Mr. Premier, Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, the Minister of DIAND was going to be in Yellowknife this week, but other priorities got in the way so he has postponed. I don't have a date yet of when I'll be able to meet with him. If it's not soon, then I intend to talk with him by phone. Mr. Speaker, as well, there is a possibility of a First Ministers meeting in Ottawa next week, and if there is I certainly intend to be there and intend to raise this issue with the Prime Minister at that time. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I'd like to thank the Premier for those answers. I'd also like to, again for the benefit of the people, of our constituents who follow our proceedings and listen to what's going on, I'd like to ask the Premier if he could outline for us the significance of seeing progress on this front in light of some of the development that we are anticipating. I think sometimes people talk a lot about devolution and resource revenue sharing, but perhaps don't fully comprehend the absolute importance and significance of it in terms of our wellbeing as a territory. Could the Premier please make reference to that? Thank you.

Mr. Premier, Mr. Handley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It's a very complex process, but I'll try to be brief. First of all, devolution means the transfer of responsibility for land and resources from the federal government to the territorial and aboriginal governments. It is a trilateral process now, meaning there's a three-way negotiation between the Aboriginal Summit representing the aboriginal governments, our government and the federal government. So it's a process that if successful would mean that between ourselves and aboriginal governments we would have the same authority and responsibility as does a province.

On the resource revenue sharing side, then that side is critical to devolution as well, because we do not want to take on responsibility for land and resources and programs and services that come with it without having the dollars to go along to be able to pay for it. So we don't want a situation, Mr. Speaker, where we have the responsibility, but the revenues still flow to the federal government without us getting a fair share that results in a fiscal benefit. So that is being negotiated at the same time. Not only is it complicated as a trilateral process between three parties, it's also complicated because devolution is handled by the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs and resource revenue sharing is handled by Finance. Given the size of the federal government, it's like dealing with two different governments in many ways. I hope with the new federal government we're able to bring some coordination between the federal Department of Finance and Department of Indian and Northern Affairs so that we can talk about devolution and resource revenue sharing in one process.

Mr. Speaker, I hope that gives an overview, but it's complicated. I know a lot of the public don't really understand what devolution means. The bottom line to me is that devolution of resources and lands and the resource revenue sharing means that we as northerners are able then to make decisions that affect our lives. We won't have someone in Ottawa licensing a mine or heading up an environmental review process. That will be our responsibility. We'll be the ones who decide our own future here. That's what we want, the same as do the aboriginal governments. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Final supplementary, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So, Mr. Speaker, I think I can determine from the Premier's response that any reference I heard in a media interview that would suggest that anything other than a trilateral negotiation is not anything that he would consider or would even be possible. Could he please confirm that for me? Thank you.

Mr. Premier, Mr. Handley.

Mr. Speaker, our government and aboriginal governments have been talking about devolution for more than 17 years. We don't want to be seeing that process just continuing on for another four years under our watch. We want to see some process made on that. So would I consider any other alternative? I like the trilateral model. That's the way to do business: government to government to government. But if there is not an interest in pursuing devolution by the federal government or by any other partners, then we have to look at some other model. Right now I'm optimistic that the federal government is on side. Minister Mitchell has told me they are. We have a meeting this week with some of the aboriginal leadership. I hope to hear the same message from them and if we can go on with confidence that we're negotiating devolution in a trilateral process with everybody's intention to meet a timeframe that will say we're going to finish off this exercise, not drag it on for many more years while our people do without. Thank you.

---Applause

Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Yakeleya.

The Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we've been engaged in a process now for some months in terms of setting up a separate, standalone Sahtu authority to deal with health and social services. We're currently in a state of transition, separating from Inuvik. There have been, as my colleagues indicated, a number of unfortunate deaths in the Sahtu, and the staff in the communities have been under a lot of pressure to deal with them.

The Member, as well, has been very persistent in terms of requesting that I come into the region and meet with the community leaders and we, in fact, intend to do that the second week in February with the Member. I'm talking to officials from the Sahtu authority, as well as some staff from the department, and we will sit down and we will talk about what's possible as we look at how we're going to structure services in the Sahtu so that they best reflect what are identified as critical issues by the people of the Sahtu. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess on the short-term notice here, would the Minister consider dealing with the losses in the Sahtu region with our communities? I understand the long-term goals and aspirations are the separate health board for the Sahtu, however, when we're looking at losses such as what we're having in the Sahtu and how it contributes to many other areas in someone's life, we're looking for some guidance on this issue from this government here to take the measures to deal with it as soon as possible. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Minister of Health and Social Services, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'd be happy to hear the specific suggestions that the Member may have. I can tell the Member that the staff from Inuvik, from Norman Wells and the staff in the various communities have been working extensively with the communities right now to deal with the issues surrounding the many deaths currently happening in the Sahtu. As well, the RCMP have been involved. As the Member has indicated, the communities have been affected. So if he has suggestions over and above what is already being done and the longer-term stuff we're looking at, I would be more than happy to talk to him so that we could have discussions with the people in the Sahtu and with the authorities in the Sahtu to make sure we're doing everything possible. Thank you.

Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Allen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is again to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment with regard to his Minister's statement. It's in the context of if he can explain to this Assembly if he's aware of a union of pipeline politics in the NWT and how it impacts the employing economy in the NWT. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Dent.

Mr. Speaker, I'm afraid I don't have an answer for that question. I'll have to take it as notice.

The question is taken as notice. Item 6, oral questions. Item 7, written questions. Item 8, petitions. Item 9, reports of standing and special committees. Item 10, tabling of documents. Mr. Dent.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to table the following document entitled Aurora College 2002/2003 Annual Report. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.