Thank you. Maybe the Minister could elaborate. The 911 issue has been brought up no less than 13 occasions in this Legislature and it was always hinging on being able to reach out to the communities and cell phone services. So I’d like the Minister to actually explain to this House what does he mean by he’s looking into this. Thank you.

I said we’re revisiting the issue. The question has been raised. The Member said what, 13 times. I think it was a lot more than that, but at the time, because of the lack of communication across the Northwest Territories, telecommunication, it would have been difficult to work on or implement this system. So with the improvements, we are going back. I have directed officials to revisit this issue and see if there are ways that we can possibly implement this program. We’re working with the communities to implement this program on a stage-by-stage basis. Thank you.

Thank you. Written words speak louder than oral words. So what is the Minister willing to table before this House or even put in a letter to Members to show that MACA is committed to this, rather than just standing here and saying we’re behind it? Well, let’s prove it. Thank you.

Thank you. If the Member doesn’t want to take my word for it, then we’ll put a letter together and send it to the Member. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Hawkins.

Has the Minister of MACA ever gone to the FMB Cabinet table to fight for 911 and is he able to prove that for a fact? A lot of Northerners in this city and across the territory all feel that this issue continues to get dusted off and ignored. Thank you.

Thank you. It’s not our intention to dust this off and keep pushing it off. I have not gone to the Cabinet table yet. We are planning on doing a little more work on this and then once the opportunity arises, we’re looking for some funds, and I will approach FMB and see if there’s a possibility that we can gain access to some of these funds. But in the meantime, we do recognize that things are changing across the Northwest Territories and I’ve heard from a lot of folks out there. I’ve heard from NWTAC, I’ve heard from Members in the 16th and 17th . So it is one that

I have committed to revisiting and seeing if there’s a possibility that we can advance this issue any further. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The Member for Deh Cho, Mr. Nadli.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We’re marching towards the April 1st , 2014, deadline of

completing the devolution transfer process. However, we have regions that haven’t settled their land claims and, at the same time, haven’t signed on to the Devolution Agreement. So my questions are for the Premier.

The Intergovernmental Council that’s described in the post-Devolution Agreement sets a relationship between this government and also Aboriginal governments. Will the Dehcho and Akaitcho be involved in that process in terms of the Intergovernmental Council? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Nadli. The honourable Premier, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The process, as laid out, is for Aboriginal governments to sign on to devolution in order to be part of the Intergovernmental Council. Having said that, we are currently under discussions with both the Dehcho First Nation and the Akaitcho First Nations to find ways to move forward and hopefully get both the Dehcho First Nation and the Akaitcho to sign on to devolution. Thank you.

Thank you. Unsettled regions are described as historical treaties and the Premier just indicated they’re making efforts to ensure that efforts are made to bring along the Dehcho and the Akaitcho with the devolution process.

Can the Premier explain the GNWT’s efforts to work with both regions to ensure they come on board on the devolution process? Mahsi.

Thank you. The grand chief of the Dehcho First Nation and myself approved a terms of reference for a small working group of senior officials to have a without prejudice discussion on ways to move forward on land issues. It’s our expectation that very soon we’ll be able to approach both of our leaderships to see if we can find common ground to move forward. My principal secretary met with some of the leaders of the Akaitcho First Nation to see if we can work together to set up a similar process.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The land claims and self-government processes are basically predicated by federal government policy including, just to name perhaps two, the comprehensive land claims policies and the inherent rights to self-government.

What guide and policy does the GNWT take into consideration when engaging First Nations on lands, resources and self-government arrangements?

As a government, we have approved mandates that guide our negotiations on comprehensive land claims. We have also approved the inherent right to self-government and we have our own mandates and policies and guidelines that we adhere to.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Nadli.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Premier perhaps give us an indication of a timeline when those groups that haven’t signed on to the devolution process may come to the table?

As the Member knows, we are guided by the Constitution of Canada, and the Constitution of Canada provides for comprehensive land claims. As I said many times in the House, the Dehcho First Nations and the Akaitcho First Nations both don’t believe the written versions of the treaties. They believe the oral version of the treaties. That is what has complicated the negotiations.

Now, both processes involve land, and lands are big issues. As part of the final agreement on devolution, we have a process whereby there is up to one year after the implementation date for an Aboriginal government to sign on, and there are also financial considerations for which the Government of Canada is paying; things like waste sites. There is also money for implementation, and those funds will drop off after one year because the Government of Canada doesn’t want to continue to carry those forward as liabilities. On our part, if after a year those financial considerations by the Government of Canada fall off, I think it’s incumbent on us, if the Aboriginal governments sign on after one year. Obviously, our government’s objective and preference would be to have all Aboriginal governments sign on to land claims or sign on to devolution and that’s what we’re working towards.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. The time for oral questions 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. Item 14, tabling of documents. Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Item 15, notices of motion. Item 16, notices of motion for first reading of bills. Mr. Ramsay.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I give notice that on Wednesday, October 30, 2013, I will move that Bill 27, An Act to Amend the Revolving Funds Act, be read for the first time.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Item 17, motions. Mrs. Groenewegen.

WHEREAS Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories wish to acknowledge the profound grief experienced by families who suffer the death of a small child, infant or preterm baby;

AND WHEREAS this devastating tragedy often occurs suddenly, without warning, as a result of miscarriage, stillbirth, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), accident, or other causes or complications;

AND WHEREAS SIDS is the number one cause of death in Canada for healthy infants under the age of one;

AND WHEREAS the tragedy of pregnancy and infant loss, which exacts a terrible emotional toll, may be preventable in some instances;

AND WHEREAS the 15th day of October is

recognized in parts of Canada, and in many other jurisdictions around the world, as a day of remembrance and awareness of pregnancy and infant loss;

AND WHEREAS increased awareness of the causes and impacts surrounding pregnancy and infant loss may lead to greater understanding, support and resources in communities across the Northwest Territories;

AND WHEREAS a day of remembrance honours the lives of children taken far too soon and supports grieving parents, grandparents, siblings and other family members whose lives are forever altered by the heartbreak of losing a child;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, that the Legislative Assembly resolves to formally observe October 15th as a special day of awareness and

remembrance for pregnancy and infant loss in the Northwest Territories.