This is page numbers 143 - 169 of the Hansard for the 12th Assembly, 6th Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was federal.

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Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Thank you, Madam Speaker.

WHEREAS, the Legislative Assembly has requested the Premier and Minister of Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs to follow-up and seek clarification from the Prime Minister and DIAND Minister on federal policies and initiatives relating to division of the Northwest Territories, public and aboriginal government and devolution;

AND WHEREAS, it is understood that the DIAND Minister is prepared to provide the Legislative Assembly with clarification of federal policies and broad statements of principle respecting a number of issues relating to the Northwest Territories;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Nunakput, that the Speaker be authorized to invite the Honourable Ron Irwin, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, to appear before the Legislative Assembly in committee of the whole on a date certain convenient to the Minister and the Speaker.

Thank you.

The Deputy Speaker Brian Lewis

Thank you. Your motion is in order. To the motion. Madam Premier.

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Madam Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to provide some brief remarks in support of the motion.

The Deputy Speaker Brian Lewis

Madam Premier, I just want to ask Mr. Kakfwi who is the mover, and also to ask the seconder if they did want to take first opportunity, according to our rules, to speak to the motion. If not, then you can proceed. Mr. Kakfwi, did you intend to make any type of remarks on your motion?

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Thank you, Madam Speaker. During the April 1994 strategic planning workshop in Fort Smith, Members of this Legislative Assembly in Caucus directed the Premier and I to take steps which would provide clarification on the federal government's policies as they relate to the implementation of aboriginal government and the evolution of public government in the Northwest Territories.

More specifically, Caucus directed that the Premier and I seek this clarification directly from the Prime Minister and the Minister of DIAND, not only on behalf of the west but also because of the implications these would have on the future of Nunavut.

During the course of the summer, the Premier raised this matter with the Prime Minister on two occasions, including in a First Ministers' meeting in July and the second time when she met privately with the Prime Minister on August 21st during the course of the royal visit.

The need for clarification was also raised by the Premier or myself on three separate meetings with Minister Irwin. I should also note that the federal and territorial officials have collaborated over the last few months to determine if the DIAND Minister is in a position to make a statement as opposed to writing a letter, on the evolution of public and aboriginal government in the west.

Recently, Minister Irwin indicated he would be prepared to make a broad statement which provides principles and clarification of federal policies as requested in Fort Smith, and that he would be prepared to deliver this statement before the Legislative Assembly. It should be noted that the Minister has also been encouraged to use his remarks to reaffirm the federal commitment to the creation of Nunavut by April 1999. Members should also be aware that the Minister has committed to meeting with the Constitutional Development Steering Committee, given the implications which the principles and clarifications in his remarks could have for the upcoming constitutional conference and a new western territory.

I urge Members to support this motion. The Premier and I have responded to the best of our ability over the last few months. We believe that Minister Irwin addressing the Assembly gives us and the public an excellent opportunity to receive first-hand response to some of the issues which were raised during the Fort Smith strategic planning workshop, and to have these remarks on the public record. Thank you.

The Deputy Speaker Brian Lewis

Thank you. Seconder to the motion, Madam Premier.

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Madam Speaker, as seconder of the motion, I would like to provide a few brief remarks in support of the motion.

When the House reconvened on Wednesday, I made reference to the work that Minister Kakfwi and I have done over the summer months in inviting Minister Irwin to this House. As I stated in my remarks, we are concerned that various federal statements regarding self-government and treaty land entitlement in the western NWT have meant different things to different people and are creating a range of expectations. We need a greater degree of clarity and certainty about these matters. I went on to state that Minister Irwin has indicated his willingness to speak on the self-government matters and also on issues such as devolution, the evolution of public government in a western territory and the implementation of a Nunavut territory by April 1999.

Finally, Madam Speaker, given current fiscal realities, we should expect that Minister Irwin may also offer some thoughts on setting realistic expectations, particularly because of the federal program and budget reductions.

In closing, I want to advise Members that Minister Irwin was initially reluctant to appear before the House because he might be perceived as a federal governor directing the colonial administration on how to conduct itself.

Madam Speaker, I'm sure I speak for all Members in stating that this House has evolved to the stage where its status is not compromised by the offer of timely and welcome input by a Minister of the federal government. Madam Speaker, I urge all Members to support this motion. Thank you.

The Deputy Speaker Brian Lewis

Thank you. To the motion. The honourable Member for Deh Cho, Mr. Gargan.

Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I, too, support the motion. It is based on what the federal Liberal party's mandate is with regard to the aboriginal communities in its efforts to address the obstacles to their development and to help them marshall the human and physical resources necessary to sustain a viable community.

Madam Speaker, in the Deh Cho region, there are two MLAs who represent 10 aboriginal communities. Those 10 aboriginal communities each have their own agenda of their own political initiative. That initiative shouldn't deter from the Liberal's own position regarding the inherent right to self-government and existing aboriginal and treaty rights. Madam Speaker, for the record, we have a federal policy regarding aboriginal rights and rights that can be extended under the red book of the Liberal government.

I would hope that when Mr. Irwin comes here, he doesn't come under any illusion that he comes with a different platform as opposed to what the Liberal government has already promised the aboriginal people.

The Deputy Speaker Brian Lewis

Thank you. To the motion. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Antoine.

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. I, too, would like to see the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development address us here in this Legislative Assembly. I would like to have the opportunity, however, to be able to question the Minister. The purpose of the visit, according to the Honourable Minister Stephen Kakfwi, is for clarification of the federal government's position. To just have the Minister give us a statement and leave may raise more questions. There may be a requirement for more clarification after he makes the statement. I would like to have an opportunity to try to further clarify any statement the Minister may give in this House.

I, too, agree with the Premier, the Honourable Nellie Cournoyea, that to invite Minister Ronald Irwin here is not to get direction from the big federal government and to have them tell us what to do. I come from an area where we are fiercely independent. We don't like people telling us what to do and I'm sure people in the north feel the same. We don't want somebody from Ottawa telling us what to do. I don't expect to hear that kind of message. For that reason, as well, I would like to be able to question the Minister when he comes into the House to give a statement.

You must realize that there are regions that have reached settlement and other regions that don't have claims. You must go back into history when, 20 years ago, the whole notion of aboriginal rights was thrown out by the federal government. We have evolved quite a bit in dealing with aboriginal issues. Now we are even talking about aboriginal self-government. That is a big evolution.

As well, I don't want to see the territorial government and the Ministers here try to put roadblocks in front of those groups that are not negotiating their own areas, but are endeavouring to make arrangements with the federal government, just because there aren't claims in their regions. I don't want them to take this opportunity to set parameters and principles that will deter other regions from reaching their initiatives.

I just wanted to make those comments, but I will support this motion. Thank you.

The Deputy Speaker Brian Lewis

Thank you. To the motion, the honourable Member for Aivilik, Mr. Arvaluk.

James Arvaluk Aivilik

Just a quick question to the mover. In the second paragraph, it says, "the DIAND Minister is prepared to provide the Legislative Assembly with clarification of federal policies and broad statements of principles." In that case, will we be able to ask questions, as Members, directly to the Minister directly after the statement made by him?

The Deputy Speaker Brian Lewis

Mr. Arvaluk, when we debate a motion, you can make comments and state concerns within your discussion of the motion. In his final response as the mover of the motion, Mr. Kakfwi may respond to those concerns, or he may not. While you are discussing any type of motion in the House, you are not allowed to ask questions of the mover. The honourable Member for Aivilik, Mr. Arvaluk.

James Arvaluk Aivilik

Thank you, Madam Speaker. With the understanding that if we approve this motion, we won't be able to ask questions directly to the Minister of Indian Affairs and raise the numerous concerns we have, and also because the Nunavut Implementation Commission, along with the Nunavut Caucus and NTI have been working with the federal government already on Bill 132 -- or whatever it is called, the bill respecting article four of the land claims agreement -- and there have been problems with definitions already, I won't be supporting the motion. It will not allow me to get clarification regarding the implementation. Qujannamiik.

The Deputy Speaker Brian Lewis

Thank you. To the motion. The honourable Member for Inuvik, Mr. Koe.

Fred Koe Inuvik

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. I will be supporting the motion but I want to reiterate some of the statements raised by my colleague from Nahendeh. There are many types of negotiations taking place. The Delta-Beaufort is negotiating with the federal and territorial governments on a regional government concept, there are initiatives in the Deh Cho, there are initiatives with Treaty 8, there are self-government initiatives with the Dogrib and the Sahtu and other types of arrangements that these groups are working on.

The Government of the Northwest Territories has, traditionally, been part of the federal negotiating team. As such, I hope the Minister doesn't come intending to set too strict parameters because these negotiations, in many cases, are just starting. I don't want to undermine and I want to respect the positions taken by these various groups. Mahsi.

The Deputy Speaker Brian Lewis

Thank you. To the motion. The honourable Member for North Slave, Mr. Zoe.

Henry Zoe

Henry Zoe North Slave

Thank you, Madam Speaker. I, too, will be supporting this motion that has been put forward by the honourable Minister for Intergovernmental Affairs. Madam Speaker, my interpretation of the motion we are dealing with is that it would allow us, under our current rules, to ask questions with committee of the whole. I haven't a big problem because the rules for committee of the whole addresses that concern. As well, under rule 97 with regard to witnesses, the Members of committee of the whole can ask questions to the Minister. So, in that respect, Madam Speaker, these allow Members to question the Minister when he does appear before us. So, I will be supporting this particular motion. Thank you.

The Deputy Speaker Brian Lewis

Thank you. To the motion.

An Hon. Member

Question.

The Deputy Speaker Brian Lewis

Question has been called. All those in favour? All those opposed? The motion is carried, unanimously.

---Carried

Item 18, motions. Item 19, first reading of bills. The honourable Member for Hay River, Mr. Pollard.

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 1, 1995-96
Item 19: First Reading Of Bills

Page 165

John Pollard Hay River

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Baffin Central, that Bill 1, Appropriation Act, No. 1, 1995-96, be read for the first time. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 1, 1995-96
Item 19: First Reading Of Bills

Page 165

The Deputy Speaker Brian Lewis

Thank you. The motion is in order. To the motion.

Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 1, 1995-96
Item 19: First Reading Of Bills

Page 165

An Hon. Member

Question.