Mr. Speaker, I think that is part of the problem that is skirting this exchange. It is my view that we have to accept as political fact the debate about what happens, in large part, is not going to be decided in the confines of this House; that, as well as the larger constitutional political issues, involves more than just M.L.A.s and Ministers. It involves the Metis leaders, the Inuit leaders, the Dene Chiefs, and it applies to the same things as the community transfer initiatives, I think we should have some general parameters that would govern our approach to it. But, by and large, it has to be a community based developed joint approach, and the communities will be the ones who tell us what they are interested in talking about, how they want to talk about it, and what resources, if any, will be required to get into this approach. Any other kind of approach, any kind of prepackaged approach, is going to fail, because it will have come out of this Legislature, this government. The ownership that we need to develop by the people at the community level is not going to be there. I agree with the Member, if, for instance, Dene Chiefs want to go to Ottawa, and say "we will negotiate bilaterally with the federal government," they can do that. There is no difficulty with it whatsoever, but I believe the Member will agree that this is the prerogative for the communities to decide, and not the Members of this Legislature.
Stephen Kakfwi on Question O770-12(2): Status Of Program Transfer Document
In the Legislative Assembly on September 15th, 1992. See this statement in context.
Further Return To Question O770-12(2): Status Of Program Transfer Document
Question O770-12(2): Status Of Program Transfer Document
Item 5: Oral Questions
September 14th, 1992
Page 922
See context to find out what was said next.