Debates of October 25, 2006 (day 15)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m going to direct some questions to the Premier as our point man, our lead on devolution and resource revenue negotiations. Mr. Speaker, a little bit earlier today the Premier said we have to find a way to work together with aboriginal leaders. I think that was the context and the whole theme. One of the big themes today is northern unity.

You know, Mr. Speaker, as a number of my colleagues have already said, we’ve been trying to do that. This has been our goal for 20 years, yet we still keep saying the same thing. We have to find a way to work together. So we’re struggling to find that one common agenda. We know we have dozens of areas, Mr. Speaker, where we’re different, we’re apart, we’re separate. We don’t have to be one big mixing bowl on this, but how can we find the one common agenda that will bring us together?

Mr. Speaker, my question is, what can we do in this Assembly to help the Premier, to enable the Premier to take that case to the aboriginal leaders in the Northwest Territories and achieve that core unity that we need to move our agenda ahead, Mr. Speaker?

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

Return To Question 184-15(5): Assistance Required To Build A United Northern Voice

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think the main thing we do is what we say right here in this House, because people are listening to what we’re saying. I think the Members’ statements today sent a strong message that we are ready and willing to sit down and work with aboriginal leaders.

Mr. Speaker, having said that, we also need to think through how do we do this in a way that those who have settled claims are able to realize the benefits and begin to implement the benefits out of their claim and do that in a way that isn’t somehow going to forfeit or compromise the rights and benefits of those who have not yet settled a claim? I don’t know the easy answer to that one, but there has to be an answer and there has to be a way of doing it, whether it’s following what Yukon did and putting monies in trust or whatever it may be, but there’s got to be a way of doing that.

But, Mr. Speaker, the reality in the Territories is that we have some regions with settled claims and some without settled claims, and there are clearly different priorities of what’s the most important thing to focus on. And limited capacity. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 184-15(5): Assistance Required To Build A United Northern Voice

Mr. Speaker, the Premier also said earlier today that he would like to see a target or time frame on achieving this at the end of the fiscal year. It’s more or less consistent with what he said a few years ago that perhaps four months was an achievable time frame for this. I’d like to ask the Premier, Mr. Speaker, just why is he choosing this time frame? What is significant about it? How is it going to be achievable within that time frame, if not less, Mr. Speaker?

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 184-15(5): Assistance Required To Build A United Northern Voice

Mr. Speaker, I have consistently said that I believe that we can achieve an agreement-in-principle within four months. Whether it’s the end of February, end of March, I don’t know. But somewhere before our new fiscal year we need to know where we stand financially. My reason for choosing that is we’re starting a new fiscal year with a situation that I said in my sessional statement that is just not sustainable. We cannot keep up with the needs with the current amount of money that we have.

Mr. Speaker, I believe four months is lots of time for the federal negotiator Harvie Andre to get up to speed and get on. Mr. Speaker, we’ve been close on devolution, except for six issues that are largely around finances. I think with the attention of the federal government we can resolve those six within the time frame we have. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 184-15(5): Assistance Required To Build A United Northern Voice

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We’re close and perhaps getting closer to some answers. To paraphrase what’s been said here a bit earlier today, does the Premier have the concurrence, the agreement, the cooperation, along with the aboriginal leaders in the NWT, Mr. Speaker, to achieve this AIP within that time frame? Are we all at least agreed on that time frame to get this deal done?

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 184-15(5): Assistance Required To Build A United Northern Voice

Mr. Speaker, I can’t speak for all the leaders and say that we have this. I believe I have the agreement from all of those with settled claims to get on with getting this resolved and to be able to begin to, as I say, exercise the benefits out of their claims. Those without claims I’m not sure. I’m not sure whether they see this, as I said earlier, the highest priority. But, Mr. Speaker, I want to emphasize, I’m not trying to speak on behalf of all the regional leaders. That’s not my place. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Handley. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 184-15(5): Assistance Required To Build A United Northern Voice

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. For those First Nations that do not yet have a settled claim, recognizing that situation, respecting it, should we be considering that as a reason for us all not to join together? Is that in effect a deal breaker, Mr. Speaker?

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Mr. Handley.

Further Return To Question 184-15(5): Assistance Required To Build A United Northern Voice

Mr. Speaker, not in my mind. I think we can work out a deal that can be worked out either regionally or with those who have settled claims and do it in a way that doesn’t compromise the rights of those who have not settled claims yet. I think that can be done.

Mr. Speaker, I might say that that is the message that I have heard from Minister Prentice as well. So politically he’s on side, I’m on side, if those with settled claims are on side then let’s get on with the job and let’s do it in a way that doesn’t compromise someone else’s rights and benefits. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.