This is page numbers 241 - 272 of the Hansard for the 13th Assembly, 7th Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was chairman.

Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Members will note that this is a page that lists revenues, so that is $4,000 in revenues that we see. That results from the $25 handling fee that the government charges every time we receive a cheque which is NSF.

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The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Thank you, Mr. Minister. At this time, I would like to recognize the Mayor from Inuvik, George Roach and Councillor Don Greg. Welcome to the Legislature.

--Applause

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The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

If that is the end of the questions, I would like to go back to page 233, operations and maintenance, program summary, $18.468 million. Agreed?

Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

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The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Total expenditures, $18.468 million. Agreed?

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

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The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

That completes the Financial Management Board Secretariat. I would like to thank the Minister and his witness. Mrs. Groenewegen.

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Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Are the P3 initiatives covered under FMBS, or will that come up later on? Did we miss that?

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The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

I would like to welcome the Minister and his witness back to the table. Could you clarify that point of P3, where does it fall within your mandate?

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Charles Dent

Charles Dent Yellowknife Frame Lake

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Financial Management Board Secretariat does the overall coordination for P3 projects within the government, but Members will find, in each department, an entry noting P3 initiatives within their budgets. Each departmental budget will contain the amounts for each specific project.

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The Chair

The Chair David Krutko

Thank you, Mr. Minister. That is the end of the comments on Financial Management Board. I would like to thank the Minister and his witness. What is the decision of the committee? To move to Aboriginal Affairs, which is, I

would like to recognize the Minister in charge of Aboriginal Affairs. Mr. Antoine, do you have any opening comments?

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Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Yes, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to present today the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs Budget as proposed in the 1999-2000 Main Estimates. Aboriginal Affairs is a small unit within the government, tasked with the responsibility for representing the government in land claims and self-government negotiations and in assisting our efforts to promote the political development of the Northwest Territories. To ensure the interests of government and residents are presented in these important negotiations, adequate resources must be dedicated to this task.

Over the last few years, the workload has increased as more negotiations have proceeded. The ministry has been restructured to do its work more efficiently and has recently added six new positions. Based on the current workload of Aboriginal Affairs, we are proposing a budget of $3.698 million representing 31 positions. The ministry has no capital budget and does not generate any revenue. Mr. Chairman, I can only reiterate, that as I have done in past years, the crucial and important nature of the work of Aboriginal Affairs in the further development of the Northwest Territories. I believe this budget will allow us to do so in an effective and efficient manner. Mahsi, Mr. Chairman.

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The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Antoine. I am going to ask Mr. Ootes if he would please deliver the committee's overview of the budget. Mr. Ootes.

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Jake Ootes

Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Madam Chairperson. Yes, I would like to present the Report of the Standing Committee on Resource Management and Infrastructure on the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs. General comments. The mandate of the ministry is to protect, develop and promote the interests of the territorial government and the residents of the Northwest Territories in the negotiation and implementation of land claims, self-government and treaty entitlement agreements and in the political and constitutional development of the western Northwest Territories; and to develop and maintain mutually beneficial working relations with the Aboriginal leadership.

The Standing Committee on Resource Management and Infrastructure met on November 24, 1998, to review the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs' 1999-2002 Business Plan. Committee Members reviewed the Ministry's draft 1999-2000 Main Estimates on March 25, 1999. During both reviews, the committee noted that the creation of two new territories, issues of western governance, ongoing land claims negotiations, self-government and major demographic shifts have contributed and will likely continue to press the operating parameters of the ministry. The committee noted during their review of the Ministry's draft 1999-2000 Main Estimate a $53,000, or a 1.41 percentage, projected decrease in operations and maintenance expenditures for the ministry from its 1999-2002 Business Plan.

Committee Members concluded that the Ministry's projected decline in expenditures would likely negatively affect the government's ongoing attempts to incorporate the interests of stakeholders and residents in the ongoing and complex aboriginal and territorial political process.

Representation: A Balanced Approach.

The committee expressed concern during the review of the business plan that the government's approach to the resolution of land claim, treaty entitlement and self-government issues may not be fully balanced, ensuring representation for all residents of the Northwest Territories. Committee Members agreed that it is essential that a strong central government be espoused at all negotiation tables.

Operational Audit.

The committee in its review of the Minister's opening remarks from the review of the business plans noted that an operational audit was recently performed on the ministry. The committee looks forward to receiving a briefing of the operational audit that was recently performed on the ministry, subject to Cabinet protocols concerning the release of selected documents.

Status of Claims.

Committee Members continue to be concerned regarding the status of land claims in the Northwest Territories. During discussions with the Minister, Members requested an update of the progress on each claim to date.

That concludes the Report on Aboriginal Affairs, Madam Chairperson.

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The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Ootes. At this time I will ask the Minister if he would like to bring witnesses from his department. Thank you, Mr. Antoine. The Minister would like to bring witnesses. Does the committee agree?

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Some Hon. Members

Agreed.

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The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Sergeant-at-Arms, would you please bring in the witnesses? Mr. Antoine, could you please introduce the witnesses for the record?

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Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Madam Chairperson. With me is Mr. Charles Overvold, to my left, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs, and we have Ms. Veronica Puskas, she is the senior financial and administration advisor. Thank you.

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The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Minister Antoine. Aboriginal Affairs. Are there any general comments? Mr. Krutko.

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David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Madam Chairperson. With regard to the status of land claims and the negotiation process. In last year's budget there was an increase in allocation of funds so that we could fill positions within the Department of Aboriginal Affairs to speed up negotiations with regard to the different claimant groups who are presently negotiating because of the workload on the individuals who were working, along with the number of claims that have started in which you have got the self-government negotiation process and the land claims process. There was a treaty entitlement process, so I would like to ask the Premier exactly what has happened in light of the increase in those positions? Do they find that they are making more progress or have the negotiations been pretty consistent, which were moving at the same pace? Can the Premier tell us if that influx of funds and the number of increased positions in the Aboriginal Affairs portfolio has helped move these negotiations along and where are all these negotiations today?

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The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Mr. Antoine.

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Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Madam Chairperson. Madam Chairperson, last year there was approval through the Legislative Assembly to increase the resources to the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs, and it was greatly appreciated because the ministry at that time had limited resources and very few staff to deal with the number of negotiations going on at the same time. With the additional resources and we have gone through a hiring process, we have added more positions and the negotiations are a lot better. It did not necessarily speed up the process, but it certainly made the job a lot easier. Everybody that is involved in the negotiations are working very hard. There are a number of processes that are going on and we have been participating fully at all these different negotiations that have been going on in the last little while, but certainly the resources are fully utilized to enhance our position at these negotiating tables. Thank you.

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The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Antoine. Mr. Krutko.

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David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Madam Chairperson. The other part of my question was in regard to the progress of these negotiations and what state they are at. Are they close to completion or are they at the AIP stage or are they, with regard to the self-government agreements, pretty close to being finalized? With regard to some, can the Premier tell me exactly what stage are all these negotiations today?

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The Chair

The Chair Jane Groenewegen

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Mr. Antoine.