This is page numbers 5493 - 5530 of the Hansard for the 16th Assembly, 5th Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was territories.

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Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise on the ground on the faith of my people. For the last three weeks my mind and heart have been gone from time to time as to the fate of how we will be shaping our land and our relationships with aboriginal governments. We are beginning to see what it may look like. There’s an interesting saying in the Chinese culture that goes something like this: May you live in interesting times. Certainly we’re in those times with the draft devolution agreement-in-principle. Advice I’m getting from my elders and the leaders in the Sahtu give me strength to carry on with my voice on this draft document before us.

I want to go back to three years ago at the beginning of this Assembly. The Premier, earlier on, said devolution is on the backburner. I recall we pretty much all agreed with that sentiment. However, later on we asked that devolution be put back on the table with all the aboriginal governments as equal owners of this land and as governments. We had important things to do and one thing was how we would work with each other and break away from dependency on the federal government and become unique partners in the Constitution of Canada. We want to dance to our own drum, be it Dene, Metis, Inuvialuit or as Northerners.

Three weeks ago, out of the blue, we found out a draft AIP had been reached between the GNWT and the feds on devolution; only between the two governments and not the aboriginal governments. Would you want all governments to sign this document? Besides, aren’t our communities negotiating their styles of governments? The draft AIP did not come before this House or the people of the Northwest Territories whom we work for. Months earlier we said we need to discuss

devolution openly with the public. This is the basis of democracy.

Mr. Speaker, the feds are trying to download costs. That’s what I firmly believe is happening here in the Northwest Territories. Nothing more, nothing less. We’ve all received copies of letters from the vast majority of aboriginal leaders saying they’re not on side. These leaders represent 29 communities in the Northwest Territories. That is a significant number that are telling us we’re not in the place for the things that are proceeding. This thing is like a runaway freight train.

We need a meaningful consultation process. We need to understand why the feds want this to happen. They’re not doing this because they’re nice guys. We need to know their agenda. We need to know what our agenda is. What is the agenda of the Northwest Territories? Is it money? Is it control? Is it fear? Is the world ending tomorrow?

Last week in the House the Premier said there was no impact from devolution on land claims and self-government agreements.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Mr. Yakeleya. Your time for your Member’s statement has expired.

Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

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

---Unanimous consent granted

Norman Yakeleya

Norman Yakeleya Sahtu

Then why are the aboriginal leaders not standing side by side with our Premier saying this is a good thing? Why are we trying to force the deal?

We need to do this right and we need to take the time to do it right. Our elders know very well how agreements like this will have an impact on us and our lives and the fallout interpretations between governments. Just look up the amount of court cases that we’ve had to deal with in our time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’m glad that the Premier has finally seen the light to meet with the aboriginal leaders and for those groups that have been raising issues for some six or seven months regarding a letter he received from the Gwich’in Tribal Council on areas they had concerns about on the devolution process with no response to date.

Under the Northern Accord Agreement it’s clear that aboriginal rights are clearly defined in the agreement. It says none of the agreements that

abrogate, derogate from any of the provisions included in the aboriginal land claims settlement, including the following: land use plans, environmental assessments, land and water responsibilities, wildlife management, surface rights, subsurface rights, benefit agreements, establishment of national parks, territorial parks, conservation areas, and the last thing on the list is resource royalty sharing.

I was totally amazed to hear the Premier make reference that the Gwich’in gave up that right in their land claim and they’re not going to get any more rights. The land claims agreements are not concluded. The land claims agreements have areas that still need to be negotiated, the surface rights provisions, the royalties provisions and our opportunity to negotiate and participate in agreements which are already in existing land claims agreements with respect to the Inuvialuit and agreements over in Nunavut. Those arrangements were not going to be part of the Dene-Metis claim and the Dene-Metis made it clear that they were going to have a share of royalties throughout the Mackenzie Valley for the Dene-Metis people.

It’s very important to realize that these agreements are pretty clear. The agreement also clearly stipulates that, for greater certainty, oil and gas management requirements established pursuant to the agreements shall be compatible with wildlife, environment and land management requirements established through settlement of land claims agreements.

It also clearly states that in the event of inconsistency between legislative establishment pursuant to the agreement, that the aboriginal land claims agreements and treaties in the Northwest Territories shall basically have paramountcy or precedence over other legislation.

I think the agreement speaks for itself with regard to where this government stands. For the government to assume they can go ahead and negotiate without the aboriginal people at the table is totally unaccommodating in regard to constitutional land claims rights that presently exist.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Mr. Krutko, your time for your Member’s statement has expired.

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

David Krutko

David Krutko Mackenzie Delta

There are constitutional cases under Section 35 rights in the Constitution where there are land claims agreements that are settled in the Northwest Territories which specifically state that the Government of the Northwest Territories shall negotiate with those organizations. It’s in our land claims agreements. Yet this government is totally missing the boat when they figure they can sign an agreement between themselves and the

federal government and not have aboriginal involvement. That for me is the problem with this agreement. The way it’s being handled is the lack of aboriginal involvement in negotiating a devolution accord for the Northwest Territories and then go to the federal government in regard to that agreement. That was the understanding we had through the Dene-Metis process and the settlement of our land claims agreements.

With that, I will have questions for the Premier on this matter later.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I rise in the House to discuss in a similar form the House of Commons Bill C-530, which is a bill to discuss the borrowing limit of the Northwest Territories. Slightly different approach than my colleague Mr. Ramsay has. I respect the spirit and intent that our Member of Parliament has on this particular issue. I believe that the internalistic approach that Ottawa has continued to enforce on the Government of the Northwest Territories and its people needs to end.

I do not necessarily fear the approach the Member of Parliament has been taking, however, I do think there are a number of concerns that need to be aired and answered at the same time. The concerns are certainly made up as perhaps my colleague put it: Who had given the Member of Parliament marching orders to act on our behalf?

The direction of the bill states that 70 percent of revenues should be our borrowing limit. That is up to $950 million, as approximated. My issue with that particular case is: Who has he talked to in this particular government? My concern is, of course, he has not talked to me and I’ve looked around and only heard of one person he has specifically spoken to, and I’m not sure if that was any more than water-cooler talk at the time.

This is a serious trek forward to change the borrowing limit of the Government of the Northwest Territories without a Cabinet directive. Has the Member of Parliament spoken with this Cabinet? Has he spoken with the Assembly in any form? I’m certainly not aware of that. Does he have a Cabinet position that reflects the Finance Minister’s hard work in discussing this issue with his colleagues? Again, I speak with caution and concern. I’m not against the proposal provided by the Member of Parliament, but I do want to exercise concern as to whether he’s doing this alone or if he’s doing it without support.

I agree with many of the comments in yesterday’s discussion in the House of Parliament that emphasized one size does not fit all three territories. Mr. Larry Bagnell, the MP for the Yukon, spoke quite strongly about the Northwest Territories and its abilities. I also want to acknowledge the Bloc, who actually spoke, as well, and said that there was great fiscal management of this Territory and the fact that they can certainly support the direction it’s presently proceeding on.

During question period I will have questions for the Minister of Finance to seek clarity on who gave our MP direction on this endeavour and if it has the support of this government.

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. Item 4, reports of standing and special committees. Item 5, returns to oral questions. Item 6, recognition of visitors in the gallery.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

November 3rd, 2010

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

Colleagues, I would like to draw your attention to the presence of two very special people in the gallery today. Verna Currimbhoy and Gay Kennedy will soon be retiring from the public service. Today marks the last sitting day of the House that these two valued employees will serve this institution.

Verna began her career in the public service in 1993 and has served as the Members’ secretary/receptionist since 1995.

Gay Kennedy began her public service career in 1980 and has served the departments of Economic Development, Energy and Resources Development, Public Works, Municipal and Community Affairs, and Health and Social Services. In 2008 she accepted a two-year appointment as the Assembly’s director of research and library services.

All in all these two employees take 47 years of experience and service with them when they retire. These two individuals have worked closely with all Members of the House and have earned their trust and their respect. To say they will be missed is an understatement.

I know I speak on behalf of all Members past and present when I offer my heartfelt best wishes to Verna and Gay as they move on to the next exciting stage of their lives. Good luck to both of you and please keep in touch with us.

The honourable Member for Monfwi, Mr. Lafferty.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Jackson Lafferty

Jackson Lafferty Monfwi

I’d like to acknowledge my constituency assistant up in the gallery: Madelaine Pasquayak.

Also Verna for her hard work over the years since I came on board as a rookie.

I’d also like to acknowledge a couple of Pages here, acknowledging all the Pages who have been

doing great work. Most importantly are my Pages: Magdalene Steinwand and Sharon Lafferty, who are here with us doing awesome work.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Robert Hawkins

Robert Hawkins Yellowknife Centre

I don’t know if I can put it better than you did. You spoke very nicely about Gay Kennedy and Verna Currimbhoy.

I’d like to recognize Gay Kennedy for her hard work here for the last two years. I’ve gotten to know her very well and I respect the work that she’s done in this government, as well as the fact that she’ll be a stalwart force who is missed. She’s done a lot of work over the years and I know that her works and efforts can’t be replaced.

Verna Currimbhoy, as you’ve mentioned as well, is leaving us and, as I understand it, she’ll soon be moving to Saskatoon where her granddaughter is now located and will be back into grandmother duties full time. She will be sadly missed by many of us and certainly by myself and I appreciate all the hard work that she’s provided.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

The honourable Member for Thebacha, Mr. Miltenberger.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Michael Miltenberger

Michael Miltenberger Thebacha

I would like to, as well, recognize Verna Currimbhoy. Our time together -- myself, Premier Roland, the Member for Mackenzie Delta and the Member for Hay River South -- goes back to the last century.

---Laughter

Pre-division. We’ve all had the opportunity to work with Verna during some very interesting times in this Assembly. I’d like to wish her all the best, and as well best wishes to Gay Kennedy.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Jane Groenewegen

Jane Groenewegen Hay River South

I’d like to take this opportunity to recognize Verna Currimbhoy. She has been a wonderful assistant to us as Regular Members, especially those from out of town as we come here often without our assistants and she’s there to back us up.

I would also like to thank, particularly for this last couple of years, Gay Kennedy, who stepped into the role of director of research and attended all of our Priorities and Planning meetings of the Regular Members. After many of the dialogues we would just look at her and say, you know, did you get that? Can you do something with that? And she just works her magic. She was a wonderful asset to our committee. Thank you to her.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

The honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, Mr. Robert McLeod.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Robert C. McLeod

Robert C. McLeod Inuvik Twin Lakes

It gives me great pleasure to recognize in the gallery my wife, Judy, my daughter Kimberly, and two of my three jewels,

my grandchildren, Rylan and Reese Wainman. Welcome.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Abernethy.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

Glen Abernethy

Glen Abernethy Great Slave

I’d like to take this opportunity to recognize a couple of the Pages that have been working for us over the last couple of weeks from the Great Slave riding: Alison Buckland and Desiree Brown. Pages do important work for us and we all appreciate what they do.

I’d also like to take this opportunity to recognize Verna and Gay, as well, and thank them so much for all they’ve done for us over the last two years for Gay and three years for Verna. That’s how long I’ve been here. Thank you both so very much.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery

The Speaker

The Speaker Paul Delorey

The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.