Debates of November 30, 2007 (day 6)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister responsible for ITI. It’s in regards to my Member’s statement and the memorandum of understanding we have with the Gwich’in Tribal Council, and also the meeting that took place a week and a half ago in regards to the commitment that we have within those agreements to have ongoing meetings with the Gwich’in Tribal Council, its leadership, and its business community. Yet, Mr. Speaker, after talking to the president of the tribal council and a couple of the aboriginal leaders, there was very little by way of content at that meeting and information from this government to share in regards to the assessment that we have done over the years.

So, Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister, knowing that this agreement expires March 31st, 2008, which is four months down the road, and they have to come up with the renewal of a new agreement for April 1st this coming year, so I’d like to ask the Minister, has he received a report back in regards to this meeting and what are we doing to basically look at the evaluation of this agreement?

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Minister responsible for Industry, Tourism and Investment, Mr. Bob McLeod.

Return To Question 73-16(1): Memorandum Of Understanding With Gwich’in Tribal Council

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It was unfortunate that the meeting that the Member is referring to, that we were unable to attend because of a conflict in scheduling with some other commitments that we had here in Yellowknife. But we did rectify that by having the Premier and myself attend the meeting with all of the Gwich’in leadership and the president of the Gwich’in Tribal Council on Monday. We did have an opportunity to discuss the Gwich’in MOU, and I believe at the meeting all parties indicated they were very pleased with the performance of the MOU. There is a requirement for an evaluation of the MOU, which ends on March 31st, 2008. There are provisions for renewal. We have been working with the Gwich’in to finalize the evaluation requirements. We expect to have that evaluation done shortly. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Supplementary To Question 73-16(1): Memorandum Of Understanding With Gwich’in Tribal Council

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in regards to the evaluation of the MOU, they’re looking at five general areas. One is looking at meeting the MOU poses obligations. Two was meeting the MOU targets. Three is building Gwich’in business capacity. Four, providing benefits to Gwich’in beneficiaries. Five, meeting stakeholders’ expectations. I’d just like to ask the Minister, is it possible that we also include a sixth item to look at the recommendations by the Auditor General of Canada to see what are we doing as government to meet obligations under those land claims in light of the Auditor General’s report?

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 73-16(1): Memorandum Of Understanding With Gwich’in Tribal Council

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I just wanted to point out that the MOU and contracting wasn’t set up as a requirement of the land claim, but it was set up as a policy decision by this government. Having said that, we are prepared to include those recommendations by the Auditor General and include it in the evaluation.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Supplementary To Question 73-16(1): Memorandum Of Understanding With Gwich’in Tribal Council

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, is there a possibility of this government meeting again with the Gwich’in Tribal Council on the MOU prior to the expiry date, which is March 31st, to look at seeing exactly what the contents of the new agreement is going to look like, but, more importantly, ensuring they also are able to implement the agreements by way of the Auditor General report and other federal reports that have identified problems, especially in the implementation of land claim agreements?

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 73-16(1): Memorandum Of Understanding With Gwich’in Tribal Council

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We are prepared to meet with the Gwich’in leadership early in the new year to discuss the MOU. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Final supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Supplementary To Question 73-16(1): Memorandum Of Understanding With Gwich’in Tribal Council

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I heard the Minister mention that we don’t have an obligation under the land claim agreements. I believe we do, as someone who negotiated that agreement. There’s an economic measure which clearly identifies governments as an identity where they have to include aboriginal groups looking at the economic policies and procedures of this government and, more importantly, ensuring that we have access to economic opportunities. So I’d like to ask the Minister, are you open to going to the negotiating table and look at the land claim obligations in light of the Auditor General report?

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 73-16(1): Memorandum Of Understanding With Gwich’in Tribal Council

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We have had that issue clarified in the past and have discussed it before. We are quite prepared to discuss it in light of the Auditor General’s recommendations. Certainly I’m not looking at renegotiating the land claims agreement, but certainly we’ll clarify the arrangements. Thank you.