As the Member indicated, that’s a key component of the decision-making process. We’re going to continue to do work on all the caribou herds, but we’re going to do work on the Ahiak, the Bluenose-East, we’re going to do some calf surveys on the Bathurst. That information will be part of the consideration that’s going to be looked at by the Wek’eezhii board, it will be looked at as we meet with the Akaitcho and the Metis, and it will be part of the deliberations that will result, hopefully, in the final recommendations for a broad Bathurst management plan. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Final supplementary, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I’d like to ask the Minister if there’s a possibility… I know there was a formal motion passed in this House to request some sort of a regional workshop or conference dealing with the boards in regard to the wildlife management boards so that they can come forward with their ideas on how to find a solution out of this problem that we’re all facing. Like I said, they’re the ones who are on the front-line, they’re the ones who are dealing with the harvesters, they’re dealing with the people in the communities. So I’d like to ask the Minister, has there been a decision made to come forward by some sort of territorial board to deal with this issue in light of the situation that we find ourselves in?

I will just point out for the people that the reality is the one area where there’s some difficulty is in the North Slave area because of the newness of the process in the Tlicho, with the Tlicho Government that’s getting up and mobilized, and the fact that we have unsettled claims adjacent that are part of the Bathurst herd range with the Akaitcho as well as the Northwest Territories Metis, and the need to come up with basically a tailor-made interim arrangement as these claims are settled. The Wek’eezhii process is underway. We’re committed to that process, as well as to a process that’s going to flow from that with the Akaitcho and the Metis. As well, we are in discussions with other co-management board executives and chairs to talk about the need to bring these folks together to look at some of the overlap issues that have come to light across the Northwest Territories as we deal with these caribou issues. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to ask the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment... In the News/North newspaper last Monday it talked about a designation of territorial historical sites or events and in there it has Deline as a place of a significant event. I want to ask the Minister, in terms of the significance of this place being named as an historical site or event in the Northwest Territories, can the Minister explain to me the significance of this announcement.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Lafferty.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Yes, the Member is correct that there was an advertisement in the newspaper on February 22nd requesting input and feedback from the

general public at large. It was a recommendation by an ad hoc evaluation committee that met on February 12th that identified 10 different key sites

and events. The Member is referring to the event of the first recorded hockey game in the NWT. Those are the areas that we’ve highlighted in the newspaper and now we’re just waiting for feedback. The deadline for feedback submissions is March 3rd , so it’s just around the corner. Mahsi.

Mr. Speaker, I asked the Minister, in terms of after the feedback on March 3rd , what’s the process, what will happen after that

process. And I want to ask him again: what’s the significance of this piece of information that’s been in the paper, in terms of Deline, in terms of resources, funding and recognition? What’s the significance?

Mr. Speaker, once we see the comments and the feedback, then we go back to myself, as the Minister responsible for historical sites and the events that will be before us. Then I’ll certainly review them and get feedback from the committee itself, the ad hoc committee, and just go along with the process and how it’s been done in the past.

This particular hockey that we talked about, the hockey game in the NWT, is one of the events of the Northwest Territories that’s been highlighted here in the House, but at the same time, Mr. Speaker, the federal government does not recognize that particular event that happened, because they’re saying, well, other events happen in Canada as well, particularly hockey games. Those are the areas we continue to talk about with the federal level or with the general public. Mahsi.

I’ve been raising this issue for a number of years until I’m green in the face. There is

some movement in this government here. I will be talking to the federal government and I’ll be talking to them until I’m blue in the face. However, I want to deal with this one here, Mr. Speaker. In terms of the process, the Minister said he’ll deal with the process, but I want to know the significance and what will happen. Is that going to be a time when this government is going to do something in terms of Deline being the place where hockey was played in the Northwest Territories? I want to let the people know in Deline. They are pretty excited about this and the significance of this process here.

That is waiting to be seen, based on the comments and input from the general public-at-large. I certainly cannot make the decision on my own without input from the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, we have to keep in mind that the Deline First Nation, there was a study commissioned by them and the study doesn’t provide certainty that Deline is the birthplace of hockey in Canada. It was quoted in there. Mr. Speaker, they realize that Deline should be recognized for their important contribution to the history of hockey in Canada and for the strength of hockey culture in the community. So that is the report we received. We continue to work with the report and the general public comments and input by March 3rd . Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Your final supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That’s not what I want to hear. Maybe I’m asking the wrong way. What I’m asking for is when there’s a significant event or site recognized in the Northwest Territories, there is some kind of celebration, recognition, there’s funds, there’s stuff going to that event. Just like when they had the paving of the highway here, the last kilometre was paved, they had a big celebration. So I’m asking about that in regards to Deline. After feedback, after the process, what is this government going to do to signify if this is an event that is going to be supported by this government? What are they going to do?

That is what we’re waiting for: input from the general public. We just did an advertisement February 22nd and we have a

few weeks to get input and comments from the general public. We did send out letters to stakeholders, as well, to receive their feedback. Until then, I can’t stand up here and say we’re going to recognize every single site, every single event that’s been put out there. Mr. Speaker, that’s why we want to hear from the general public of the Northwest Territories. Let’s hear them out and then I can get back to the Member on what the outcome is on the particular matter. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Beaulieu.

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. The honourable Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Robert McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We, as GNWT, recognize all communities’ rights to self-government, Mr. Speaker. Because of the Indian Act not allowing band communities to own real property, we have been working with band communities to form interim corporations so we can flow the capital and gas tax money to them. We view the interim corporations as a way to build capacity for their eventual transition into self-government. There’s nothing about the interim corporation model that would interfere with or go against the band communities’ self-government goals and objectives. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, does the Minister recognize the chief and council as a legitimate First Nation government of the community of Lutselk’e? Thank you.

We do recognize them as the First Nation government and there’s no reason that they couldn’t serve on the interim corporation. We’re asking the band communities to form the interim corporation. Currently, we have seven of the eight band communities who have formed, or are in the process of forming, an interim corporation, so they can own real property and the capital money can flow to them. We’re sitting on close to $3 million, Mr. Speaker, in capital and gas tax money for the community of Lutselk’e. So it’s in their best interest to form a corporation and take advantage of that money. Thank you.

Will the Minister affirm that recognition and direct his staff to begin discussions with the community with the end means of funding them at similar levels as other community governments created under the NWT Act as hamlets? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

MACA officials have been meeting with Lutselk’e staff and council to try to see if they would be willing to form an interim corporation. Mr. Speaker, we’re not asking them to change status or anything along those lines. That

would be a decision that they would have to make. We are asking them for the benefit of flowing money into their community, that the GNWT is holding for them. We are asking them to form an interim corporation so that they would be able to start using the money. We continue to have discussions with them. If it comes to where it needs to be a meeting between political leaders, myself and the chief, myself and council, I would be willing to do that, because this is an opportunity for the community to receive the money that’s due them. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Your final supplementary, Mr. Beaulieu.