Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to provide Members with an update on the Economic Development Advisory Forum.
Mr. Speaker, at the initial meeting of the Intergovernmental Forum in May of 2000 in Hay River, leaders identified a number of key issues they wanted to collectively address through the IGF. These issues include devolution and resource revenue sharing, financing of governments, capacity building and economic development. As a reflection of the government-to-government-to-government relationships confirmed through the IGF, Canada, the GNWT and the Aboriginal Summit agreed to establish the Economic Development Advisory Forum at the second meeting of the Intergovernmental Forum in May 2001 in Inuvik.
The advisory forum is mandated to provide advice and recommendations to the IGF on pan-territorial and regional economic development issues. The objectives of the advisory forum are to:
- • increase the participation of aboriginal people in economic policies;
- • enhance the quality and effectiveness of economic programming in the Northwest Territories;
- • provide for NWT input and meaningful participation in the development of federal economic policies;
- • find more collaborative approaches in addressing economic development issues; and
- • ensure that the decisions made respect cultural diversity, land claims and sustainable development.
Canada, the Aboriginal Summit and the GNWT collaborated on identifying, screening and appointing members to the advisory forum. The parties requested nominations through a variety of processes, including:
- • aboriginal governments provided nominations through the Aboriginal Summit;
- • MLAs were invited to nominate individuals by letter from my office; and
- • advertisements were placed in northern newspapers inviting interested individuals to submit their name.
As a result of this joint selection process, a group of highly skilled and experienced individuals representing a broad cross-section of interests in the Northwest Territories were appointed to serve on the advisory forum when leaders met at the last IGF meeting in Fort Simpson in January.
Mr. Speaker, the first meeting of the advisory forum took place earlier this week in Fort Smith and the members present agreed that it was a productive start. The Honourable Ethel Blondin-Andrew and I had the opportunity to meet with the advisory forum on behalf of the Government of Canada and the Government of the Northwest Territories respectively.
I would like to advise this House that the advisory forum has identified preliminary priorities and has also considered how they will approach their work over the next little while. Some of the preliminary priorities they identified include advocating the development of new funding mechanisms that would lead to additional investments for the North, building business capacity and emphasizing human resource development.
The members present deferred selection of co-chairs until all members can participate in the selection process. Two members of the advisory forum will provide the Intergovernmental Forum with an overview of their work to date at the upcoming IGF meeting in early April.
Mr. Speaker, it is clear from the tone and approach taken already by the advisory forum that they are action-oriented, intent on providing practical, focused advice to the IGF, interested in building on existing strategies and reluctant to "reinvent the wheel". I look forward to the advice the members of the advisory forum will provide to Canada, the Aboriginal Summit and the GNWT through the IGF. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
-- Applause