Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In regards to the Minister’s announcement today in regards to GNWT’s approach to regulatory reform, we are trying to find ways to improve it.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to go back in history. I first got involved in aboriginal politics in 1985. From that, there was already in place land use planning work going on by way of land use planning commissions set up in the Northwest Territories. In the 1980s, we had planning boards in place. A lot of the legwork was done. At the same time, there were negotiations going on in regards to the Dene-Metis comprehensive land claim. In 1988, the Dene-Metis signed an agreement-in-principle which clearly defined what regulatory systems they wanted to see in the Northwest Territories by way of land and water management systems, land use planning boards, looking at the establishment of wildlife management authority and also the Dene-Metis, through the comprehensive claim process, were involved in the work that was going on in regards to land use planning for the Mackenzie Valley. Yet, Mr. Speaker, since then, the Gwich’in have settled their land claim based on the Dene-Metis model. Following that, the Sahtu and now the Tlicho, but, Mr. Speaker, other groups are still negotiating their agreements in regards to the Dehcho Process. The Dehcho Process is basically developing a land use planning system which will be consolidated to the land claim agreement which should be the basis of any plan regardless if it is a land use plan for development, a land use plan because the regulation requires it, but yet we don’t seem to be supporting them on that effort.

Mr. Speaker, there should be a land use plan completed for all regions in the Northwest Territories so that we can have a basis so that when the developer or individuals from our communities know what is going on out there and make industry and developers aware of what the sensitivity of the region is by way of the land use plan identifying those sensitive areas. Mr. Speaker, again, we still haven’t come forward with concluding that process which is clearly defined.

Mr. Speaker, my view is, the biggest challenge we are facing in regards to regulatory reform is just having the funding available and the capacity in our small communities to deal with the regulatory process. I use an illustration in regards to the communities in the Northwest Territories. Whenever an application comes forward…

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted