Yes, this ministry here monitors the western constitutional development. We represent the government in that whole process by providing and trying to find the funds to make this thing work. The only sparse sponsorship that we have to provide the funds. At the same time we have in kind support. We have people on staff that have certain expertise such as constitutional lawyers and different people that have expertise in this area. So we are sponsoring it in that sense. In regards to settling outstanding lands claims, the land claims is initiated between the aboriginal organization, the aboriginal First Nations and the federal government. That is the land claims. They are dealing with land and resource issues and trying to bring certainty to that. We, as the government, know these territories. We have been part of that whole process. It is mainly between the federal government and the aboriginal people to settle these outstanding claims. We are encouraging that process. We are encouraging, we are supportive of the whole land claims process. We try to facilitate it. At the same time we also have to protect the interest of the NWT at the table, so real major discrepancies to the GNWT and the Northwest Territories do not happen. So we are there representing the interest of the NWT at this table. Thank you.
Jim Antoine on Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
In the Legislative Assembly on February 10th, 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
February 9th, 1997
Page 510
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
See context to find out what was said next.