The implementation process is one that will always continue throughout the agreements until it is fully realized what was negotiated through the claims process. Right now, as I’m informed, there are no outstanding issues directly with the implementation table. There are, the Member is correct, outstanding issues with some of the parts of the claim that involve all the parties.
In reference to the CANOL Trail, Minister Bob McLeod has just given me information that we are awaiting the federal government to transfer the lands and there are environmental issues attached to that. That’s why those transfers haven’t occurred as of yet. That’s what’s holding up that process, is my understanding. So it is waiting for a transfer of the land. But our groups have to decide and agree on environmental issues that are outstanding along that CANOL Trail.
Along with the economic measures piece, the Member referenced chapter 12 of their agreement and the MOU. Just for the record, I have to state that the MOUs are something that were established originally with the Gwich’in and continue to be worked at that level. One that is worked on and initially an agreement is put in place with the Sahtu and others working down the valley as well. Those are not tied directly to the land claims. Those are agreements we’ve reached outside of that through a memorandum of understanding so that we can in fact, as a government, try to work with the aboriginal groups and governments to help with the capacity issues and business environment and so on. In a sense it’s a matter of working together and
creating better partnerships, but it is not directly tied to the claim itself.
We continue. We know it’s a work in progress around the MOUs; it continues to be up and down the valley. There’s renegotiation going to be happening with the Gwich’in. The one that was signed with the Sahtu and the Inuvialuit, we’ve engaged in discussions.