Thank you, Mr. Pollard. So, where there is a will, there is a way. Audits and evaluation. Operations and maintenance, total O & M, $3.337 million.

Details of grants and contributions, grants, total grants, $4.354 million.

Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Mr. Ningark. Minister Pollard.

Thank you, Minister Pollard. We were in grants and contributions and it was agreed upon. We are on to page 02-31, detail of work performed on behalf of third parties. It is information. On to page 02-32, detail of work performed on behalf of third parties, total program, $7.832 million.

Back to page 02-25, program summary, total O & M, $43.011 million.

Does the committee agree that we have concluded the Financial Management Board Secretariat?

What is the wish of the committee? I am sorry, can we excuse the witness now? On behalf of the committee, Minister Pollard, I would like to thank you and your witness for appearing before the committee. What is the wish of the committee? Mr. Zoe.

Mr. Chairman, as you are aware, the Department of Executive has three separate and distinct programs which make up that department. We have already dealt with the Executive offices and now we have concluded the Financial Management Board Secretariat. There is another program department, that being Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs. I believe the Members on this side of the House and those three in that corner agreed that we should proceed with the last program department within the Department of Executive. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Zoe. Does the committee agree?

We have agreement. If you would proceed, Minister Kakfwi. Minister Kakfwi, would you have a statement you would like to deliver to us? Thank you.

Intergovernmental And Aboriginal Affairs, Introductory Remarks

Mr. Chairman, the Ministry of Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs remains part of the Department of Executive for administrative purposes.

I should start out by saying that I believe there have been some significant achievements this past year. The TFN claim settlement legislation came into effect on July 9, 1993, as well as the act to establish a Nunavut territory by 1999. Implementation of both has now begun.

The new Liberal government has promised to review the federal land claims policy. It is prepared to create an independent claims commission to speed up and facilitate the resolution of all claims. It will seek mutual acceptance with treaty First Nations on a process to give contemporary interpretation to treaties and to take the lead in trilateral negotiations involving provinces to determine responsibilities for Metis and off-reserve Indians.

The Sahtu Dene and Metis claim was ratified by the Dene-Metis on July 9, 1993, and we expect that the federal settlement legislation will be considered by the federal government in Cabinet early this year.

The North Slave -- that is the Dogrib Treaty 11 Council -- has proposed their regional claim to the government and it has been accepted by the federal government and the negotiation process has begun. Documents, including draft interim protection measures, have been tabled with the Dogrib and the first formal negotiation session will be held in Rae Lakes during the week of February 21, 1994, which is this week.

The NWT Treaty 8 First Nations have been negotiating a framework with Canada to guide their treaty land entitlement process and it is expected that this will also outline the participation of this government in such a process when programs, services and jurisdictions are affected.

The Deh Cho Tribal Council has recently written to both governments proposing a memorandum of understanding on a process for resolving various aboriginal rights issues in the region. The federal government has rejected the MOU stating there are two processes presently available for the Deh Cho: a comprehensive claim process or treaty land entitlement process. The proposed MOU appears to go far beyond what the federal government is willing to negotiate in either process, so we do not anticipate any further progress prior to the review of the federal land claims policy.

A framework agreement to negotiate the Inuit of Nunavik offshore claim has been completed between Canada and Makivik Corporation and this was signed in October of 1993. Negotiations for the establishment of interim protection measures are under way. Formal negotiations on the claim itself will begin after Makivik tables a comprehensive position, expected in April of this year. The framework agreement anticipates a three year time frame to complete this offshore claim. As a government, we will participate as a member of the federal negotiating team.

In 1993, Cabinet approved and signed the Inuvialuit land usage and access agreement which was negotiated between ourselves and the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation. In addition, implementation of the final agreement is proceeding well. The second ten year omnibus treasury board submission for implementation funding is currently being negotiated.

While the settlement of claims has been and remains a top priority of Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, the rational development of public regimes for land and water management has become an important aspect of claim implementation.

It has been this government's position that these boards should be implemented with territorial legislation in the context of a transfer of overall responsibility for renewable resources and minerals, consistent with the political constitutional evolution of the north. Consequently, much of the burden has fallen on this government to protect the rational development of public land and water management regimes. We believe this can be accomplished without prejudice to provisions outlined in the land claims agreements.

The Prime Minister's statements at the opening of the new Legislative Assembly building in support of an accelerated pace of devolution to this government was encouraging and is consistent with our government's comprehensive approach, long-term plans and efforts, to date, for the transfer of remaining provincial-type powers, programs and responsibilities. The ministry has been coordinating the development of GNWT positions, priorities and consultative measures with departments, agencies and organizations and this work will continue over the next year.

In response to the passage of the Nunavut Act, the former federal Minister of DIAND made a commitment to amend the NWT Act, including the extension of the term of the Assembly to reflect the provincial powers. We will encourage the new federal government to act on this commitment, as it would provide another opportunity to coordinate amendments necessary for western constitutional development and devolution.

In developing a comprehensive approach to political and constitutional development of the NWT, a Constitutional Development Steering Committee, was created to replace the former Committee of Political Leaders, in February of last year. Membership consists of leaders of aboriginal organizations, western MLAs, a representative of the women's organizations and three non-aboriginal representatives.

The CDSC mandate remains the same as the Committee of Political Leaders: to design, implement and guide the process of developing a constitution and structure of government for the western territory. The committee will deliberate how substantive decisions on the constitution will be made and how a final proposal will be formally ratified.

Nine-member organizations are completing research on means to implement self-government in the context of establishing a new western territory. The CDSC has approved a work plan and twelve principles to guide the western constitutional process. The work plan provides for constitutional conferences in September 1994 and February 1995, completion of a constitutional proposal by May 1995, a plebiscite on the proposal in September 1995, and the establishment of a western implementation commission to make recommendations for the establishment of a public government for the new western territory. It is currently negotiating with DIAND for federal financial support and participation in the CDSC process.

The community transfer initiative is in support of this government's commitment to recognize and encourage community self-government. It is a comprehensive approach to enhance community authority and provide maximum local flexibility in delivering programs and services. To date, more than 20 western Arctic and 20 eastern Arctic communities have expressed interest in the initiative. Regional bodies such as the Keewatin Regional Council, the Kitikmeot Inuit Association, the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation and the Gwich'in, Sahtu and Dogrib Tribal Councils have also expressed varying levels of interest in the community transfer initiative. The working group has conducted community-based workshops in over two dozen communities and at a number of regional council sessions.

The goal of the community transfer initiative is to pave the way for communities to restore local responsibility and independence by transferring responsibility for government programs, services and equivalent resources to enable community governments to address local problems while incorporating "home grown" strategies. It is anticipated that more efficient, responsive and cost-effective northern government will result in the long term.

This initiative is community driven and priorities for transfer are established by communities. It is a cooperative process that will be formalized through community transfer agreements which will describe both the programs and services being transferred and the scope and authority that communities wish to assume after transfer.

Aspirations for self-government continue to affect the strategic planning of all aboriginal organizations. The Liberal government is acting on the assumption that the inherent right of self-government is an existing aboriginal and/or treaty right protected by section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982. The Minister of DIAND has begun six months of consultation with governments and aboriginal leaders regarding means for implementing the right.

The Gwich'in and Sahtu final agreements include self-government framework agreements which commit governments to negotiate self-government agreements with the claimants at their request. The Dogrib claim will likely include similar provisions. This government has indicated its willingness to participate in self-government negotiations with the Inuvialuit on a similar basis as the Gwich'in and Sahtu.

No self-government negotiations have begun and none are anticipated in the immediate future. Research papers being prepared by all the western aboriginal organizations for the Constitutional Development Steering Committee should provide a good idea of where each group is coming from on this complex subject. Self-government negotiations have the potential to be affected by the promised federal land claims review and by the federal government's assumption that the inherent right is protected under section 35.

The Nunavut Act, as I said, was given royal proclamation last July, thus creating, among other things, the Nunavut Implementation Commission to provide advice on the establishment of Nunavut. Appointment of the chairman and members of this implementation commission were announced in December 1993. The commission had its first meeting in Rankin Inlet in January and met again in Ottawa on February 1, 2 and 3, 1994. Simon Awa has been appointed as the executive director for the Nunavut Implementation Commission and several subcommittees of commissioners have been assigned to review specific issues. The commission's head office is located in Iqaluit.

Nunavut Tungavik Incorporated, the federal government and this government agreed to continue the tripartite Nunavut Steering Committee, which was established in 1990 to oversee the implementation of article four of the TFN agreement. The steering committee recently changed its name to the Nunavut Liaison Committee to more accurately reflect their new role. The liaison committee met with the Nunavut Implementation Commission to provide background information for the commissioners and to offer interim administrative assistance to the Nunavut Implementation Commission through a small tripartite transition office, located in Ottawa.

The ministry continues to provide advice on policy development relating to the political and constitutional aspects of the creation of Nunavut and division in general. It will continue to monitor the work and advice of the Nunavut Implementation Commission to ensure there's a balance between the creation of two new territories and that the interests of all residents are taken into account.

Over the last year, the ministry has provided support to the Legislative Assembly for the strategic planning workshops, the Nunavut leaders' meeting and the Caucus working group on division. I believe both the government and the Assembly has benefitted from this cooperation.

The Government of the Northwest Territories has become a full participant in meetings involving provincial colleagues and the federal government. The ministry provides support for the Government Leaders' office for NWT participation at all First Ministers' meetings, the annual Premiers' conference and the western Premiers' conference.

The ministry hosted Ministers with responsibility for Aboriginal Affairs and national aboriginal leaders in Inuvik in July 1993, to provide a forum for discussion of aboriginal political and constitutional issues. This meeting acted as preparation for aboriginal participation at the annual Premiers' conference in August 1993, and a subsequent meeting with the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples in Toronto in early February. It also provided the impetus for ongoing, annual meetings of this nature.

Finally, the ministry is coordinating a review by senior GNWT officials of circumpolar and international relations, initiatives and priorities in an effort to take advantage of opportunities for this government and for the north to strengthen its relations with other northern regions in a cost-effective way and to foster opportunities for northern businesses in other circumpolar countries.

Those are the opening comments I have at this time.

Thank you, Minister Kakfwi. Representation of the Finance committee, Mr. Zoe, I believe.

Standing Committee On Finance Comments

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. With regard to Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs, the Standing Committee on Finance was unable to proceed on two separate occasions to review the Ministry of Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs operations and maintenance budget. Mr. Chairman, this was due to the inability of the Minister or a representative to appear before the committee. Therefore, these estimates will be considered on the floor of the Legislative Assembly, in committee of the whole. That, basically, Mr. Chairman, concludes the report of the Standing Committee on Finance pertaining to Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs and also concludes the overall Department of the Executive. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Zoe. Ministry of Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs. General comments. Mr. Lewis.

General Comments