Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As this is the opening of the final Session of this Legislative Assembly, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all Members of this House for their work over the past four years on behalf of the people of the Northwest Territories. Mahsi cho.
Mr. Speaker, during the last sitting of the Legislative Assembly in July, this Legislative Assembly passed Bill 15, An Act to Amend the Legislative Assembly and Executive Council Act. This bill, amongst other things, made changes to the electoral districts in the Northwest Territories by adding five additional seats for the upcoming election in December.
In its report to the Legislative Assembly, the Standing Committee on Government Operations made a number of recommendations. One of these recommendations, the inclusion of a sunset clause that will ensure that the 14th Assembly re-visits the issue of electoral boundaries, was supported by the government and resulted in a subsequent amendment to the bill.
The committee made other recommendations related to a political accord, a legal reference to the Supreme Court, the implementation of a 2/2/2 model for regional representation on Cabinet and the establishment of a Constitutional and Electoral Reform Commission.
With respect to these recommendations, I provided the government's initial views at the time. I also made a commitment to consult with all stakeholders to determine the level of support for these recommendations throughout the Northwest Territories.
On August 19th, I wrote to all aboriginal and public governments, land claims organizations, the NWT Chamber of Commerce, the Dene Cultural Institute, and the Status of Women Council of the NWT to solicit their views on the issues raised by the Standing Committee.
This letter also asked for the views of these organizations on the establishment of an intergovernmental process that would bring together representatives of public and aboriginal governments to discuss issues of common interest.
In addition, Mr. Speaker, Cabinet Ministers have been meeting individually with aboriginal governments and attending various summer gatherings over the course of the summer to discuss these and other matters. To date, Mr. Speaker, we have received responses from the following organizations across the North:
- Hamlet of Fort Providence;
- NWT Association of Municipalities;
- Town of Hay River;
- Salt River First Nation;
- Status of Women Council;
- NWT Chamber of Commerce;
- Town of Inuvik;
- Enterprise Settlement Council;
- Sahtu Secretariat Incorporated; and
- Sahtu Dene Council.
The City of Yellowknife wrote to inform us that they did not have an opportunity to discuss the matter but provided personal submissions from the mayor and two council members.
In summary, Mr. Speaker, few of the responses addressed the recommendations concerning regional representation, the legal reference or a political accord. Most focused on the issue of the establishment of a Constitutional and Electoral Reform Commission.
In general, the comments we received indicated an interest in pursuing discussions on constitutional and electoral reform in the Northwest Territories. However, this support was qualified by the need for input into these discussions from all levels of government and other stakeholders prior to the establishment of a new process.
Mr. Speaker, based on what we heard from our consultations, the government does not intend to bring forward legislation to create a Constitutional and Electoral Reform Commission during the life of this Assembly. Nor do we intend to bring forward legislation to implement the 2/2/2 model of representation recommended by the committee.
With respect to constitutional and electoral reform in the NWT, we remain of the view that there is a clear need for a broadly supported process. However, it is obvious from the responses received from various organizations throughout the North and in our discussions with aboriginal and public governments, that a great deal of work must be done to develop a consensus on how best to pursue this reform.
This government intends to continue this discussion with aboriginal and public governments over the remainder of our term and provide recommendations to the incoming Members of the 14th Assembly in the transition document on how to move this process forward.
We also intend to include recommendations in the transition document on the other issues raised by the committee.
Mr. Speaker, what became most apparent from our consultations on this matter was the high level of support for an intergovernmental process that would bring together aboriginal governments and public governments at the municipal, territorial and federal level.
Many of the organizations that responded indicated that such a government to government to government process is required, particularly as we continue to move forward on self-government negotiations. It is clear, Mr. Speaker, that this is the best process to deal with the negotiation of a political accord between aboriginal and public governments.
The government has been pursuing the establishment of such a process over the course of the summer. I intend to speak with the new Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs in the next few days to discuss ways to move this process prior to the end of the term of this government. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
--Applause