Yes, we do not have that legal opinion yet. We are still waiting for it. Thank you.
Debates of March 1st, 2001
This is page numbers 1397 - 1458 of the Hansard for the 14th Assembly, 3rd 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 chairman.
Topics
Incremental Costs Of Self-government
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1451
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
Incremental Costs Of Self-government
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1451
The Chair Leon Lafferty
Thank you. Mr. Miltenberger.
Incremental Costs Of Self-government
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1451
Michael Miltenberger Thebacha
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. When do they anticipate they are going to have that opinion? Thank you.
Incremental Costs Of Self-government
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1451
The Chair Leon Lafferty
The Minister responsible for Aboriginal Affairs, Mr. Antoine.
Incremental Costs Of Self-government
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1451
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, we do not know at this time when this legal opinion will be ready. Thank you.
Incremental Costs Of Self-government
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1451
The Chair Leon Lafferty
Mr. Miltenberger.
Incremental Costs Of Self-government
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1451
Michael Miltenberger Thebacha
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Is the intent to have the legal opinion before they sign any final agreements or is it considered...Will it be obtained before the final agreement is signed? Thank you.
Incremental Costs Of Self-government
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1452
The Chair Leon Lafferty
Mr. Minister.
Incremental Costs Of Self-government
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1452
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
Yes, we will try to get it as soon as possible and certainly before anything final is signed. Thank you.
Incremental Costs Of Self-government
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1452
The Chair Leon Lafferty
Mr. Miltenberger.
Incremental Costs Of Self-government
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1452
Michael Miltenberger Thebacha
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. While it may seem like a small issue, to me it has significant implications. I look forward to seeing what the legal opinion will be.
My other question has to do with an issue I raised in the House repeatedly with the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment and that is student financial assistance and trying to get the government and the department to agree to move that program down to the community and regional levels. One of the arguments I have raised and used in the House is it is on the table for self-government. That is one of the programs the aboriginal governments are looking at taking over. I would just like to take this opportunity to ask the Minister if, in fact, student financial assistance is one of the programs that is on the table with the Dogrib people since their claim is so close to finalization? Thank you.
Incremental Costs Of Self-government
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1452
The Chair Leon Lafferty
Mr. Minister.
Incremental Costs Of Self-government
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1452
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, specifically in the Dogrib claims, there is a provision -- it is a proposed provision right now since it is still being negotiated -- that there is a community service board that would oversee all the programs and services of the Dogribs, including the education portions of the programs. They intend to use this board for up to a period of ten years and to re-evaluate it at that time. This is not a final product yet, but that is the intention of where it is going. They are tabled different from each other. This is the way, since the honourable Member asked specifically about the Dogribs, they are dealing with this issue. Thank you.
Incremental Costs Of Self-government
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1452
The Chair Leon Lafferty
Mr. Miltenberger.
Incremental Costs Of Self-government
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1452
Michael Miltenberger Thebacha
Thank you. Is the Minister saying that block of money for the Dogrib beneficiaries will be taken from headquarters where it is administered and transferred to the community service board, and they will administer for beneficiaries? Is that what the Minister is telling us? Thank you.
Incremental Costs Of Self-government
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1452
The Chair Leon Lafferty
Mr. Minister.
Incremental Costs Of Self-government
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1452
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
Thank you. As I said earlier, we are still in negotiations with the Dogribs on the financial aspect of their claim. We have not concluded that yet. Since the honourable Member is talking about the block of money, I would like to say right now that we have not negotiated the money aspect of it yet. We are still trying to deal with that. The Dogribs intend to continue with the existing board and they will change the name to a community services board and they will be providing programs and services to the people in the Dogrib region - not only to Dogribs but also to non-Dogribs as well. We are still negotiating the financial aspects and we still have some way to go to complete that.
Incremental Costs Of Self-government
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1452
The Chair Leon Lafferty
Mr. Miltenberger.
Incremental Costs Of Self-government
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1452
Michael Miltenberger Thebacha
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Maybe I can just raise it up a level away from any specific claim. Is the Student Financial Assistance Program one of the programs that is on the table to be turned over for delivery, and the money flowing to the aboriginal governments, for any of the claims - those who have claims but are negotiating self-government, or those that are in the process of doing claims and self-government? Is the general intent to negotiate some sort of transfer arrangement where that program would be delivered lock, stock and barrel by the aboriginal governments? Thank you.
Incremental Costs Of Self-government
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1452
The Chair Leon Lafferty
Minister responsible for Aboriginal Affairs, Mr. Antoine.
Incremental Costs Of Self-government
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1452
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the programs, specifically in education and student financial assistance, are on the table. Maybe the different aboriginal groups have that aspect in certain areas to deal with it. I have to say that, yes, it is on the table, and how the program is going to be divided will be decided through negotiations.
Incremental Costs Of Self-government
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1452
The Chair Leon Lafferty
Mr. Miltenberger.
Incremental Costs Of Self-government
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1452
Michael Miltenberger Thebacha
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am trying to find out and make sense of why the government, if it is on the table for self-government, would not want to devolve this program. I would just like to ask the Minister, since he sits at the table and it is part of the discussions for self-government, is fear of confusing the issue and negotiations with the aboriginal governments one of the reasons that SFA is kept at headquarters at this point?
Incremental Costs Of Self-government
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1452
The Chair Leon Lafferty
Mr. Minister.
Incremental Costs Of Self-government
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Page 1452
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
Right now the different programs and services that are being provided by this government are continuing to be provided by this government. There are different programs and services - we are using student financial assistance in this instance to be an example for the sake of discussion. The student financial assistance will continue to be provided by the Department of Education. In the instances where the aboriginal groups would like to talk about it at the table and have it transferred, we would like to keep it at the department level for the time being until it has been negotiated. If we start taking the programs and services apart now, it will create some confusion and problems on how we provide programs and services as we currently have it. I know there have been calls for it.
I just wanted to also say that as the Ministry for Aboriginal Affairs, our role is to coordinate the overall government approach at the negotiating table. We also work with the different departments when the subject area is the responsibility of another department. We do not create the positions, and we do not create the negotiating positions for departments. We work with them and we coordinate the approach with them. I just want to make it clear that we do not call the shots on different departments at each table. We listen to what the different parties at the table bring to the table on these programs and services, and then we take it back and work with the respective departments to see if it is acceptable and to see what their position is, then we move that forward. Thank you.