Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Again, there’s a lot of history. The Member has touched on it, I’ve touched on it, about processes that were established. Yes, the issue of devolution on lands and waters within the Northwest Territories, and these are waters, for example, inland lakes and so on, that are managed today by someone who wears a badge that has a federal government insignia on it; an INAC employee or others in similar areas of responsibility. All we are talking about is drawing that existing authority that is practiced by the federal government who has shown us on a number of occasions and that has brought the ire up of Aboriginal governments and the people of the Northwest Territories to say that we need to bring that control north. That’s what this is about.
The issue of land claims/self-government negotiations ongoing, the federal government has put a clause in here that they can draw back lands when there’s a settlement that goes beyond the discussions that have been put in place and they hold that authority to reverse decisions in land quantum, for example. Again, clearly we’re being very cautious as a Government of the Northwest Territories not to take on any fiduciary responsibility that the federal government has, because the treaties, as mentioned by many leaders and
Members of this Assembly, rightfully belong with the federal government and their role and responsibility. Thank you.