Debates of October 25, 2006 (day 15)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I was referring to in my Member’s statement today, the people of the NWT contribute to Canada. This is an amazing country and we do our share, Mr. Speaker. But respect is a two-way street. So as I pointed out in my little press story that could have been anywhere between yesterday and two years ago, Premier Handley says that we are close. Where are we on this deal? Where are we? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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

Return To Question 180-15(5): Time Frame For Achieving A Resource Revenue Sharing Agreement

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, I have said we’re close, we’re moving in the right direction on several occasions. Mr. Speaker, during the past three years of our government’s life we’ve had to go through two federal elections, a number of band elections and so on. But the federal elections in particular tend to throw us off schedule. So we’ve had two of them and we may in fact have a third one before our government has completed its agenda. So those certainly slow us down.

Mr. Speaker, I think we’re closer.

---Laughter

I can tell you right now that the Prime Minister, this Prime Minister, has committed that northerners will be the primary beneficiaries. That is an agreement we never got out of any government before, any federal government, and we finally got that, and I take the Prime Minister at his word on it.

Mr. Speaker, the second thing is that the federal government has recently appointed a new federal negotiator. I take that as a sign that they want to get on with negotiations. Mr. Speaker, as I said, the Secretary to Cabinet is writing to that individual saying we want an agreement-in-principle by the end of this fiscal year and we’ll lay out what our plan is to achieve that.

Mr. Speaker, those are steps that we can take to try and move us along. I can’t guarantee it as I’m only one out of three parties that have to negotiate this. I’m saying that’s the aboriginal, our government and the federal government. But I can tell you, I’m doing everything in my power to be able to do that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 180-15(5): Time Frame For Achieving A Resource Revenue Sharing Agreement

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This summer I was here when the Prime Minister had mentioned no pipeline, no deal; and he was referring to resource and self-government, devolution deals. Mr. Speaker, I want to hear the Premier of our Northwest Territories say no deal, no pipeline, because the pipeline has got the attention of the country, the federal government wants it. I’m not opposed to the pipeline by any means, but people want this, the federal government wants this, I want to hear how the Premier is taking offence to this issue. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 180-15(5): Time Frame For Achieving A Resource Revenue Sharing Agreement

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am not going to tie a devolution and resource revenue sharing agreement specifically to the pipeline. But what I am going to tie it to is resource development generally. I don’t think the people up and down the Mackenzie Valley should pay the price. We should all, as northerners, be willing to make that sacrifice if it’s necessary in order to get a better deal and it doesn’t matter whether it’s mining in this area or pipeline or whatever, but let’s make it fair to everybody across the Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 180-15(5): Time Frame For Achieving A Resource Revenue Sharing Agreement

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to reaffirm. I didn’t say that in the context that I’m against the pipeline or in the context that I’m against resource development, because I have significant environmental concerns as well as economic concerns. Until we get that control, we can’t control either of them. We’re in a difficult situation.

Mr. Speaker, the Premier had spoken about partnerships. I’d like to hear from him today about what is he doing with our local Dene Nation of the Northwest Territories or aboriginal groups to reach outside of the Territories and say, well, wait a minute, let’s contact the AFN. They’re a huge lobby group and they would morally help us fight for our rights. What about talking to guys like Buzz Hargrove? They have a huge membership and that would deliver a massive statement. What are we doing about delivering a message in the Globe and Mail, a full page to say the NWT has come of age, give us our rights back, or give us our rights to start with, Mr. Speaker.

So what is the Premier doing to advocate that and build those partnerships? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 180-15(5): Time Frame For Achieving A Resource Revenue Sharing Agreement

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I said earlier, I’ve spent more time and energy on this issue than any other one. In terms of getting us out there on the national stage, we have done everything we can and I can tell you we’ve had more coverage in this government in national media than any other government. Mr. Speaker, that’s been important. We’ve done that along with aboriginal leaders. I have worked very closely with the aboriginal national leaders. I was the first Premier to bring the national aboriginal leaders into the Premiers' meetings when we met in Inuvik, and that’s continued on and they continue to be strong supporters.

Mr. Speaker, with the other Premiers we have a very clear message and very clear support from Premiers across the country. We participated in the fiscal imbalance reviews and the fiscal imbalance reports and we’ve got strong support from the Premiers. Mr. Speaker, we have strong support from the Prime Minister. Mr. Speaker, what we need is to get more action going on the statements that have been made and we have a short window before the next election. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Supplementary To Question 180-15(5): Time Frame For Achieving A Resource Revenue Sharing Agreement

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, that was all well and good and I take it for what it was because it was good. But, Mr. Speaker, I did not hear about building the coalitions and the partnerships, Mr. Speaker. The real ones out there, like building it with the AFN. I heard a great statement by Premier Danny Williams about supporting the Northwest Territories’ right to exert our own control. Mr. Speaker, what is the Premier doing with the provinces in getting them to put forward motions in their Legislatures about it’s time that we get control over our own lands? So, Mr. Speaker, would the Premier take that extra step and start building individual coalitions with individual provinces who also have the right to slow this process down? Let’s get them on board. What will the Premier do?

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 180-15(5): Time Frame For Achieving A Resource Revenue Sharing Agreement

Mr. Speaker, we already have unanimous support from all the Premiers around the table. Every one of them without exception has given me that support. I have not asked them to take and make motions in their Legislative Assembly. I’ve not gone that step, but, Mr. Speaker, I don’t know if they’d feel comfortable doing things about another jurisdiction within their jurisdiction. We certainly have statements of support from those who have come here, and many of them have. We will continue to do that.

Mr. Speaker, I want to build those coalitions with them. I want to build it with the aboriginal leaders. I want to continue to build it with the business community. We have been working closely with the Business Coalition as well. We will continue with those and I want to do it with your support as well. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.