Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to report to Members that a successful Intergovernmental Forum meeting was held on March 18th in Yellowknife.
The meeting was hosted by the Government of Canada and chaired by Senator Nick Sibbeston. The Honourable Andrew Mitchell, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development; Mr. Larry Bagnell, Parliamentary Secretary on Northern Economic Development; and, our Member of Parliament, the Honourable Ethel Blondin-Andrew, represented Canada at this meeting.
The Aboriginal Summit was represented by President Robert Tordiff of the Northwest Territories Metis Nation; Chief Peter Liske from the Akaitcho Dene First Nations; Sahtu Dene Council Grand Chief Frank Andrew; Tlicho Grand Chief Joe Rabesca; Chief Richard Nerysoo representing the Gwich'in Tribal Council; Eddie Dillon from the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation; and, North Slave Metis Alliance President North Douglas.
I attend the meeting on behalf of the Government of the Northwest Territories, along with the Honourable Floyd Roland, the Honourable Brendan Bell, the Honourable David Krutko and MLAs Kevin Menicoche, Robert Hawkins and Norman Yakeleya.
Mr. Speaker, the Intergovernmental Forum meeting discussions were very positive and served to renew our collective efforts to conclude a devolution and resource revenue sharing agreement within the term of the 15th Legislative Assembly. Further discussions centred on financing of governments, capacity building and the Economic Development Advisory Forum.
It was apparent from the meeting that leaders remain committed to the IGF process and recognize that we have a unique opportunity to move forward on important issues that affect the lives of the people of the NWT.
In addition to the meeting of the IGF, Minister Mitchell also took the opportunity during his visit to the NWT to sign the Northwest Territories lands and resources devolution framework agreement on behalf of Canada. Leaders representing aboriginal governments and the GNWT signed this agreement in January.
Mr. Speaker, the framework agreement is a process and schedule agreement that sets out the groundwork for the negotiation of an agreement-in-principle and a final devolution agreement. It identifies the subject matters for negotiation and target dates for the next stages of negotiations.
A great deal of work remains to be done in order to reach our target of completing a final devolution agreement by 2005 and implementation in 2006. Our negotiation team is continuing its work with the other parties to ensure that a fair deal on devolution and resource revenue sharing is reached. I would like to congratulate the negotiation teams from all parties in reaching this milestone. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
---Applause