Thank you, Mr. Chair. The federal government has a commitment to follow up on their commitments as they have signed off in the claims processes, so as part of those talks they will continue as well as ourselves will continue to consult with the aboriginal organizations to identify their interests regarding devolution. The whole issue of devolution is on the transfer of powers and programs of responsibilities of the federal government. It is a key element in overall completion of the agenda of responsible government and political control of natural resources through the GNWT which must provide for both protection of aboriginal rights and a meaningful role for aboriginal organizations. In that devolution process, Mr. Krutko, I have also written to the Prime Minister on the whole issue of responsible government and political development of the responsible government in the Northwest Territories, and we are presently, through the Minister of RWED, talking to the Minister responsible for Indian Affairs, Jane Stewart, in Ottawa on this whole issue. Aboriginal organizations will have to come to realize, those that do not want to move ahead on this issue, that the pie is only so big, it is not going to get a lot bigger, and we had better look at solving our own problems in the north, making the decisions in the north and getting control of northern resources. We have lived through this last process that we just went through, with the development of a diamond project north of here where some bureaucrat in Ottawa makes the decisions, I think that time should be long gone, and we should work together to move those things to the north. Thanks.
Don Morin on Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
In the Legislative Assembly on October 22nd, 1997. See this statement in context.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
October 22nd, 1997
Page 68
Don Morin Tu Nedhe
See context to find out what was said next.