In the Legislative Assembly on July 29th, 1999. See this topic in context.

Question 250-13(7): Government Response To Aboriginal Request
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 700

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am going to quote something here.

Mr. Speaker, we, as elected representatives, have a responsibility to find a solution to this very difficult, diverse issue. I appeal to you, my honourable colleagues and to all parties in this debate, to reach out for a solution that will bring us together, reach out for a solution that will bring us together.

That is a quote from Hansard, March 24, 1999, by the Premier of the Government of the Northwest Territories. He goes on to say;

"My Cabinet colleagues and I are committed to using the time to work with aboriginal and community leaders to find a solution that can be supported in the west. In our view, building understanding of the issue and reaching a political resolution is critical if we are to move beyond this issue as a unified new territory."

Speaking to the Western Boundaries issue. That is what this government said on March 24, 1999. Our committee went out and tried to work not only with this government but the people in the western Arctic to come up with a political solution. I had the opportunity today, Mr. Speaker, to stand outside this Legislative Assembly with one of the leaders of the Aboriginal Summit while he spoke to the Premier of the Government of the Northwest Territories. What I would like to know now, Mr. Speaker, is what is the Government of the Northwest Territories going to do with the Aboriginal Summit's request, and what was that request to your government? Thank you.

Question 250-13(7): Government Response To Aboriginal Request
Item 6: Oral Questions

July 28th, 1999

Page 700

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

I would like to ask the Member for Tu Nedhe to try and clarify his question because I have not heard him make any reference to Bill 15, but that is what is in front of the committee. If it is making reference relating to that, you cannot ask it in question period. So I would like to ask the Member to clarify his question.

Question 250-13(7): Government Response To Aboriginal Request
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 700

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That is the reason I did not say Bill 15. I asked the Premier if he met with the leader of the Aboriginal Summit right outside of this building today. That leader, on behalf of the Aboriginal Summit, that is in full support of his request, requested the Premier, on behalf of the government to do something. What I would like to know is if he will consider it and what the request was? Thank you.

Question 250-13(7): Government Response To Aboriginal Request
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 700

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. The Premier, I have heard two questions.

Return To Question 250-13(7): Government Response To Aboriginal Request
Question 250-13(7): Government Response To Aboriginal Request
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 701

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, shortly before this session coming to the building, I ran into Mr. Gary Bohnet. He is the president of the Metis Nation. He is one of the co-chairs of the Aboriginal Summit. He did indicate to me that he got off a conference call with the Aboriginal Summit but not including Bill Erasmus, who is the co-chair, so I would not really call him the leader of the Aboriginal Summit. He did say to me that the other bare minimum that the Aboriginal Summit that he had on the conference call would accept from this Cabinet is that we, the Cabinet, accept the recommendations that we have been debating yesterday in this House in committee of the whole. That is the bare minimum. He did make reference to Bill 15, I believe. I tried to keep it out of there, but the debate in the House was recommendation. This is what he told me very briefly before coming in the House.

I did talk very briefly to my colleagues in the hallway coming into the House about it. It is not the adequate time for us to really grasp what the message was. We take very seriously these different requests that come from a representative of the Aboriginal Summit, and we have to take that into consideration. But we in this House, we in this government, we are considering his request, and he is going to have to give us some time to do that. Thank you.

Return To Question 250-13(7): Government Response To Aboriginal Request
Question 250-13(7): Government Response To Aboriginal Request
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 701

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. I would like to caution the Ministers too about responding to the bill that is in committee of the whole. Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Morin.

Supplementary To Question 250-13(7): Government Response To Aboriginal Request
Question 250-13(7): Government Response To Aboriginal Request
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 701

Don Morin Tu Nedhe

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On quoting out of Hansard, March 24, 1999, Minister's statements, that statement on behalf of the Government of the Northwest Territories, the Premier then says, "We as elected representatives, have a responsibility, we have a responsibility to find a solution to this very difficult, diverse issue." Does the Premier and his government, do you still have a responsibility? Is this statement still true today?

Supplementary To Question 250-13(7): Government Response To Aboriginal Request
Question 250-13(7): Government Response To Aboriginal Request
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 701

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. I am going to rule the question out of order because we all know, in this House, what the question is about. It is a matter that is in front of the committee. Oral questions. Mrs. Groenewegen.