Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Earlier this week Mr. Premier had an opportunity to meet with the new federal Minister Bernard Valcourt. I’d just like to ask the Premier a couple of questions. Firstly, I thought it was important to continue the momentum of NWT Days, especially with the new Minister of Northern Affairs and Northern Development Canada. Can I ask the Premier what topics were discussed at his meeting?
Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The honourable Premier, Mr. McLeod.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We had a very good meeting with the new Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, the Honourable Bernard Valcourt. We talked about quite a number of items. First and foremost, we discussed devolution. We discussed mining opportunities in the Northwest Territories. We discussed oil and gas. We talked about the negotiation of self-government and land claims agreements. We talked about trans-boundary water. We talked about the Dehcho First Nations and the bilateral process that we were both working on to advance on land issues. It was a very worthwhile meeting, and I think we’re going to have a very good working relationship with Minister Valcourt and I think he is going to be a very good Minister who will work with us to advance the priorities of the Northwest Territories.
I’m glad that he raised those issues. I’m just wondering, I think one of the particular files in the Northwest Territories, of course, is working with the Dehcho First Nations. I wonder if the Premier had the opportunity to raise that file as well.
I found Minister Valcourt to be very well briefed on all of the files and he was very knowledgeable about Dehcho First Nations. We discussed some issues that the grand chief had raised and the Minister indicated that his staff would be getting on the file right away.
I’m glad that he did raise those issues. I’m just wondering if there’s any timing for the Minister paying a visit to the Northwest Territories.
Minister Valcourt indicated that although he’d been a federal Minister in previous governments, he’s never had the opportunity to visit the Northwest Territories and that he was going to visit. At the first opportunity he’d be up here in the Northwest Territories.
Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.
