Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Recently it was reported, much to the delight of Cabinet, that the community of Akaitcho, the Deninu Ku’e, is going to be signing on to the Devolution Agreement. My question is in regard to the progress of those bilateral discussions that this Cabinet has undertaken, more specifically for the Deh Cho. I wanted to ask the Premier if he could update this House in terms of the progress of those talks. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Nadli. The honourable Premier, Mr. McLeod.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to report that the Senior Officials Working Group that we set up with the Dehcho First Nations that have been meeting for almost a year now have been working very well to resolve outstanding land issues between the Dehcho First Nations and the Government of the Northwest Territories. I think we’ve reached a point now where both the Dehcho First Nations and the Government of the Northwest Territories have taken what has been worked with to their respective authorities to seek approval. The Dehcho First Nations have indicated that they will be going on the road to their communities to consult with their leadership in various communities.
Our government have been running it through our process. We have not run into what we call showstoppers, and I expect that very soon it will come forward so that we can make a decision on whether there’s enough progress. The grand chief has said if we make progress in this area, they’ll sign on to devolution. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
It’s very encouraging and I applaud the Premier for his leadership in ensuring that the outstanding regions that haven’t signed on to devolution are at a possible precipice to sign on to the Devolution Agreement.
My question is: In advancing these talks, the Premier is leading those discussions and working with the First Nations governments. How is the Premier ensuring that trust is maintained at the same time progress is made? Thank you.
At the outset, the grand chief and myself signed an agreed upon terms of reference for the Senior Officials Working Group. We provide oversight and we meet on a regular basis, whether it’s by a telephone call or by a meeting for lunch or a meeting, and we’ve been able to ensure we keep making progress. When we hit bumps in the road, we get together and we work things out so that we can keep working in the right direction. Thank you.
It’s been indicated, of course, the deadline for devolution is April 1st. So I want to ask the Premier, is it possible that within that time frame that outstanding regions, including the Deh Cho, would come to the table and sign off? Yes or no. Mahsi.
I think our objective has been clear from day one that we want 100 percent of the Aboriginal governments to sign on to devolution. We have also pushed the federal government to get the federal representatives appointed to the Land Use Committee and other committees because we feel that will help advance the process.
The time frame that once devolution comes into effect is one year for the federal liabilities, as they call it. They don’t want to continue to carry on federal liabilities for more than a year. So those resources that the federal government has made to other Aboriginal governments, there’s a one-year period to sign on and if they don’t sign on before the one-year period, then those financial resources disappear. But in our view, we want 100 percent Aboriginal governments signing on. So, even if it takes more than a year, we’d be prepared to welcome them when they do decide to sign on. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Nadli.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. These discussions that have been taking place, it seems that perhaps the next logical step that the Premier is more likely to develop or advance towards is the first inaugural meeting of the governance council. Is this the purpose of those talks, ensuring that at least the foundation, the rudimentary structure of the governance council has been laid and that a first meeting could happen perhaps within a year of April 1, 2014? Mahsi.
Thank you. As a function of devolution, we will be required to have a sign-off on the Intergovernmental Council probably within this month. I think all of the Aboriginal governments that have signed on have agreed to sign off on the Intergovernmental Council and that will be put into legislation. As part of that aspect there will be a process for other Aboriginal governments that can sign on after this first instance. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The Member for Range Lake, Mr. Dolynny.
