Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development has been in discussions with the Gwich'in Tribal Council for a number of months now and we've been into discussion of looking at some sort of an agreement that turned out to be a memorandum of understanding. We started the discussion in August 2002 and we view it as a government-to-government type of arrangement with the Gwich'in Tribal Council and GNWT. As you know, there are provisions within the land claims agreement that alludes to some sort of an arrangement between our government and the Gwich'in Tribal Council. As a result of negotiations, we are able to come up with this arrangement. So it's actually between the Gwich'in Tribal Council and the Government of the Northwest Territories through RWED that the actual negotiations have been going on. These are the two parties that were involved in the negotiations. However, the contents of the MOU has been shared with other deputies in the government to see how we can comply to make sure that it's acceptable to all the different parties within our government. So actually RWED took the lead, however members of the other different departments were also involved in approving it and vetting it and analyzing it. So it's a coordinated effort. Thank you.
Debates of Feb. 12th, 2003
This is page numbers 23 - 48 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 ---agreed.
Topics
Further Return To Question 9-14(6): Gwich'in Memorandum Of Understanding On Government Contracting
Question 9-14(6): Gwich'in Memorandum Of Understanding On Government Contracting
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 33
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
Further Return To Question 9-14(6): Gwich'in Memorandum Of Understanding On Government Contracting
Question 9-14(6): Gwich'in Memorandum Of Understanding On Government Contracting
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 33
Supplementary To Question 9-14(6): Gwich'in Memorandum Of Understanding On Government Contracting
Question 9-14(6): Gwich'in Memorandum Of Understanding On Government Contracting
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 33
Paul Delorey Hay River North
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, Mr. Speaker, I have to take it that from all the Members in this House, there was only the Minister of RWED that was involved in these negotiations then. Mr. Speaker, it's a very uncomfortable situation in a constituency meeting when you are asked questions and you know nothing about it and it's a policy and agreement that has been signed on behalf of this government. I was also very interested in a letter that came back to all Members with regard to this issue and it states in that letter that an MOU is not binding on this government or the Gwich'in Tribal Council. If it's not binding on any party, I would question why was there a need to sign this memorandum of understanding.
Supplementary To Question 9-14(6): Gwich'in Memorandum Of Understanding On Government Contracting
Question 9-14(6): Gwich'in Memorandum Of Understanding On Government Contracting
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 34
Further Return To Question 9-14(6): Gwich'in Memorandum Of Understanding On Government Contracting
Question 9-14(6): Gwich'in Memorandum Of Understanding On Government Contracting
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 34
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Gwich'in Tribal Council has been raising the issue for a number of years since their claims have been signed saying that as this government, we are not complying with conditions in their claims. In an attempt by this government to try to accommodate this issue, we entertained the whole area of negotiating with them. Yes, it is a government-to-government initiative. We didn't know if the parties were going to accept this arrangement until the MOU was signed. Therefore, there was some confidentiality involved. There are provisions in there if you look at the agreement that stipulates there is an arrangement on how we, as a government, would work with the Gwich'in Tribal Council and looking at the different contracts that come out in the Gwich'in area. I just confirmed with the president of the Gwich'in Tribal Council over the last couple of days that they accept this type of MOU, that they will work with our government to see how they can get involved more into contracting in the Gwich'in Tribal Council area. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 9-14(6): Gwich'in Memorandum Of Understanding On Government Contracting
Question 9-14(6): Gwich'in Memorandum Of Understanding On Government Contracting
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 34
Supplementary To Question 9-14(6): Gwich'in Memorandum Of Understanding On Government Contracting
Question 9-14(6): Gwich'in Memorandum Of Understanding On Government Contracting
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 34
Paul Delorey Hay River North
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the same letter, it refers to this agreement as being a model with similar arrangements from other regions. I am wondering how many more of these agreements is the Minister planning, preparing or prepared to sign and in what areas of the Northwest Territories? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Supplementary To Question 9-14(6): Gwich'in Memorandum Of Understanding On Government Contracting
Question 9-14(6): Gwich'in Memorandum Of Understanding On Government Contracting
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 34
Further Return To Question 9-14(6): Gwich'in Memorandum Of Understanding On Government Contracting
Question 9-14(6): Gwich'in Memorandum Of Understanding On Government Contracting
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 34
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there are no other negotiations with any other groups going on at this time. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 9-14(6): Gwich'in Memorandum Of Understanding On Government Contracting
Question 9-14(6): Gwich'in Memorandum Of Understanding On Government Contracting
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 34
Supplementary To Question 9-14(6):gwich'in Memorandum Of Understanding On Government Contracting
Question 9-14(6): Gwich'in Memorandum Of Understanding On Government Contracting
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 34
Paul Delorey Hay River North
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask then if they have agreed to sign 50 percent of the contracts over, how will the other 50 percent of the government contracts be handled? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Supplementary To Question 9-14(6):gwich'in Memorandum Of Understanding On Government Contracting
Question 9-14(6): Gwich'in Memorandum Of Understanding On Government Contracting
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 34
Further Return To Question 9-14(6): Gwich'in Memorandum Of Understanding On Government Contracting
Question 9-14(6): Gwich'in Memorandum Of Understanding On Government Contracting
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 34
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the other 50 percent will be through a public tendering process. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 9-14(6): Gwich'in Memorandum Of Understanding On Government Contracting
Question 9-14(6): Gwich'in Memorandum Of Understanding On Government Contracting
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 34
The Speaker Tony Whitford
Thank you, Mr. Minister. Item 6, oral questions. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Nitah.
Question 10-14(6): Inequities In Per Capita Funding To Communities
Item 6: Oral Questions
February 11th, 2003
Page 34
Steven Nitah Tu Nedhe
Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this question is for the Premier on formula financing. Mr. Speaker, as I stated in my Member's statement, the Premier, along with his colleagues in Nunavut and the Yukon, did an admirable job in explaining the inequities of formula financing based on per capita. We face the same thing here in the Northwest Territories, Mr. Speaker. When a small community is financed per capita, their funding just doesn't meet their needs. Is the Premier willing to do something to adjust the formula financing and the relationship between communities and the Government of the Northwest Territories to recognize that inequity? Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker.
Question 10-14(6): Inequities In Per Capita Funding To Communities
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 34
Return To Question 10-14(6): Inequities In Per Capita Funding To Communities
Question 10-14(6): Inequities In Per Capita Funding To Communities
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 34
Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, because so many of our communities are small, remote, predominantly Aboriginal, it is important for us to recognize that resources and programs be designed in such a way as to make sure they are treated just as well as the larger centres. Through all the years I have been a Member of this Legislature, it has been the challenge put to every Cabinet that I have been a part of. This government is no different. We believe that we need to be vigilant all the time to make sure that the small, remote isolated communities are respected and supported as much as possible by this government without unduly creating hardships on other communities as well. This has been our view and I think we are accountable to this House for the way in which we design our programs, our policies and allocate our resources. We are prepared to answer questions and be accountable for that. I believe if there are adjustments that need to be made, we are open to suggestions. Thank you.
Return To Question 10-14(6): Inequities In Per Capita Funding To Communities
Question 10-14(6): Inequities In Per Capita Funding To Communities
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 34
Supplementary To Question 10-14(6): Inequities In Per Capita Funding To Communities
Question 10-14(6): Inequities In Per Capita Funding To Communities
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 34
Steven Nitah Tu Nedhe
Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am glad to hear the response from the Premier and the way he worded that response. Mr. Speaker, if we had to recognize this inequity government years and years ago, maybe we should have addressed that issue back then. We would have had a formula that was made in the Northwest Territories that we could have taken to Ottawa, so that they could recognize the inequities of their financial relationship with us. Mr. Speaker, through the Non-Tax-Based Joint Committee, there were a number of recommendations made through a progress report in the last session. The committee is still waiting for that progress report and a lot of recommendations in that progress report address formula financing. When can the committee expect to see that response from the government? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Supplementary To Question 10-14(6): Inequities In Per Capita Funding To Communities
Question 10-14(6): Inequities In Per Capita Funding To Communities
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 35
Further Return To Question 10-14(6): Inequities In Per Capita Funding To Communities
Question 10-14(6): Inequities In Per Capita Funding To Communities
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 35
Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is a little unusual for us to be responding to a committee report that was given to us on an interim basis, but we are prepared to consider it. We are having a discussion about the matter in which we could do that. We are probably better off to wait until we get the final report, so we can give it the response that it deserves. Having said that, the committee is expecting an interim response. We are discussing right now the manner and nature in which we can do that. Thank you.
Further Return To Question 10-14(6): Inequities In Per Capita Funding To Communities
Question 10-14(6): Inequities In Per Capita Funding To Communities
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 35
Supplementary To Question 10-14(6): Inequities In Per Capita Funding To Communities
Question 10-14(6): Inequities In Per Capita Funding To Communities
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 35
Steven Nitah Tu Nedhe
Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, people that participated in our workshops and put a lot of hard work into the recommendations that were represented in the progress report and will be put in the final report are anxious for a final report. Our committee's work cannot be completed until the government responds to our progress report, as in the terms of reference, Mr. Speaker. However, Mr. Speaker, when can we see some kind of action that will see adequate funding for the smaller communities? As I stated in my Member's statement, Mr. Speaker, it doesn't matter what size the community, it's the basic costs that have to be done. A lot of times though our formula financing based on per capita doesn't recognize that basic cost and the communities don't have a tax base. So when can we see a financing arrangement that's going to be equitable for the small communities? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Supplementary To Question 10-14(6): Inequities In Per Capita Funding To Communities
Question 10-14(6): Inequities In Per Capita Funding To Communities
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 35
Further Return To Question 10-14(6): Inequities In Per Capita Funding To Communities
Question 10-14(6): Inequities In Per Capita Funding To Communities
Item 6: Oral Questions
Page 35
Stephen Kakfwi Sahtu
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there are different ways in which we provide support to communities and ways in which we try to meet the needs of communities and be able to provide funds. We provide funds through Municipal and Community Affairs; Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development; the Department of Justice; and, Health and Social Services. As well, there are always some programs from the federal government that are provided to different communities as well. It would be interesting to see what suggestions are made by this committee as to how we could improve allocation support to the small, non-tax-based communities that would be different from the manner in which we provide support now. So we will probably wait for the final report of the committee to address such an overwhelming question at this time. Thank you.