In his opening remarks to the committee, the Premier stated, " On December 1, 2000 the GNWT and a majority of aboriginal leaders across the Northwest Territories agreed to begin a formal bilateral negotiating process to determine how the transfer of authority, currently held by the federal government, over lands and resources will devolve to appropriate territorial and aboriginal governments and to develop a position of resource revenue sharing."
The committee is pleased with this development but worries that the government may hold itself in limbo awaiting finalization of negotiations. While the focus is on devolution at the territorial level, opportunities for development at the regional and community level may be lost.
The committee requests an up-to-date status report on devolution and revenue sharing negotiations.