Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure today to announce that our government has developed a broader approach to western governance that recognizes aboriginal people's inherent right to self-government and is based upon a vision of people and governments working together in partnership at the community, regional and territorial level.

Central to the government's new approach is a vision of society in the western NWT. Our vision is of a society that:• encourages people to work together in their communities;

• respects the inherent rights of aboriginal people;

• is fair to all people;

• supports the efficient delivery of services;

• brings decision making closer to the people;

• creates a stable economic and political environment; and

• supports a strong and unified territory within Canada.

Later today, I will table the document Key Features of western NWT Society that outlines the principle elements of our approach to western governance. I have directed my officials to review our current mandates and instructions for consistency with our vision. We will then proceed to discuss our new approach at the various negotiating tables. As well, the government plans to provide a public information package on the vision of society in the western NWT and hold discussions with western leaders and other stakeholders. Mr Speaker, I would like to tell my colleagues in this Assembly about the path Cabinet took that led us to this new vision.

The GNWT has long recognized aboriginal people's inherent right of self-government and we are committed to working with the aboriginal peoples of the western NWT to negotiate a fair implementation of their rights.

On August 1, 1995, the Government of Canada released its policy on the Inherent Right of Self-government. That policy expressed a preference that in the western NWT, the inherent right be implemented primarily, although not exclusively, through public government.

Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the members of the Inherent Right Working Group for the commitment and open-mindedness that enabled them to forge a set of common recommendations. The matters they dealt with were challenging, but they persevered and produced a common set of recommendations that each party felt met their most basic interests.

Mr. Speaker, that was an important message. The members of the Inherent Right Working Group demonstrated that people can work together to find common solutions to common problems. Mr. Speaker, the government has developed a broader approach which will recognize aboriginal governments and allow aboriginal peoples to develop a more flexible approach, a partnership approach, because when we reviewed our initial vision for governance in the western NWT against these developments, we knew it came up short. In developing our approach, the government has paid close attention to the recommendations of the Inherent Right Working Group on structures of government and extent of jurisdiction and we believe that our approach is compatible with those recommendations.

Mr Speaker, the GNWT understood that leaving things the way they were was not an option. This government recognizes and respects the legitimate roles of aboriginal and public governments. We are committed to recognizing the important role aboriginal governments will play in the new Western Territory. We are also committed to finding an approach to governance that supports people in our communities and regions working together, setting priorities and designing programs that meet their needs.

Mr. Speaker, our vision of a western NWT society will enable people and governments to work together to build a society we will be proud to pass on to our children. Mahsi Mr. Speaker, Thank you.

--Applause