Finally, Mr. Speaker, I have a return to Written Question 8-16(3) asked by Mr. Menicoche on March 12, 2009, regarding the Dehcho Process and Protected Areas Strategy.
General Observations
The GNWT fully supports the successful conclusion and implementation of aboriginal rights agreements throughout the NWT, including the Dehcho Process negotiations. The GNWT, as represented by the Department of Aboriginal Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations, has a fully staffed negotiating team that attends all sessions and makes every effort to contribute to the negotiations in a productive manner. However, as the questions indicate, there are always challenges associated with negotiations throughout the Northwest Territories, including the Dehcho Process. In an effort to share some of the table specific challenges with the MLA for Nahendeh, at least two briefings have taken place to provide status reports and discuss the dynamics at the Dehcho and Acho Dene Koe tables.
It should also be noted that all parties at negotiations have bilateral meetings from time to time. For example, the federal government has had bilateral meetings with the Dehcho negotiating team and the territorial government’s negotiating team. Dehcho leaders have also taken the opportunity to meet with federal Ministers to discuss table specific issues. This is a common feature in many aboriginal rights negotiations.
Answers to the Specific Questions
1. Please provide to me the number of meetings
and phone conferences he has had with the Minister Chuck Strahl of the federal government, INAC.
Depending on the political issues of the day, I am in regular contact with Minister Strahl. In addition, communications with Minister Strahl’s office also occur regularly at the officials’ level.
Specifically, I have had at least eight meetings and phone conferences with Minister Strahl (November 2007, March 2008, June 2008, August 2008 twice, January 2009, March 2009 twice), and my staff have had ongoing discussions with officials in Minister Strahl’s office on a regular basis.
2. Will the Premier advise how many times these
discussions were in topic to the Dehcho and the Dehcho Process?
Phone calls with Minister Strahl have not been initiated to discuss any specific topic or negotiating table. Typically, these ministerial calls deal with big
picture issues and serve as an opportunity to touch base. In that respect, discussions with Minister Strahl and his officials have at times included an exchange of information respecting the Dehcho region generally, the Dehcho Process, and discussions on the Nahanni Park Expansion.
3. Can the Premier provide the negotiation
position that our Cabinet has with respect to the Dehcho negotiations process?
No. GNWT negotiators are guided by Cabinet approved mandates, which are confidential, in the same way as Dehcho and federal negotiators have mandates which are not shared publicly.
4. Will the Premier report how many of the
discussions were in relation to the Nahanni National Park boundaries?
National parks are a subject for negotiations in the Dehcho Framework Agreement. The Dehcho Interim Measures Agreement also commits Canada and the Dehcho First Nations to bilaterally negotiate an interim agreement for the management of national parks. A Naha Dehé Consensus team was created by Canada and the Dehcho First Nations to do this work. From time to time, the Dehcho main table receives reports from the consensus team.
As noted above, my staff and I have engaged with Minister Strahl and his staff in discussions on the Nahanni National Park boundaries.
5. Will the Premier advise how many of these
discussions were around the EdeZhie Protected Areas Strategy?
I have discussed the issue of the Nahanni National Park and the Dehcho Land Use Plan in general terms with Minister Strahl, but I do not recall having spoken to him about the EdeZhie Protected Areas Strategy specifically.
The GNWT is part of the working group considering the EdeZhie Protected Area Strategy Candidate Area. GNWT and federal officials, in collaboration with the sponsoring community, are currently reviewing the proposed protected area.
6. Please advise how many times he has met
with the Dehcho grand chief and with the Dehcho leadership.
During the term of the current 16th Legislative
Assembly, I have held six meetings with regional aboriginal leaders to date, with the Dehcho First Nations having been represented at five of these meetings.
I recently held a bilateral meeting with the Dehcho First Nations in Fort Simpson (January 2009) and attended their 2008 Annual General Assembly in Kakisa (June 2008). I also attended additional meetings where the Dehcho were represented, including two Dene leadership meetings (April 2008 and February 2009).
I also met with the grand chief twice in my office (February 2008, Fall 2008) and on three other occasions in the Dehcho (May 2008, August 2008, December 2008), and talked by phone with Grand Chief Antoine at least twice.