Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the intent of the MOU is to try to work with the Gwich'in Tribal Council. I know there are other companies who are up there who are not aboriginal, Gwich'in or Inuvialuit, but our intention is to continue to use our contracting policies to have different government projects made available to companies that are up there. The government is not the only source of industry anymore in all the communities, especially up in the Inuvik region. There is a lot of oil and gas activity going on. That is going to continue. There is going to be a great debate right now on whether they are going to have a natural gas pipeline down the valley. If that happens, then the future is in oil and gas and more exploration up there. So if you look at the amount of work that is going on in the whole valley, there is more and more business and industry that are providing the contracts to different existing business up there. I don't see this in any way as a negative process. I see it as positive. I think aboriginal people over the years have been negotiating land claims and self-government and there are provisions in their claims, economic provisions, on how they want to get their foot into the economic world. I believe personally that in order to have some political clout, political say, you have to have some economic stability there, so I think down the road you are going to see more and more aboriginal companies and corporations forming in the North and they are going to be competing on an equal footing with other corporations and businesses. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Jim Antoine on Question 45-14(6): Gwich'in Contracting Memorandum Of Understanding
In the Legislative Assembly on February 18th, 2003. See this statement in context.
Further Return To Question 45-14(6): Gwich'in Contracting Memorandum Of Understanding
Question 45-14(6): Gwich'in Contracting Memorandum Of Understanding
Item 6: Oral Questions
February 17th, 2003
Page 136
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
See context to find out what was said next.