Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The Chair recognizes Mr. Kakfwi, then Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The issue of governance was high in the former Legislature. The way we govern ourselves and the issue of self-government.

Fundamentally, our elders, our women, our children, our families, all want good programs as well as fair and equitable

services. I believe that is what those forms of government should strive for.

For instance, in the Territory today we are quickly accepting, as permanent fixtures in the political landscape, regional forms of autonomy. They are called forms of government, but they are there.

In the North, we have the Gwich'in and the Inuvialuit negotiating a form of government for that region. They want resources for it. They want power. They want authority.

The Sahtu has always taken a strong position that they want a form of regional autonomy. They would be negotiating for themselves in a form of self-government.

The Deh Cho proposal embodies that need, that call by aboriginal people in the region to have some form of government for themselves that gives them the autonomy they need to survive as a people.

The Dogribs just negotiated an agreement-in-principle that embodies their desire.

These are regions that are forming, and we have to address that as a government. We have to reorganize internally and regionally to recognize that there are no longer Fort Smith regions and Inuvik regions that we can rationally continue keeping in place. We have to change with it.

In regard to specific things in health and social services, I know there is a report on health and social services, and that a forum was set up. This government and this Legislature has to look at it I believe in the retreat and the Caucus we have in February. One of the things we have to look at is the report on health and social services that was put before the previous government. There is one on education. The new Premier and the new Ministers have to look at that. I think we can put out a plan that will improve on the present situation. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi. I am just going to point out that I am the Chair of the committee, and not the Speaker. We will now recognize the Member from Inuvik Boot Lake, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I think we are going to have to sit down as Members and set priorities. As we have seen in the last couple of weeks, the fiscal outlook today for this government is not a good one. So we need to sit down as a team and look at our priorities. What is important to us? What areas can we continue to work on and expand? What areas are we going to have to look at lowering?

For example, we know we need to get new revenues to keep our programs. That has to be one of the biggest priorities. Residents of the Northwest Territories expect a level of delivery of programs and services that meet their needs.

Now in the campaign in Inuvik, there was a lot of concern over education and health and social services, as I am sure we have heard throughout the Territories. But to meet the demands that are placed on the table today with the existing resources, we will not be able to manage. As Members, your view is important to begin that planning process, to set priorities. We have to set new priorities for the new government. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. The Chair recognizes Mr. Handley, the Member for Weledeh.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I would like to ask a question of both candidates for Premier. The resolution and implementation of land claims, treaty entitlements and self- government agreements, in my view, is critical for all residents of the Northwest Territories. I think finalized settlements will move us along in terms of community wellness, will move us closer to resource revenue royalty sharing, increased economic activity, and provide much needed clarity on a lot of fronts. Some people have said the GNWT is not doing everything it can to facilitate these agreements. I would like to ask each candidate, what you would propose as Premier to facilitate fair and speedy resolution of these agreements?

Thank you, Mr. Handley. I will direct the question to Mr. Roland this time.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. As we have heard many times, it is critical that we bring closure to the ongoing discussions that are happening throughout the Territories.

I believe in a previous government, there were eight or nine tables of the self-government processes or land claims processes that were underway. We need to work and continue to work on the process that we started as the intergovernmental forum.

What are the key issues that we want to deal with first? I believe that if we continue to spread ourselves thin as we have in previous governments, we will still be muddled in mud for the life of this Assembly. We have to set clear priorities.

We know if we are going to get revenue resource sharing, that it is going to take partnerships with aboriginal groups - true partnerships, not ones that are forced. That does not work. You cannot forge partnerships by threats. I think we have to review the role that we have played and sit down in this intergovernmental forum and discuss with the aboriginal governments what their priorities are and see if we can adapt our government to fit that.

We are a government of all people and we have to recognize that. But it is going to be a process where it is a partnership between land claims groups and public government.

We have to continue to push the federal government to have a clear mandate because they are the ones that are setting the mandate, and that further confuses the issue for ourselves in the North. If we are going to make a difference in this Territory, we are going to have to go forward with one voice. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I go on the assumption that aboriginal people will have self-government. It is their right. They will also have land and resources for their government.

When I say I think we could do something for the Deh Cho, when I say we could do something for the Yellowknives Dene First Nations, in those areas where there is no resolution in sight, it is not because I am trying to be outrageous in my commitments. I truly believe it can be done.

What you need is a creative element to the approach, to the discussions, and the resolution to stay there and introduce a political element to the talks, to find some way to keep talking until there is a way to move it. I know it can be done. We cannot let our officials keep making and discussing these things. They need our support. They need our on the spot involvement. I think that is going to be critical and that is the commitment I make today.

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi. Any further questions for the candidates, Mr. Handley?

No.

The Chair recognizes the Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Nitah.

Thank you, Mr. Nitah. Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The big-ticket item that is before this government and aboriginal governments is a desire and a tentative agreement to meet together through the intergovernmental forum to discuss a number of things. One, in my view, is how aboriginal governments and leaders can have input into the direction and priorities that this Legislature has.

I am not sure the aboriginal governments will accept that invitation, but it is one that I have always proposed. The other is that we set up the intergovernmental forum to discuss how to take over the control of our future by creating a better public government and by creating aboriginal governments and making sure they have sufficient land, resources and revenues to build and serve the constituents.

Land claims have to be articulated by the aboriginal groups themselves. I have not been briefed on it recently. I am not the Minister responsible, but I know the type of things that the Yellowknives are immediately faced with are different than those faced by Lutsel'ke, Fort Resolution and Fort Smith.

There are different ideas and processes underway and the first thing to do is make a commitment to sit down and really understand what it is that they are trying to do, what is it that they want and see if there is any way that we can help to create some momentum. If there is an impasse, we will try to break that so everybody feels there is some movement and support for the things they are striving to do. I think that is something that is new. That is what I would do. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi. Would you like to ask another question, Mr. Nitah?

Thank you, Mr. Nitah. I think there is a question for each of the candidates. I will allow Mr. Roland to respond first.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. As pointed out by the Member for Tu Nedhe, land entitlement treaties was an ongoing issue for the lifetime of previous governments as well. For example, in the 12^th Assembly they had the CDSC process where a number of recommendations came out to the government to follow and implement. In the previous Assembly, we had the Constitutional Working Group.

In both of these it was very clear that if we wanted to see movement and partnerships develop here, it would have to be done in the true meaning of partnership, where we would see the land claims situation move parallel to this government.

They have to do some catching up and get settled before they are in a position to make decisions. I think we have to review the recommendations from previous governments and see what we can accomplish sitting down together with the aboriginal groups through the intergovernmental forum.

To go through a priority listing to ask ourselves what are the first things we can achieve within the life of this Assembly, and move forward on that basis. But I do not believe we can move forward in the same fashion that we have in the past, where we have sat down, talked with groups, and at the end of the day they walk out of the room feeling like they have been misled one more time.

There is a real feeling out there by groups that previous governments have not been trustworthy. They have said one thing and done another. I understand fully where they are coming from.

We are going to have to sit down with them. I believe the intergovernmental forum is the place where we start those discussions. It has been in the works for awhile, and I believe that is the proper way to go, where we sit government to government and nail out the priorities, and we can start building from those priorities. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. It is important to speak directly to aboriginal governments and aboriginal leaders. I think that is the most important thing, in response to Mr. Nitah's question. I made a commitment to meet with the Yellowknives and Deh Cho leaders to hear from them directly on what it is that they are setting as their goals and objectives. I would get briefed from the government's side.

That is the way to proceed. We hear directly from each other, and there is a commitment to meet for two or three days with each party to be clear and to assure them we have really heard what their position in division is. We have an opportunity to ask questions, for them to discuss ways in which these can be achieved and move along. That is what the commitment is, and that is the way to start.

There is a firm belief and support that the aboriginal leaders also support the intergovernmental forum. It is a forum where aboriginal governments will sit with the territorial and federal governments to discuss issues between governments.

I think it is a tremendous idea, and it will set the basis for establishing the relationships we all want to see developed. That is the forum that is going to do it. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi. The Chair recognizes Mr. Nitah.