This is page numbers 1397 - 1454 of the Hansard for the 14th Assembly, 6th 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 tlicho.

Topics

Supplementary To Question 430-14(6): Amendments To The Wildlife Act
Question 430-14(6): Amendments To The Wildlife Act
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1414

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my understanding of the process that is used in the Yukon, the Yukon government allows the First Nation government to have their own drafters work on drafting the legislation with the government drafters. I'd like to ask the Minister, if this practice is being done in the Yukon, why can't we do it in the Northwest Territories?

Supplementary To Question 430-14(6): Amendments To The Wildlife Act
Question 430-14(6): Amendments To The Wildlife Act
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1414

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Minister of RWED, Mr. Antoine.

Further Return To Question 430-14(6): Amendments To The Wildlife Act
Question 430-14(6): Amendments To The Wildlife Act
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1414

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Mr. Speaker, in the Yukon they have one umbrella claim that encompasses all the 14 First Nations. The wildlife provisions are contained under one umbrella agreement. In our case in the Northwest Territories, we have the Inuvialuit land claims agreement, we have the Gwich'in, we have the Sahtu and now we have the Tlicho. We have the Deh Cho who are negotiating their own and Akaitcho, then the Northwest Territories Metis Nation and the different First Nations. It's a different scenario in the Yukon where they have one entity that they have to deal with. It's simpler and easier for them to do that. Likewise, in Nunavut they have just one organization. It's easier. In our case, we're going to have legal representation from the Inuvialuit, the Gwich'in, the Sahtu, the Dogrib, perhaps the Deh Cho and Akaitcho. You're going to have about seven other aboriginal lawyers sitting with the Department of Justice drafting the legislation. It makes it very difficult. The approach that Cabinet has directed us to do -- it's a Cabinet decision, not mine alone -- is to continue to do the legislation the way we would normally do it through the Department of Justice. We draft it and we have close consultation with the aboriginal governments so they are aware of what we're doing. There's lots of information and communication back and forth. Until Cabinet makes a decision on allowing lawyers from the aboriginal governments to actually sit down and draft legislation, then this is the approach we're going to take. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 430-14(6): Amendments To The Wildlife Act
Question 430-14(6): Amendments To The Wildlife Act
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1414

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Antoine. Your final supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Supplementary To Question 430-14(6): Amendments To The Wildlife Act
Question 430-14(6): Amendments To The Wildlife Act
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1414

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, one of the largest sections of the land claim agreements with the Inuvialuit, the Gwich'in, the Sahtu and the Tlicho is the wildlife provision section. It's a large section. You're looking at almost 24 pages. I think for the government to say, well, it's the system they use in the Yukon. The system they used in the Yukon included the Inuvialuit. The Inuvialuit were able to get their own drafters and lawyers to draft the legislation and present it to the Yukon government. What we're seeing in the practice of this government is that this is a fundamental component of the land claim agreements. It's not something the Department of Justice alone should sit in the back room and deal with. I'd like to ask the Minister, will you meet with the First Nation aboriginal groups that have concerns about this process we're using, especially regarding the Inuvialuit Game Council and the other land claim organizations, to allow them the opportunity to present their case and have their own drafters at the table?

Supplementary To Question 430-14(6): Amendments To The Wildlife Act
Question 430-14(6): Amendments To The Wildlife Act
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1414

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Minister of RWED, Mr. Antoine.

Further Return To Question 430-14(6): Amendments To The Wildlife Act
Question 430-14(6): Amendments To The Wildlife Act
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1414

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Mr. Speaker, we could do that. The Department of RWED and Department of Justice officials have been working very hard in trying to have this consultation going and having some meetings on how to approach it. We'll continue to do that. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 430-14(6): Amendments To The Wildlife Act
Question 430-14(6): Amendments To The Wildlife Act
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1414

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Antoine. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Braden.

Bill Braden

Bill Braden Great Slave

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question this morning is for the Premier. Mr. Speaker, we all know what a big sports fan the Premier is, especially for football, and I'm sure he was delighted to receive the invitation from Prime Minister-elect Paul Martin to join him and other Premiers in Regina during the Grey Cup Summit, which I guess is a tradition, Mr. Speaker, among Canadian leaders. The question I wanted to ask, Mr. Speaker, was if the Premier has received this invitation and is he going to accept the invitation to meet with other Canadian leaders in Regina during the Grey Cup?

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Braden. The honourable Premier, Mr. Kakfwi.

Return To Question 431-14(6): Invitation To Attend Grey Cup Festivities
Question 431-14(6): Invitation To Attend Grey Cup Festivities
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1414

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe all the Premiers have received an invitation from Paul Martin and the Premiers had a conference call yesterday and we have agreed to attend. We believe it's a good way to develop a relationship. The intent is to have an informal get-together and dinner to talk about the state of affairs in each of our jurisdictions and to start developing a good, positive relationship with the person we believe is going to be the next Prime Minister of Canada. Thank you.

Return To Question 431-14(6): Invitation To Attend Grey Cup Festivities
Question 431-14(6): Invitation To Attend Grey Cup Festivities
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1414

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi. Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 431-14(6): Invitation To Attend Grey Cup Festivities
Question 431-14(6): Invitation To Attend Grey Cup Festivities
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1415

Bill Braden

Bill Braden Great Slave

Thank you. I'm pleased to hear the Premier has accepted that invitation. I'd like to ask if he could give some indication of what his message will be at this fascinating time. It will be the start of a new regime, of course, for the Northwest Territories over the next few months and also of a new federal regime. How is he going to position us? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary To Question 431-14(6): Invitation To Attend Grey Cup Festivities
Question 431-14(6): Invitation To Attend Grey Cup Festivities
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1415

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Braden. The honourable Premier, Mr. Kakfwi.

Further Return To Question 431-14(6): Invitation To Attend Grey Cup Festivities
Question 431-14(6): Invitation To Attend Grey Cup Festivities
Item 6: Oral Questions

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Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Government of the Northwest Territories has already spent a considerable amount of time developing a good relationship with the former Minister of Finance Paul Martin. We worked with him very well during his time as the Finance Minister. Since he became a Member of Parliament we have continued to have communications with him. He has always been very excited and supportive of the agenda of the Government of the Northwest Territories and this legislature. He continues to express that. He has, for instance, indicated he supports the idea of having the net fiscal benefit included in any revenue-sharing talks and has expressed interest in concluding a revenue-sharing arrangement with our government. The issue of devolution, revenue sharing, northern development regarding pipelines and diamond mines are all issues that he is already very well aware of and will continue to advance those in the time that we have as your government. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 431-14(6): Invitation To Attend Grey Cup Festivities
Question 431-14(6): Invitation To Attend Grey Cup Festivities
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1415

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi. Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Supplementary To Question 431-14(6): Invitation To Attend Grey Cup Festivities
Question 431-14(6): Invitation To Attend Grey Cup Festivities
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1415

Bill Braden

Bill Braden Great Slave

Mr. Speaker, thank you. One initiative that I think has just recently come to light among the Premiers is the creation of some kind of new alliance or federation on which to set up a new basis or relationship with the national government. Could the Premier tell us a bit more about that and how we will be engaging in that new and quite interesting process? Thank you.

Supplementary To Question 431-14(6): Invitation To Attend Grey Cup Festivities
Question 431-14(6): Invitation To Attend Grey Cup Festivities
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1415

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Braden. The honourable Premier, Mr. Kakfwi.

Further Return To Question 431-14(6): Invitation To Attend Grey Cup Festivities
Question 431-14(6): Invitation To Attend Grey Cup Festivities
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1415

Stephen Kakfwi

Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. One of the opportunities we have is to look at developing a less confrontational relationship between the next Prime Minister and the Premiers. The idea of having First Ministers meetings has, over the years, always had high expectations and always had a wide difference of approach and opinion between the Prime Minister's office and the Premiers. This has always lead to Canadians feeling somewhat divided and disillusioned with the type of leadership we provide, where we always seem to be fighting and having differences of opinion and blaming one another. We're looking at the idea of having more frequent information meetings, lowering expectations and developing a better relationship. As well, the council of the federation is one that was advanced by the Premier of Quebec as a way to develop a better relationship, as I've said, between the political offices and leaders of this country. As Premiers, we'll continue to advance that. We'll be going to Quebec in a couple of weeks. The Grey Cup meeting is on November 16th, on the Sunday, and we will also be meeting as Premiers on the 23rd and 24th of this month in Quebec City. We are continuing to work, as I've said, and of course we're interested to know whether there's going to be a surplus in the federal budget because if there is, there is a commitment to provide another $2 billion for health to Canadians by the federal government. Thank you.

Further Return To Question 431-14(6): Invitation To Attend Grey Cup Festivities
Question 431-14(6): Invitation To Attend Grey Cup Festivities
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1415

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Premier. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development. It's in regard to a notice that was posted by this government in regard to the Dempster Highway one-way closure that was set from September 25th to October 2nd. It basically says that the closure will apply to the Northwest Territories, which is an eight kilometre strip from the Peel River to the Yukon border. Mr. Speaker, one thing that's been kind of shocking this year is that apparently the Yukon government didn't pass this similar regulation to have a similar closure on the Yukon side and we, as the Northwest Territories government, are the only ones who have done that. Mr. Speaker, because the land claim agreements and the wildlife provisions haven't been changed, in the land claim agreement it's clear that the Gwich'in have the right to harvest with any means, can harvest for the purpose and use of equipment to carry out that harvest. Mr. Speaker, that's section 12.4(14) of the Gwich'in agreement. Yet this government continues to pass regulations and restrict hunting rights of the Gwich'in people, especially on the Dempster Highway and from the community of Fort McPherson. This year, very few people were able to get any caribou, and then on top of that there was this one-way closure. I'd like to ask the Minister, would you hold off on signing any more regulations until the wildlife amendments have been concluded and it's brought back to this House and the First Nation claimant groups have the ability to implement those sections of their agreements in territorial legislation?

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Minister of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Mr. Antoine.

Return To Question 432-14(6): Gwich'in Wildlife Harvesting Rights
Question 432-14(6): Gwich'in Wildlife Harvesting Rights
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1415

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Mr. Speaker, the regulations that were changed were on recommendations from the different management boards that are up in the Mackenzie Delta, in the Member's riding. It's part of our agreement that whatever they recommend, we do that. I think the idea there was that there was the Porcupine Caribou Herd that was going through and they identified that period of time as when the lead herd is going through. This is the normal practice year to year. I have to check on that, but that's the way I understand the Member's question. Thank you.

Return To Question 432-14(6): Gwich'in Wildlife Harvesting Rights
Question 432-14(6): Gwich'in Wildlife Harvesting Rights
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1415

The Speaker

The Speaker Tony Whitford

Thank you, Mr. Antoine. Supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Supplementary To Question 432-14(6): Gwich'in Wildlife Harvesting Rights
Question 432-14(6): Gwich'in Wildlife Harvesting Rights
Item 6: Oral Questions

Page 1416

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as a government we make regulations without really dealing with the issue on the ground. The main herd was not even at the Dempster Highway at the time this thing was going to be passed. The large portion of the herd did not even arrive in that area around the dates that were used, yet they went ahead and closed the highway anyway. I suggest you don't pass any regulations to begin with but, if you're going to do it, at least give the communities an opportunity to give you some advice on what dates are appropriate for them.