I appreciate those comments from the Minister. I think this is a good move and I’m happy to hear that there is work going on here. I also wanted to say -- I didn’t get a chance for general comments -- but I do appreciate that the department is taking on a lot more with very little more financial resources. It’s quite an addition to the tables and I’ll be bringing that up a little later under intergovernmental relations. I’ll leave it at that for now. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. We’re on page 4-11, activity summary, corporate management, operations expenditure summary, $2.129 million. Mr. Yakeleya.

Mr. Chairman, the one question I have for the Minister in terms of the negotiations that are happening in the communities with self-government. Are we in a position as a territorial government to strike the fine balance in terms of what our roles would be in the future or do we somewhat leave that to the course to kind of determine in terms of who supersedes who? I know there are some clear lines here, however, because of the evolving of the agreements and the different interpretations of these agreements, sometimes it might put us in a position of us asking some serious questions in terms of the legitimacy of the self-government, the legitimacy of the territorial government programs. I just want to ask the Minister in terms of working with the respective communities that are dealing either in land claims

negotiations that have settled or in self-government negotiations.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. This is just a reminder that we are under corporate management. Those questions might be better on either negotiations or implementation, but I will go to the Premier to respond. Thank you. Premier Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The process would be when you talk about governance would be through the negotiations at the tables. That will definitely have an impact on what the government will look like in future years, as the tables are negotiated and the draw down of those agreements will affect the level of program delivery and governance structures of the GNWT. It is through the negotiations process. We do at times come in through a process that may involve the courts which comes to the implementation side of this, and that from time to time does involve the courts in coming up with a common understanding that both parties could agree to. That does happen from time to time, but the preferred approach would be through the normal negotiation process and then implementation cycle. As I said, though, there are times when the courts end up being the ones that would clarify positions. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Roland. Mr. Yakeleya, do you have more questions on corporate management?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I certainly seek to be guided in terms of some of the finer details. Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask about the policy, legislation and communication in the corporate management here in terms of the mandates from our government that are going forward to look at issues that, for me, are not quite clear because of the issues are still yet being involved. There is still not any type of signal from the federal government or the courts. Of course, we have to make a judgment in terms of, well, we think this is what it means. We are going to push this issue at the tables but it is not yet quite settled as to, okay, this and sometimes that could hurt us and sometimes that could put us at an advantage. That is where I am trying to get the question in terms of the policy, the legislation and the communication. Some of our legislation, I believe, Mr. Chairman, would have to be revised, would have to drop off the table. I guess, in that sense, I am trying to figure where there are grey areas, because the federal government also hasn’t taken the steps to say, well, this is what we agreed. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Chairman, the area of the mandates and what happens at the tables is the work that we talked about doing the

comprehensive mandate review. There are over 114 different mandates. Many of those were done prior to 1999, so before the Tlicho Government was put in place, before we got down to the community self-government discussions as well. We are coming back to the table with members and that mandate review process and look at revising those mandates to make them more current and fit the existing governance structures that are developing in the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

Thank you, Premier Roland. Next on my list is Ms. Bisaro.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just have a couple of questions. I hope I’m in the right department here because they are kind of general questions. Last year in discussing this department, the standing committee and also when we were in Committee of the Whole, there were questions and, I believe, a motion as well that this department ought to be moved back under the Executive. That wasn’t accepted. I’m just wondering if the Minister has given any further thought to rolling Aboriginal Affairs back under the Department of the Executive. Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Minister Roland.

Mr. Chairman, the involvement or rolling it back into Executive, the concern we have there was that for quite a number of years it was felt that Aboriginal Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations was wrapped up in another department and that it didn’t give it the proper level of identity when it came to dealing with our aboriginal governments and organizations in the Northwest Territories. That is why it was set aside. We do continue to operate in partnership with the Executive on a number of fronts, but it was felt at that time that we continue with the operation structures as they are now. Thank you.

Thank you for that answer. It is as I expected. I am not suggesting the department is not doing good work. I just wanted to know whether or not the issue had been revisited.

I have another question as well. I am relating to staffing levels. Last year the department was what I could say gutted in terms of number of staff and the reductions that were put in place. It seems to be that, in looking at this year’s budget, there has been an increase in staff in the department. Could the Minister comment on that, whether that is in fact the case? Thank you.

Mr. Chairman, it is the case with the expanded negotiation tables that we are going to be taking part in. We have had to put a request in for additional negotiators and chief

negotiators, assistant negotiators and a couple of other staff within the department. There is an increase this year as being requested through this process. Thank you.

Thank you to the Minister for that answer. That is, again, as I expected. I think I am glad to see that there are a few more bodies in that department. I think that we went a little too far last year in cutting. I wanted to just ask a general question. Actually, no. I will leave it for another section. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. We are on page 4-11, activity summary, corporate management, operations expenditure summary, $2.129 million. Ms. Bisaro.

Sorry, I do have another question. In the summary that we looked at during business plans, it indicated that there was a strategic initiative. It is listed under developing negotiations I think but then it references special events funding and I just noticed it in page 4-11, special events funding to aboriginal organizations. Could the Minister comment to me why that is considered a strategic initiative? Thank you.

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Premier Roland.

Mr. Chairman, the original amount that was in there under normal department business was removed and we put a request to put it back in, keep it going. It would have dropped off this year’s budget. Because of our structure of the initiative committees, that is where it got highlighted. It was an ongoing piece. We keep it after that, hopefully.

Could I get an explanation as to the value of this $75,000? How does it assist negotiations? I will leave it at that. Thank you.

Mr. Chairman, this breaks down to an allotment that is applied for. It is a $5,000 amount for special events. For example, National Aboriginal Day, the different groups can make their application for that or, for example, things like Dene Assembly, that they can make their application for it. It is those types of things that they can make application to this fund. Thank you.

Thank you, Premier Roland. Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The issue I wanted to talk with the Premier about is the contribution funding to the Metis local organizations. Can the Premier provide me some details as to the amount each Metis organization is

receiving, the $225,000 that he would give to them? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Minister Roland.