Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m very concerned about this government’s stance in federal/provincial/territorial discussions on the Agreement on Internal Trade, or the AIT, and the mandate our government has to make commitments at these negotiations. As a complex and developing agreement, dealing generally with the establishment of free trade between provinces and territories and the elimination of controls on that trade, our input is required. The AIT puts in place many commitments that limit the ability of this Territory to maximize the benefits of economic development for Northerners. For example, while it provides an exemption for the Business Incentive Policy, it forbids the ability to require the establishment of head offices in the NWT through socio-economic agreements. The consequences for a loss of corporate taxes are obvious. Many other measures now in place are of concern, such as the prohibition on procurement preference policies by municipalities created under the authority of provincial or territorial governments.

The Premier and Minister of ITI, responsible for trade, have continued discussions on expanding the AIT with several meetings last summer through to yesterday. Recent negotiations have included an energy chapter directly related to the NWT’s resource revenue regime. This may be news to some Members, as it was to me. The basis of my concern is where does the government get its mandate to bind this Territory to sweeping and limiting measures without discussion or debate of negotiating positions through committee or here in the Assembly? From what I have seen, I do not find the positions taken by the government to be at all comforting. It boils down to governments making treaties among themselves that tie their own hands when it comes to regulating the economy of business to make cross-border decisions on matters vital to the health of our economy.

Mr. Speaker, I have to ask, what are the benefits of these measures, where is the critical analysis and what mandate does Cabinet have to carry on negotiations without the knowledge and consent of Regular Members?

One of our principles of consensus government agreed to by Caucus says except under extraordinary circumstances, Members of the Legislative Assembly should be made aware of and have opportunity to discuss significant announcements, changes, consultations or initiatives before they are released to the public or introduced in the Legislative Assembly. l suggest we put any decision on hold until my colleagues and I have been apprised and consulted on this fundamental economic policy and its acknowledgement of our unique northern conditions. Mahsi.