Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I would like to speak to the motion and makes some comments on behalf of the Members of the Cabinet. Before I begin, I would like to note, for the record, Cabinet will be abstaining from the vote on this motion as per the usual custom of the House.
With that said, Mr. Speaker, it is important to state that Cabinet and the Government of the Northwest Territories fully supports the intent of this motion.
-- Applause
On behalf of Cabinet, I would like to thank Mr. Roland and Mr. McLeod for putting this motion forward and I hope all Members will support it.
Mr. Speaker, I had the pleasure of traveling to Fort Liard, along with Mr. Joe Handley and Mr. Mike McLeod, to attend the Aboriginal Leaders' Meeting on Oil and Gas on January 26, 2000. In fact, we arrived at the meeting while they were deliberating on this motion. They had unanimously agreed to work together to maximize ownership and benefits of the Mackenzie Valley pipeline.
Mr. Speaker, this was, indeed, a historic occasion. It was the first time, in my memory, since the Berger Inquiry that aboriginal leaders from up and down the valley and from all regions of this Territory had met to discuss the Mackenzie Valley pipeline. The recent meeting in Fort Liard shows how the attitudes towards development have changed since the Berger Inquiry.
This change has taken place because the aboriginal people of the Northwest Territories have taken huge strides in advancing their rights. They now wish to expand the benefits they received from resource development to include equity participation and ownership, in addition to jobs, training and business opportunities. Mr. Speaker, it was obvious from the discussion in Fort Liard, and the subsequent discussions that I had with aboriginal leaders, that aboriginal governments are ready to take on these types of projects.
More importantly, aboriginal people want to ensure equity participation in this and other large-scale resource development projects in the Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker, this is an important and historic statement, and one fully supported by this government. Mr. Speaker, as I stated earlier, this government is committed to the intent of this motion. I would, however, like to speak to two of the resolutions in particular.
First, the motion commits the 14th Legislative Assembly to work cooperatively with aboriginal governments to take control of the development of northern resources. Sharing control of northern resources with aboriginal governments is one of the five key components of the Agenda for the New North. This involves the sharing of the management and control of resource development and, more importantly, the revenues that accrue from the development of our resources. The Members of the 14th Legislative Assembly have generally agreed that the agenda will serve as the basis for establishing the priorities and direction for this Assembly. I would also note, Mr. Speaker, Members have agreed that this government must work in partnership with aboriginal governments on issues affecting the Northwest Territories.
Mr. Speaker, this government is of the view that the establishment of an intergovernmental forum and an ongoing governmental process is the best way to proceed on pursuing northern control of northern resources. Yesterday, Mr. Speaker, the Premier, Mr. Handley and myself met with aboriginal leaders from across the Northwest Territories to hold preliminary discussions on the establishment of this intergovernmental process. Northern control of northern resources was an issue that was discussed at some length at this meeting.
Mr. Speaker, the second resolution set out in the motion urges the government, in partnership with aboriginal governments, to actively promote the development of a natural gas pipeline through the Mackenzie Valley. Mr. Speaker, it is the view of this government that the Mackenzie Valley is the natural routing for such a pipeline. We are committed to working with aboriginal governments to actively promote this routing and to provide the support required to ensure that this project moves forward.
Before I end today, I would like to, again, commend aboriginal leaders for their accomplishment in Fort Liard. As the next step, aboriginal leaders have struck a working committee, chaired by Chief Harry Deneron of the Acho Koe Dene Band to work on building the business partnership necessary to move this project forward. The Government of the Northwest Territories is committed to working with and providing support to this committee to ensure that their work is successful. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
-- Applause
