Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The issue of constitutional development is certainly a huge issue. It has been briefly mentioned in some of the discussions with the results of the fallout from the Board Reform Initiative, but I must say that I’m extremely surprised to hear the Premier’s comments on this today. I’d like to ask the Premier if this is something that’s been discussed around the Cabinet table. Embarking on a full-fledged constitutional reform?
Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Premier, Mr. Roland.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. No, it hasn’t.
I’ve had the opportunity to be involved in some of the constitutional forums of the past, starting with the Western Constitutional Forum way back when chaired by Mr. Robert McQuarrie. These are huge undertakings and I kind of had the impression that we were kind of making it up as we went along here today. I’m a little bit unnerved with that, just given some of the other priorities we need to focus on right now. We’ve got some huge economic issues out there in the Northwest Territories. We’ve got some huge cost of living issues. I guess I just don’t want to give people out there in the Northwest Territories the wrong impression that we’re off to Ottawa right now to embark on a full-fledged constitutional forum. What he says carries weight, I mean, he is the Premier. Could he give me a little bit more idea of what he’s talking about here when he talks about constitutional discussions?
The fact that this issue was raised at the Dene leadership meeting, so in responding to the aboriginal leaders across the North about this issue we haven’t had a discussion. There is no position right now. There is some discussion about trying to get into a process and we’ll need to come and sit down with Members to discuss if there’s such a process we would engage in, to what level we would engage in, and how we would try to find partners; for example, the federal government would be key to this and what the First Nations would bring to the table as well. There is no paper in place. This is not a march to Ottawa at this stage. This is an issue that has been raised by the Dene leadership. We’re responding in a sense to some of their concerns and reactions, as well as some of the Members, about consensus government in the North. Just put it out there for discussion.
We all know that too many priorities is no priority. Certainly there will be a time when constitutional development will be timely and it will be appropriate to discuss that. Was there a motion or any resolution passed at the Dene Nation this week with regard to constitutional development?
I know it was under discussion at the table. My understanding is they were going to prepare it as one of the motions that had to be discussed and voted on. I’m not sure the outcome of that.
Thank you, Mr. Roland. Final supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Will the Premier commit to not taking any further action on this unless a proposal or resolution does come from the Dene National Assembly to this government, at which time would he please ask us what we would think of our government perhaps leading an initiative on something like this? I don’t know how that would all take place, but I think it does bear some discussion as a full Caucus.
As I said earlier, before any decision is made, before any discussion happens we’ll have to sit down as Members. I absolutely agree, this would be a good Caucus discussion item.
Thank you, Mr. Roland. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.
