Thank you, Minister Ootes. Item 6, oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Nitah.
Debates of Feb. 29th, 2000
This is page numbers 137 - 168 of the Hansard for the 14th Assembly, 2nd 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 development.
Topics
Return To Question 81-14(2): Aboriginal Treaty Rights For Education
Question 81-14(2): Aboriginal Treaty Rights For Education
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 154
Supplementary To Question 81-14(2): Aboriginal Treaty Rights For Education
Question 81-14(2): Aboriginal Treaty Rights For Education
Item 6: Oral Questions
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Steven Nitah Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister then answer the question; why are there different forms of grants and loans for different ethnic groups within the Northwest Territories? Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
Supplementary To Question 81-14(2): Aboriginal Treaty Rights For Education
Question 81-14(2): Aboriginal Treaty Rights For Education
Item 6: Oral Questions
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Further Return To Question 81-14(2): Aboriginal Treaty Rights For Education
Question 81-14(2): Aboriginal Treaty Rights For Education
Item 6: Oral Questions
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Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre
I would have to be aware of specific grants and loans that the Member is referring to. I believe our departmental grant and loan system is established according to the agreements in place. There is a cooperation agreement between the territorial and federal governments which provides funding for French language services and aboriginal languages. If that is the agreement the Member is referring to then, yes. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 81-14(2): Aboriginal Treaty Rights For Education
Question 81-14(2): Aboriginal Treaty Rights For Education
Item 6: Oral Questions
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The Speaker Tony Whitford
Thank you, Minister Ootes. Item 6, oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Nitah.
Supplementary To Question 81-14(2): Aboriginal Treaty Rights For Education
Question 81-14(2): Aboriginal Treaty Rights For Education
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 154
Steven Nitah Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The funding provided for language development and the amount for the different ethnic groups is not my question. My question is; why are there different types of student financial assistance for different ethnic groups if the money was not slated for different groups?
If the money was not coming from the federal government to the Government of the Northwest Territories for treaty Indians, then why are they treated differently from the Metis, the Inuvialuit and the non-aboriginal people? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
-- Applause
Supplementary To Question 81-14(2): Aboriginal Treaty Rights For Education
Question 81-14(2): Aboriginal Treaty Rights For Education
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 154
The Speaker Tony Whitford
Thank you, Mr. Nitah. The Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.
Further Return To Question 81-14(2): Aboriginal Treaty Rights For Education
Question 81-14(2): Aboriginal Treaty Rights For Education
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 154
Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I presume the Member is speaking about the Student Financial Assistance Program, where we provide a grant for the Dene for living allowances, and provide a remissible loan for Metis and Inuit and those schooled in the Northwest Territories.
The reason for that is because the Metis and Inuit were taxed on the grant. That was a concern in the ministerial forum. It was a big concern publicly, that the Inuit and Metis were taxed on grants that are given; hence the proposal was to move a remissible loan that was not taxed in the hands of those students. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 81-14(2): Aboriginal Treaty Rights For Education
Question 81-14(2): Aboriginal Treaty Rights For Education
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 154
The Speaker Tony Whitford
Thank you, Minister Ootes. Item 6, oral questions. Final supplementary, Mr. Nitah.
Supplementary To Question 81-14(2): Aboriginal Treaty Rights For Education
Question 81-14(2): Aboriginal Treaty Rights For Education
Item 6: Oral Questions
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Steven Nitah Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think the Minister assumes there is some work in progress that will pass within the committee system. However, I will try to repeat my question again in exactly the same words. Funding for non-aboriginal, Metis and Inuvialuit and status Indians are administered and provided differently. The expected results are different, why is that? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Supplementary To Question 81-14(2): Aboriginal Treaty Rights For Education
Question 81-14(2): Aboriginal Treaty Rights For Education
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 154
The Speaker Tony Whitford
Thank you, Mr. Nitah. The Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.
Further Return To Question 81-14(2): Aboriginal Treaty Rights For Education
Question 81-14(2): Aboriginal Treaty Rights For Education
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 155
Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe the Member is speaking of the Student Financial Assistance Program. If that is the case, then, as I mentioned, there was concern expressed publicly and through the ministerial forum that Dene have the ability not to be taxed for grants, whereas Metis and Inuvialuit are taxed on grants and hence the change in the provision of remissible loans. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 81-14(2): Aboriginal Treaty Rights For Education
Question 81-14(2): Aboriginal Treaty Rights For Education
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 155
The Speaker Tony Whitford
Thank you, Minister Ootes. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.
Question 82-14(4): Development Agreements In Land Claims
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 155
David Krutko Mackenzie Delta
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister responsible for Aboriginal Affairs, Mr. Antoine. It is regarding the obligation that this government has under the Gwich'in Land Claim Agreement, and I will read it:
Section 21, Sub-Surface Rights 21.1.4: The Government of the Northwest Territories shall involve the Gwich'in in the development and implementation of any northern accord on oil and gas development in the Northwest Territories, which is negotiated pursuant to an enabling agreement dated September 5, 1999, between the Government of Canada and the Government of Northwest Territories.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to know from the Minister, has the priority of the government in its obligation to this land claim agreement changed? I feel the government is going off into another area of trying to transfer the revenue-sharing dollars of this government without completing its obligation in this land claim agreement. Thank you.
Question 82-14(4): Development Agreements In Land Claims
Item 6: Oral Questions
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The Speaker Tony Whitford
Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Minister responsible for Aboriginal Affairs, Mr. Antoine.
Return To Question 82-14(4): Development Agreements In Land Claims
Question 82-14(4): Development Agreements In Land Claims
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 155
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Gwich'in Final Agreement that the honourable Member is speaking of is a tripartite agreement between the Gwich'in Tribal Council, the federal government and the Government of the Northwest Territories. The implementation of this final agreement is the responsibility of the three parties. We are committed to seeing that the agreement is implemented according to the agreement. Thank you.
Return To Question 82-14(4): Development Agreements In Land Claims
Question 82-14(4): Development Agreements In Land Claims
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 155
The Speaker Tony Whitford
Thank you, Minister Antoine. Item 6, oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.
Supplementary To Question 82-14(4): Development Agreements In Land Claims
Question 82-14(4): Development Agreements In Land Claims
Item 6: Oral Questions
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David Krutko Mackenzie Delta
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Northern Accord Agreement I talked about was signed some 12 years ago and to date nothing has really happened, yet land claim agreements have been signed, and ratified by the aboriginal First Nations. I would like to ask the Minister when he sees this becoming a reality?
Supplementary To Question 82-14(4): Development Agreements In Land Claims
Question 82-14(4): Development Agreements In Land Claims
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 155
The Speaker Tony Whitford
Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Minister responsible for Aboriginal Affairs, Mr. Antoine.
Further Return To Question 82-14(4): Development Agreements In Land Claims
Question 82-14(4): Development Agreements In Land Claims
Item 6: Oral Questions
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Jim Antoine Nahendeh
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as the honourable Member knows, there have been a number of attempts in past governments to try and realize this Northern Accord, this devolution. We are working on it now as a government along with the MLAs and the aboriginal governments. There are certain conditions put in place on that.
Recently in October and January, when federal Minister Robert Nault was here discussing this particular item, he was saying there has to be a critical mass of support by all the different parties before we move ahead. I would like to see a quick timeline to do that, but the conditions are such that we have to all work together in trying to make this Northern Accord a reality. It is going to take some time, I do not know how long, but the sooner we all work together and get to common ground, the sooner we would realize this Northern Accord. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 82-14(4): Development Agreements In Land Claims
Question 82-14(4): Development Agreements In Land Claims
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 155
The Speaker Tony Whitford
Thank you, Minister Antoine. Item 6, oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.
Supplementary To Question 82-14(4): Development Agreements In Land Claims
Question 82-14(4): Development Agreements In Land Claims
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 155
David Krutko Mackenzie Delta
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, with the amount of development taking place, especially in my riding, it is critical this section of the Gwich'in Land Claim Agreement be concluded so they can receive the benefit of the land claim agreement that was signed and negotiated in good faith between the aboriginal First Nations and this government. I would like to ask the Minister what the groups are to do if development occurs without this agreement being concluded?
Supplementary To Question 82-14(4): Development Agreements In Land Claims
Question 82-14(4): Development Agreements In Land Claims
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 155
Further Return To Question 82-14(4): Development Agreements In Land Claims
Question 82-14(4): Development Agreements In Land Claims
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 155
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the federal government has the control over our lands and resources in the North. That has been the case for a long time. None of us in the North like it, and we would like to make some changes.
In order to do that, all of the groups, including the Gwich'in Tribal Council, of whose final agreement the honourable Member is referring to, passed in as a clause, but there are conditions put in place by the federal government. Those conditions state we have to try to get everybody on board. Hopefully, everybody is in sync with this. It is going to take some time to work with the aboriginal governments to develop a position so we can move on it.
In the meantime, the federal government still has control over our gas in the Liard Valley, our oil down in the Sahtu, and the diamond mines north of Yellowknife. They have the control. We do not like it, but that is the way it is right now. What we are trying to do is create an environment where we can all work together to negotiate with the federal government the devolution of our natural resources so we have the control in the North. It is going to take some time. We are working with the aboriginal governments to make this happen.
We had a meeting yesterday with the aboriginal representatives of most of the aboriginal governments to start talking about this. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 82-14(4): Development Agreements In Land Claims
Question 82-14(4): Development Agreements In Land Claims
Item 6: Oral Questions
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