Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today again speaking of the Gwich’in MOU that was signed between the Government of the Northwest Territories and the Gwich’in Tribal Council. Mr. Speaker, the memorandum of understanding is an agreement that allows the Government of the Northwest Territories and the Gwich’in to work jointly on efforts to improve the economic wellbeing of the people in the Mackenzie Delta. Mr. Speaker, this agreement is just as important as the land claim agreements, since the government would not live up to Chapter 10 of the agreement or economic measures. Mr. Speaker, it seems like people within the bureaucracy are either ignoring the memorandum of understanding or do not feel that the agreement is still in place.
Mr. Speaker, this agreement is up as of March 31st this year and right now they are presently in the process of renegotiating that agreement. Mr. Speaker, there are contracts in the Gwich’in settlement region which are now still posted in the newspaper in which the Gwich’in are supposed to have an annual meeting with the Government of the Northwest Territories in regards to that agreement in which the government is supposed to come forward, notify what contracts are available in the Gwich’in settlement region within the Gwich’in business community. And yet, Mr. Speaker, it seems like this year, for some reason, that did not happen.
Mr. Speaker, I am still receiving calls from people who have made a best effort to go forward to the government departments, notify that they are interested in negotiating certain contracts, but are being told by people at the front line, well, sorry; we are going to be publicly tendering these contracts. Mr. Speaker, that is not in line with the Gwich’in MOU.
Mr. Speaker, I think it is important that this government, along with the Premier and his Cabinet colleagues, notify people in the field that the Gwich’in MOU is alive and well and will have to be lived up to.
Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time, I will have questions to the Premier in regards to the Gwich’in
MOU and the contracting policy this government signed on to. Thank you.
