Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question today, Mr. Speaker, is to Mr. Antoine, the Minister responsible for Aboriginal Affairs. The Minister presented the document in the House a couple of days ago, Federal Support for Western Constitutional Process. The Minister acknowledged that we had a very crowded agenda. Some of the areas he identified as having priority was establishment of Nunavut. I am hoping that he also meant to talk about the establishment of the new western territory also. He talked about negotiating formula financing for both territories, streamlining government in accordance with fiscal restraint, continuing to negotiate aboriginal land claims, and then development of the constitution. I could not agree more with the Minister that it certainly is a very crowded agenda. In regards to the continuation of developing a constitution and the process that has been laid out, I would like the Minister to give some reassurance to the people of the Northwest Territories that there is a plan in place, in the event that a constitution is not passed through the federal Parliament, or first of all passed by the people of the Northwest Territories and then the federal Parliament, prior to 99. I believe that there are areas that have to be taken into consideration regardless whether we have a constitution or not, for example the boundaries commission. Can the Minister inform the House and more particularly the people of the Northwest Territories, the western territory, that there is a plan in place in the event that a constitution is not ready by 99? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Seamus Henry on Question 326-13(4): Plan For Western Constitutional Development
In the Legislative Assembly on February 14th, 1997. See this statement in context.
Question 326-13(4): Plan For Western Constitutional Development
Item 6: Oral Questions
February 13th, 1997
Page 644
Seamus Henry Yellowknife South
See context to find out what was said next.