Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my statement today is about the special interest group perspective this government seems to have towards First Nations' governments in the NWT. This perspective seems to be more obvious given the recent developments in the land transfer to the City of Yellowknife by this government, and then the recent court injunction filed by the Akaitcho Territory Government to address this ongoing issue.
Mr. Speaker, when will this government come to grips with reality and start to realize that future aboriginal governments will require some significant changes to the structure of our present system of governance, one being the transfer of authority and responsibility for many government services to the aboriginal governments, thus severely downsizing this one level of territorial bureaucracy?
Mr. Speaker, the Akaitcho Territory Government Interim Measures Agreement signed in 2001 clearly outlines the process to transfer Commissioner's land within the Akaitcho territory, and the establishment of a land lease-only policy for disposition of Commissioner's land within municipal boundaries are two agreements that this government has been a party to but, clearly, has not adhered to given the latest developments and dispositions of land in fee-simple title to the City of Yellowknife.
Mr. Speaker, if this government is serious about its recognition of aboriginal governments as legitimate governments, like we hear about all the time, then I think it is time we start treating these aboriginal governments with the respect and dignity they deserve, especially when talking about land the First Nations' groups have established, through the highest court in our land, to have an inherent right to ownership and management of. Mr. Speaker, I will be asking the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs questions about this government's recent actions on this matter at the appropriate time later today. Mahsi.
---Applause