Thank you, Mr. Chair. I agree we have so much red tape in the Northwest Territories that we could probably wrap this Legislative Assembly a number of times over and not find our way out. It has been a concern, especially when we talk to small business, the amount of hoops you have to go through to get some assistance to try and develop a small business. It is even more so a concern for the larger groups and developments.
Now we know there has to be some regulatory process in place that would ensure the land and water that keeps the North as it is protected. But we also have to find a way of reducing the amount. There are numerous organizations that take care of our land and water for us. I believe that is why we have to pressure the federal government to continue devolving responsibilities to the Northwest Territories, so that we can deal with our issues at home. We have a better feel for how it is going, and we have communities who have a better feel of how they want to see development happen.
But right now it is out of our hands and it becomes adversarial. We have to find a way of bringing that to the North so we have control over it, and we can implement or get rid of some of the regulation out there.
The Government of the Northwest Territories itself tried, in the 13th Assembly, to bring back an “ominous bull”, as they called it, to get rid of some of this red tape. Sadly, though, as it came forward, it was nothing like what was discussed initially. It touched on a lot of housekeeping issues, but never really got to the crux of the issue of how do we clean it up, make it accountable, and make things flow so that when new opportunities develop in the North, businesses are clear on the processes they have to use. That is where we are going to have to go.
We are going to have to work with the feds and, again, develop partnerships with the aboriginal governments. What process is the best process for all of us? It is the Northwest Territories - it is time that we move past the baby feeding of Ottawa. Thank you.