Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I listened with interest last week as the Minister for the Department of Aboriginal Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations informed us, in a Minister’s statement, about the signing of a number of agreements. I would like to congratulate the Premier and the government on the progress made and the accomplishment that these agreements represent. It has been a lot of hard work by all parties, not just the government.
The Premier’s statement highlighted the Intergovernmental Agreement on Lands and Resource Management and mentioned that government will be meeting with, discussing with, and hearing from Aboriginal residents about lands and resource management through their governments who have signed that Intergovernmental Agreement. It will, as stated by the Premier, “…let us build the best possible land and resource management policies and practices together and share ideas for legislation and policy covering our respective lands and resources.”
I applaud the cooperation evidenced by this agreement and I look forward to many more years of that cooperation and working together, but… There’s always a but, eh? My but is this: I am concerned for our non-Aboriginal NWT residents. Will there be an opportunity for them to provide the same kind of input to government as the GNWT cooperates and meets with our Aboriginal governments?
In his statement, the Premier quoted the Wildlife Act and the collaborative work that took place during the consultation on that act. He has to be aware; it was obvious at the time that there were some serious concerns expressed by non-Aboriginal residents during the consultation and negotiations around the Wildlife Act, that the opportunity for input into that process was lacking for them. To give the GNWT credit, an avenue basically acceptable to all was eventually established.
But my question is this: Will the GNWT set up the same type of representative group to allow for consultation and input around the management of our lands and resources? Yes, I know, the government tells us all the time that the GNWT represents all NWT residents. I’ve heard it many times. But to be truly represented, if we, as the Premier stated, want the best possible management of lands and resources, the best policies and practices, then the government must find and develop an avenue for non-Aboriginal residents to have meaningful input into that process. Thank you.