Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is in response to a question asked by Mr. Krutko on September 25, 1998. It is regarding transfers of federal authorities to the north.
The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has been seeking the transfer of province-like responsibilities for land, water and non-renewable resources from the federal government since the mid-1980s. However, agreement on such a transfer through various framework agreements, negotiated accords and memoranda of understanding has not been successful.
In the absence of any final agreement, Cabinet directed in October 1997 that a number of actions be undertaken to further the GNWT's broader objective of increasing northern control over northern resources. Specific actions included:
- A common position with aboriginal organizations on the full devolution of federal responsibilities;
- Discussions with the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development (DIAND) on the decentralization of the Northern Affairs Program to the north;
- Discussions with DIAND regarding a proposal to include pre-bid qualifications in the process of issuance of petroleum rights in the Northwest Territories (NWT); and,
- Discussions with the federal government on resource revenue sharing arrangements.