless of barriers to the obvious and big steps we would like to see happen. We have learned that we must take the time needed…
Do you have a question, Mr. Bromley?
Mr. Speaker, will the Premier commit to our demonstrated principles of inclusion and patient perseverance and take the time needed to build the consensus needed on this motion for an issue before us today, the AIP? Mahsi.
Mr. Speaker, I believe, during the life of the 16th Legislative Assembly we have shown that patience. We have shown a commitment for inclusion; in fact, establishing the regional leaders’ table which will be meeting later on today to discuss the AIP issue. The fact that as this government took over, announced, to the displeasure of some, that we were prepared to put it on the backburner -- it being the devolution resource revenue sharing process -- put it on the backburner until we as Northerners can talk about a common ground and working together. In the meantime, during those talks, during those meetings, the leadership asked for that issue to be brought back to the table. That has been done. The federal government has engaged.
This process is not new. We have to come to a place where we need to make a decision together. I have followed through on my commitment as I told Members here when we first brought the AIP forward. There is a process. We are going to honour that process and only standing up to put factual information on the table about that process. In the spirit of working together in the Northwest Territories, we are continuing on with an example of that by this evening’s meeting. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Roland. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.
