Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just want to follow up on my Member’s statement asking the honourable Premier and in his capacity as well as Aboriginal Affairs Minister. The Dehcho First Nations are really quite upset about the Order-in-Council by the federal government. I would like to ask at what stage was our government involved or notified of the decision to remove the subsurface rights aspect of the protection of the Edhezhie area, Mr. Speaker. Thank you very much.
Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The honourable Premier, Mr. Roland.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This government has worked alongside of aboriginal groups when it comes to the Protected Areas Strategy, the interim measures agreements that are put in place and working towards bringing those to successful conclusion. It came as quite a surprise, a shock, that it was announced that the measures were being withdrawn and, in fact, it was shortly after that that the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, Mr. Miltenberger, was directed to write a letter to the Minister of INAC in the response and concern to extend that agreement so that it would remain in place. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, the Dehcho First Nations felt that our government did not speak on behalf of the residents of our constituency and demanded that kind of action. Can the Minister provide me a copy of that letter? I would like to see the content, because that is something that is of benefit of all the people of the Northwest Territories, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, as soon as this news came out, we were on the situation and a letter was drafted and then sent in. We will be able to share that with Members. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, the Dehcho First Nations are looking for that kind of action by our government to stand behind them on this one particular issue. It is a win-win situation, because all the stakeholders are looking for this type of action by our government. What can the Premier do? What other actions can he take in order to get the federal government to change their Order-in-Council? Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, I think this is a prime example of what happens when the authorities for decisions of land and environment and resources are made in other capitals across this country and being the capital of Canada. This is a prime example of what happens when you don’t have authority to make decisions. In fact, through this process for 12 years, the GNWT has been working alongside our aboriginal partners. In fact, it put resources on the table to help with these areas. Again, it came as quite a surprise to us that the announcement was made that they are withdrawing from them. The letter has gone in to ask them to extend it.
For going forward with this letter, like in many files, we write these letters. We make phone calls and we ask for meetings to urge a resolution in favour of people of the Northwest Territories, but then we are ultimately waiting for a decision to be made by the so-called other authority in this land. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Roland. Final supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Dehcho First Nations’ position is that they are looking for more leadership by our government. Is there more that they can do? I know that the Minister of ENR did send a letter, but can our government speak out loud, take a Cabinet position and advise Ottawa that the Edhezhie issue is important on behalf of the Government of the Northwest Territories and the people and the Dehcho people? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Mr. Speaker, as we heard the information, the letter went in is a Cabinet position, that in fact this agreement should have been extended as it was originally laid out as there was much work that was done and a number of these files are close to bringing to conclusion. We have taken a position on this. In fact, the opportunity is there. I don’t know if the grand chief of the Dehcho will be one of the partners at the table. I will happily talk to him about the process and the letter that has gone and carry that message forward as well. Thank you.
