Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Your time for question period has expired; however, I’ll allow the Member a final supplementary, Mr. Abernethy.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Quite frankly, I am in no way, shape or form negating all the hard work that’s been done by this department with respect to the Wildlife Act. I respect the unique approach that they’ve taken with respect to involving the Aboriginal governments. In fact, I applaud it. I think it’s exactly the right thing to do. I am also not getting specifically into detail of the act. We can do that at another time. I’m talking about consultation process. I’m talking about listening to the people of Northwest Territories. I’m talking about hearing what they have to say and assuring them that we are hearing them and not saying things like we don’t plan to make any substantive changes, we’re only making editorial changes. That’s what I’m talking about.

This government doesn’t have a great record of consultation. Information sessions, on the other hand, we’re really good at. Unfortunately, we call much of our information sessions “consultations.” We do have a problem there. What I’m talking about is this process and how do we ensure confidence that people can feel that they have been heard. I’m telling you that they don’t feel that they’ve been heard. That’s what I’m talking about. How can the Minister assure people that they’ve been heard, that their input has been taken seriously, and that this act will represent 24,000 people in the Northwest Territories? Sorry, 44,000 people in the Northwest Territories. All the residents, not just half.

The Member is making a very strong assertion here that this is a biased piece of legislation that only represents half the people of the Northwest Territories. That’s categorically and unequivocally false. It’s egregious that he would even mention that in this Assembly. I’m surprised that the Member would stoop to such rhetoric on a bill of this importance.

The reality is, we did not just sit there and think, let me see, one year, there’s a good idea. We went from every community. We even talked to hundreds of people, groups across the land. This is the working group with all the Aboriginal governments involved as well as the territorial government. We’re coming forward with a bill that’s going to be representative of what we think is in the best interest for wildlife, for the environment, it’s going to have the support of all the governments and it’s going to represent, we think, the North.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The time for question period has expired. Item 8, written questions. Item 9, returns to written questions. Item 10, replies to opening address. Item 11, petitions. Item 12, reports of standing and special committees. Item 13, reports of committees on the review of bills. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to report to the Assembly that the Standing Committee on Government Operations has reviewed Bill 17, An Act to Amend the Income Tax Act. I wish to report that Bill 17 is now ready for consideration in Committee of the Whole.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. Beaulieu.

Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Item 14, tabling of documents. The honourable Premier, Mr. Roland.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following document entitled Northwest Territories Lands and Resources Devolution Agreement-in-Principle.

In accordance with Section 21(1) of the Retiring Allowances Act and Section 11(1) of the Supplementary Retiring Allowances Act, I hereby table the Pension Administration Report - Retiring Allowances Act and Supplementary Retiring Allowances Act as at March 31, 2010.

Mr. Clerk.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Item 15, notices of motion. Item 16, notices of motion for first reading of bills. Item 17, motions. Item 18, first reading of bills. Item 19, second reading of bills. Item 20, consideration in Committee of the Whole of bills and other matters: Tabled Document 4-

16(5), Executive Summary of the Report of the Joint Review Panel for the Mackenzie Gas Project; Tabled Document 30-16(5), 2010 Review of Members’ Compensation and Benefits; Tabled Document 38-16(5), Supplementary Health Benefits – What We Heard; Tabled Document 62-16(5), Northwest Territories Water Stewardship Strategy; Tabled Document 75-16(5), Response to the Joint Review Panel for the Mackenzie Gas Project on the Federal and Territorial Governments’ Interim Response to “Foundation for a Sustainable Northern Future”; Tabled Document 103-16(5), GNWT Contracts over $5000 Report, Year Ending March 31, 2010; Minister’s Statement 65-16(5), Devolution Agreement-in-Principle, Impact on Land Claims and Protection of Aboriginal Rights; Minister’s Statement 88-16(5), Sessional Statement; and Bill 4, An Act to Amend the Social Assistance Act, with Mr. Krutko in the chair.

I’d like to call Committee of the Whole to order. We have several items: tabled documents 4-16(5), 30-16(5), 38-16(5), 62-16(5), 75-16(5), 103-16(5), Bill 4, Minister’s Statement 65-16(5) and Minister’s Statement 88-16(5). What is the wish of the committee? Mrs. Groenewegen.

Mr. Chairman, I move to report progress.

---Carried

I’ll rise and report progress.

Can I have the report of Committee of the Whole, please, Mr. Krutko.

Mr. Speaker, your committee would like to report progress. Mr. Speaker, I move that the report of Committee of the Whole be concurred with.

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. A motion is on the floor. Do we have a seconder? The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.

---Carried

Item 22, third reading of bills. Mr. Clerk, orders of the day.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Accordingly, this House stands adjourned until Thursday, February 3, 2011, at 1:30 p.m.

---ADJOURNMENT

The House adjourned at 3:38 p.m.