Mr. Speaker, the second priority in Towards a Better Tomorrow is that of "Better governance through partnerships." We recognize that we cannot achieve our objectives in isolation. We need to work in partnership -- federal, aboriginal and territorial governments -- to make change happen.
The building of strong partnerships between the Government of the Northwest Territories and aboriginal governments is a priority of this government. We are working diligently to strengthen and enhance our intergovernmental relationship with aboriginal governments.
In the Beaufort Delta region, our government and the Government of Canada have entered into a political accord with the Gwich'in Tribal Council and the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation to work together on issues of common concern. On June 13, 2000 in Lutselk'e, the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, the Honourable Jim Antoine, entered into a political accord on behalf of the government with the Akaitcho Dene First Nations. This accord recognizes the growing relationship between our respective governments and the need to work closely together on issues affecting both the Akaitcho region and the territory as a whole.
At the territorial level, the Intergovernmental Forum process brings together the territorial, federal and aboriginal governments to discuss issues that are territorial in scope. At the first Intergovernmental Forum meeting held in Hay River on May 5, 2000, leaders agreed to work together on pipeline developments, devolution and capacity building for aboriginal governments leading up to the next Intergovernmental Forum meeting in the fall.
This government is fully committed to building solid intergovernmental relationships through the Intergovernmental Forum. This unique governments to government to government approach will provide a process for ongoing dialogue among the parties on such key issues as devolution of control over northern resources and other shared concerns. As part of our commitment to this process, we have dedicated three full-time positions to work on this important initiative.
The Government of the Northwest Territories, along with the federal government, is also committed to ensuring that aboriginal governments have adequate resources to participate as full partners in this process. While we have not identified financial resources in this budget to fund aboriginal government participation in the Intergovernmental Forum, this government has made a commitment to fund one third of these costs. Once final decisions are made on these costs, we will be asking for additional appropriations from this Legislative Assembly.
This government recognizes the inherent right of self-government of aboriginal people in the Northwest Territories. We are working with aboriginal people to create an environment in which this right can be realized and implemented. To this end, we are strongly committed to negotiating agreements that will achieve the Assembly's goal of "strong and effective aboriginal and public governments, operating co-operatively with no reduction in program and service levels as a result of implementing self-government agreements."