Debates of February 15, 2017 (day 53)

Date
February
15
2017
Session
18th Assembly, 2nd Session
Day
53
Members Present
Hon. Glen Abernethy, Hon. Tom Beaulieu, Mr. Blake, Hon. Caroline Cochrane, Ms. Green, Hon. Jackson Lafferty, Hon. Bob McLeod, Hon. Robert McLeod, Mr. McNeely, Hon. Alfred Moses, Mr. Nadli, Mr. Nakimayak, Mr. O'Reilly, Hon. Wally Schumann, Hon. Louis Sebert, Mr. Simpson, Mr. Testart, Mr. Thompson, Mr. Vanthuyne
Topics
Statements

Question 578-18(2): Deline Self-Government Agreement

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last September 1st we saw the first community-based self-government in Deline, the Deline Got'ine Government, and since the birth of this historic milestone, my question to the Premier is: to enhance and develop a model for others, what is this government doing since the signing of that agreement last September? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Masi. The Honourable Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, along with the Member from Sahtu, was very pleased to be in Deline on September 1st to help celebrate the implementation of the Deline Final Self-Government Agreement, and since then our government has been working with the Deline Got'ine Government and the Government of Canada to fulfill this self-government aspirations of the Deline Got'ine Government as set out in their Final Self-Government Agreement.

Our government is committed to working in partnership with the Deline Got'ine Government to build capacity within our respective governments to improve program and service delivery to residences of the Deline district, and in the coming weeks, representatives from our government and the Deline Got'ine Government will be discussing an approach to formalizing the government-to-government relationships between our governments. Going forward with implementation we will be able to work with the other self-government communities in the Sahtu so that they can reach their final agreements and they can learn from what we did in Deline. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

To better develop a model on a cooperation action plan through a series of collaborations, for example, will the Premier commit to having this team meeting with the DGG Government team to develop this action plan as a start?

Recently, our government and the Deline Got'ine Government collaborated on the delivery of a lands administration course to the Deline Got'ine Government, and this is to improve the capacity of both of our governments to understand and manage the Land Administration Program. Also, through the Deline Self-Government Agreement Implementation Committee, we will collaborate on future initiatives that will support program and service delivery improvements in the Deline district. The representatives on this committee will also work so that we can pass on this information to the other communities in the Sahtu, and as a result we'll have an action plan and we'll also see more immediate progress on those negotiations as well.

Will the Premier commit to sending me a schedule on the implementation committee and their progress that was made and the future schedule so I can keep posted on the program delivery initiatives of both governments?

I'd be pleased to do that, and I'd like to advise the Member that the first Deline Implementation Committee meeting was held on January 12, 2017, here in Yellowknife, and going forward we'll advise him of the schedule and the progress that we're making.

Speaker: MR. SPEAKER

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Deh Cho.