Mr. Premier, Mr. Handley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I stated in my sessional statement, our government intends to operate on the principles of inclusion and partnership. We intend to bring all major decisions to the Regular Members, mostly through the committees, and also to work in partnership with other governments. That's the reason we're planning the Circle of Northern Leaders meeting later this year, as I announced. But inclusion, partnership, consensus, I think, are cornerstones for our type of government and we intend to do everything to adhere to that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Supplementary, Mr. Braden.

Mr. Speaker, in the Premier's response, he indicated that it is the intention to be inclusive, to promote partnership and I certainly support that. But the question I would like to ask is, in his response he said it's the intention of Cabinet to take all major decisions to committees and partners. This is very much the point, Mr. Speaker, of what we have a problem with: whether decisions are brought to committees or Members, not the question of whether there is an issue to be discussed or to be negotiated. So I would like to ask the Premier again, would he care to clarify that statement? Is Cabinet simply going to make decisions, or are we going to be indeed included in discussions that would lead up to those decisions? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Premier, Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, any decision requires a lot of consultation and discussion. I think over the last days since our government was elected, we've had a lot of discussions and I think a lot of topics were dealt with. We certainly want to continue with that kind of consultation. In arriving at a decision, then we will work very closely with committee. We will bring the information we have, we will listen to what the concerns are and then we will proceed. In the end, a decision has to be made and I think that in the end, it will fall to us as a government to make that final decision after the consultations take place. We would hope that we would get the endorsement of this House for the decision that we do make. Thank you.

Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Delorey.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Honourable Joe Handley, Premier of the Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker, in my line of questioning a little earlier with the Minister of Justice, it seems to me that I heard that the Minister is not prepared to go to Cabinet with a decision on the replacement of the resident judge in Hay River and that he's getting his direction from the judiciary. So it creates some concern, Mr. Speaker, that if his information is coming from the judiciary, who is looking after the interests of the people? I just heard the Premier say that every decision that's made requires a lot of consultation and input. I would like to ask the Premier if he would commit to making a recommendation to Cabinet that the resident judge in Hay River is re-established. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Premier, Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, I had a good meeting in Hay River last week with the mayor and some council and MLAs from Hay River. This issue was raised at that meeting. I committed to making sure we have all of the information, the best information available to us in making this decision. A paper will be brought to Cabinet by the Minister of Justice, and at that point we'll look at the information and Cabinet will make a decision at that time. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Delorey.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Premier just said that when the paper comes to Cabinet they will look at all the information and make a decision at that time. What avenue do we have or do people have to get the information to Cabinet that we want Cabinet to look at, not just the information that comes from the judiciary? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Premier, Mr. Handley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think all of the MLAs are now aware of this issue. If there are any questions, I certainly invite you to talk to me or talk to the Minister of Justice. Our door is open, we welcome you to come and discuss it with us. When I met in Hay River, the concerns were raised. At that meeting, I also invited people to provide me with information. I gave them a summary of the information I had and asked that if they felt it wasn't correct, then provide me with the other side as well. So the door is open for Members to approach us with more information, better information if they want. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Delorey.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, will the Premier commit to also passing on to Cabinet the negative possible impacts that not replacing the resident judge in Hay River could have on the community; both what he has been informed of so far and any information that comes to him between now and the decision? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Premier.

Mr. Speaker, yes, we will. I listened very carefully in Hay River last week. I listened very carefully to the Member's statement today. If there's other information, I welcome that as well. Thank you.

Item 6, oral questions. Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are for the Premier and they are with respect to the issue of devolution, which I referred to in my Member's statement, and some comments that he had made.

Mr. Speaker, we have a new Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development. We have a new Prime Minister. Everyone, I think, in the territory agrees that devolution and discussions with Ottawa and with our aboriginal governments and partner governments is a very critical thing. I'd like to ask Mr. Handley for an update on the status of the work of the Intergovernmental Forum and the devolution framework agreement. Thank you.

Mr. Handley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Intergovernmental Forum has not met since last spring when we had our meeting in Inuvik. At that time, the then-Minister of DIAND, Robert Nault, asked that a framework agreement -- basically a process document that would outline how negotiations would proceed -- be prepared and be signed. Over the summer, that document was prepared and, in fact, it was initialed off, I believe, by all or at least most of the aboriginal leadership and also by our government.

The Intergovernmental Forum meeting in the fall was postponed and the framework agreement is now waiting for signature by all of the participants. I believe four of the aboriginal leaders who are leaders of the economic forum have already signed, and others have indicated that they are considering it. I expect we will have six out of seven of the aboriginal leaders willing to sign, with some negotiations yet to be completed. So that document is proceeding.

I had some brief discussions with the Minister of DIAND, Andy Mitchell, last week. He indicates to me that devolution is still very much a priority for his department and for the federal government. So I'm looking forward to the next opportunity to discuss the framework agreement and devolution generally with him, as well as with the Prime Minister. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.