Thank you, Premier McLeod. At this time I would like to ask Premier McLeod if he would like to bring witnesses in.

Yes, I would, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Premier McLeod. Is the committee agreed?

Thank you. I’ll ask the Sergeant-at-Arms to please escort the witnesses to the table.

Premier McLeod, for the record, could you please introduce your witnesses.

Thank you, Madam Chair. To my right I have Fred Talen, senior negotiator, Aboriginal Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations. To my left I have Ken Chutskoff, legal counsel.

Thank you, Premier McLeod. I’ll now turn to Members and ask if they have any general comments on Bill 46. General comments? Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I’m also very pleased to be sitting here and speaking to the bill, Bill 46, Deline Final Self-Government Agreement Act. Madam Chair, my comments will be short to this specific bill.

This bill, as the Premier indicated, is the first stand-alone community self-government agreement in the Northwest Territories. It’s an historical moment for the people of Deline, for the team that worked on it from the Deline Got’ine, from the Northwest Territories negotiating team and also from the federal government negotiating team.

Mr. Premier talked about the effect of the Deline Tax Agreement that we will have the Deline Got’ine Government take as part of their own government. This bill also, in the history of the Northwest Territories, is setting precedence for the Mackenzie Valley. As you know, Tulita and Colville Lake and Kasho Got’ine, Fort Good Hope and Norman Wells are also negotiating their own self-government agreements as per the Sahtu Comprehensive Dene-Metis Land Claim Agreement and these land claim agreements in our region, in the Sahtu region, give specific provisions for a community self-government agreement.

I want to congratulate the GNWT team members and to congratulate the good, hard work of the Deline negotiators and team and to the federal government. To make it to this point where we are today, we’re making history in the Northwest Territories by bringing it through our process. I wanted to say that when we get to another part of this important document, hopefully today, later on after third reading, I will do a formal thank you through a statement to the good people up in Deline as well as the negotiators and the team.

I do want to say to the Premier it takes a lot to be a trailblazer. Trailblazers, they have a vision, they have a team working with them and they do what they have to do. I take this agreement, this self-government agreement to a time when I, along with George Cleary, who was the president of the Sahtu Tribal Council, when we first started to work on a Sahtu regional land claim. Part of the deal, part of the package was a section in there, self-government, that George Barnaby, who at that time was self-government negotiator, said to me at that time in 1992, ’93, that each one of us leaders in time in history have to hold a sign. He said mine is self-government. I was young, and I’m still pretty young yet, in heart anyhow, not realizing then in 1992, ’93, ’94, that 20 years later we will see an agreement like this. We didn’t realize that when we were negotiating. George Cleary was our president. He played a significant part in this agreement we’re doing now, but there are lots of people also in around and from Deline who also played a significant role in where we’re at today. It’s amazing. I just want to say that.

In ’93 we did not think this would come about, with the territorial government, the colleagues on the other side, they were making things happen. It takes a lot of work and it takes a lot of dedication. I want to ask the Premier, with this agreement, is this the agreement that the Deline people now will have their own stand-alone government that we would treat them as a territorial government, as a government and look at them as a government in that sense as the federal government looks at the territory as a government to be respected and talked to in a manner of government-to-government relationship. That’s the question I have for Mr. Premier in regards to this bill here.

I want to say also to the people in Deline, when we settled the Sahtu Land Claim congratulations to them for taking this chapter in writing it and recreating their history. Nothing is easy and working towards an agreement like this says a lot about the people. It says a lot about the families that they come from. They come from very good people, very strong people. They come from very good leaders to make this happen.

Those are my opening comments to this agreement. I’m very pleased. I would never have thought in my wildest dreams, being a negotiator and sitting with George Cleary and the other negotiators, that I would be here today to witness the good, hard work by a lot of good people and to see that this chapter is coming full circle. To all the young people and young leaders who are coming up from Deline or any other communities, anything in life is possible if you put your mind to it and you have faith in God or the Creator or whatever. Anything is possible. Don’t ever, ever, ever give up on your dreams and your vision. Anything is possible if you have good leadership, good direction. Here amongst my colleagues here, we’re witnessing the creation of a new government. I never thought that, going to school in Inuvik, that we’re part of this, putting a new government together. I thought always that was for outside people. But you know what? Good things come from inside.

I want to say that this bill here is a new path. I always said that in order to get to the Promised Land you always had to negotiate your way through the wilderness. I always said that. To think that people in Deline have negotiated their way to the Promised Land, that’s what I think this Deline Self-Government Agreement will do for them. They’re leaders, and I must take my hat off to thank them, because I know it’s tougher to be the first in line and to be out of the door. Just like we have good athletes, like I said before, or a gold medalist, they know what it takes to get a gold medal. This is a gold medal deal.

That’s all I want to say. Congratulations, again, to the Premier and your team and colleagues around this table here for allowing this to happen. I really appreciate it. I really thank you very much from the bottom of my heart for allowing this day to happen in this fashion. Congratulations, Deline.

If committee is agreed, we will not stop in between for a response from the Premier. They are general comments. I am not hearing any questions. I’ll just proceed on to the next people on the list if the committee is agreed.

Thank you. Next for general comments I have Mr. Moses.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I feel very honoured to be speaking to Bill 46, Deline Final Self-Government Agreement Act. First of all, I would just like to congratulate the people from the community of Deline for their hard work and moving forward on this bill. As the Premier and my colleague Mr. Yakeleya have said, it is a historic event and actually a very historical bill in being that it’s the first stand-alone community-based self-government in the history of the Northwest Territories. I believe it will set a standard for other communities in the Northwest Territories to look at the work that Deline has done and the negotiating team and working with our government to move the process along so that more of our communities can start taking responsibility of the work that they do, and getting the decision-making powers that they need to do the best work that they can do for the people that they serve and the people that they work with.

I also know the hard work that goes into this process of self-government from our government, from the negotiating team and from the federal government. At one time I was a field worker for the Gwich’in self-government, which is still being negotiated. That just shows how long the process is taking. I just want to acknowledge the hard work, dedication, commitment and persistence from the negotiating teams on all governments. I know it’s a very lengthy process to be sitting at the table. I really appreciate the hard work to get us where we are today and to get the Deline people where they are today in terms of taking on those new powers.

Not too much further to say. I think Mr. Yakeleya and the Premier captured it very well in bringing this bill before us. One thing that I do want to say is I wish the people of Deline the best of luck taking on the responsibilities for education, health, justice, and as it rolls out I’ll be keeping a good eye on it because I think it’s going to really show what our communities can do because a lot of our communities are very strong, very traditional, very cultural, and I think we’re going to see some really strong benefits in the Sahtu region that will serve to make our NWT a better place to be and a better place to live.

I want to thank, as I said, all the negotiating teams and, with that, congratulate the people of Deline once again.

Next for general comments I have Ms. Bisaro.

Thank you, Madam Chair. It’s an overused word today but I think it’s very valid and it is historic. It reminds me of when we talked about devolution. This is a one of a kind. This group of the people from Deline are on the leading edge and they’re leading the other communities in the NWT that want to follow their lead. It is an historic situation. It is an historic day and it’s also very exciting. This is something which has not ever occurred before in our territory. I don’t know that it’s ever occurred in Canada before.

With that, I know it’s been a very long process, some 19 years of work, and I want to compliment the work of all negotiators, particularly the people from Deline who have been pushing it for 19 years, but also the negotiators from the Government of Canada and the negotiators from our own GNWT who have done an excellent job in coming to the agreement that we see before us today and this bill.

I want to say that the negotiators deserve our praise, but I think the perseverance of the people of Deline is probably the main reason why we’ve reached this point today. Negotiations are always a bit of a long haul, but 19 years is a rather long time to pursue this one issue, and I congratulate you for pursuing it and achieving your goal.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I look forward to what other Members have to say and I look forward to third reading when it comes up later today. I am totally in support of this bill.

Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. Next for general comments I have Mr. Dolynny.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I would like to welcome the Premier’s delegation and all the people in the gallery here today who made the journey to the Legislative Assembly. Thank you for joining us today.

As mentioned by my colleague, a lot of key words were used – historic – and I think I’d like to echo those same sentiments. This is very much historic data. As we say, 19 years in the making, but I think it actually occurred even before that. I think it was back in 1976 when this first got off the ground. So this has been an extremely long journey with a lot of hard work, a lot of dedicated people, a lot of government officials, and later today I will have the honour, on behalf of the elders, to make more personal thanks and I’m honoured to do that.

It goes without saying the negotiating team behind us had to endure a lot of personal sacrifice. I want to thank them for their tenacity and expedience on keeping focused on a very important cause. I think it’s important that we recognize that. To the elders, I appreciate all the elders who played a key role involving the culture and the value and, in a lot of cases, the oral tradition that’s being passed from generation to generation. That’s not on paper, Madam Chair, and I believe the oral tradition is embodied within the pages, the act and the bill before us. So, to the elders, thank you. You know who you are, but I will be saying thank you to them later as well.

Madam Chair, I am very supportive. I speak in a very positive tone. Like my colleagues, I wish this bill expediency in the process. I do have some general comments, though, if at some point in time the Premier could address in some form or fashion. Those general comments will be in terms of regulations that will be attached to this bill. When will the regulations be written? How will those regulations be rolled out? Is there a timeline involved with this bill? More importantly, are there other triggering mechanisms that will happen at the federal level if and when this bill gets to third reading? I know there is a triggering mechanism that has to happen at a federal level. If he could fill in those two gaps, it would make the journey complete in the mind of this MLA.

Until such time, I want to thank all parties involved. Very well done. Mahsi cho.

Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. Next I have Mr. Bouchard.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I, like my colleagues, would like to give my support to this bill. Also, congratulations to the people of Deline. It is a great day. In my many years of political career, not only as an MLA but town councillor and municipal politics, we control our own destiny. We’ve taken our devolution. It’s an opportunity for the people of the Northwest Territories.

When I was on town council in Hay River, whenever we had an opportunity for the town to control its comings and goings, it’s better that the community itself takes that control. I see that as an opportunity for Deline to their self-government.

Thank you, Mr. Bouchard. Next on the list for general comments I have Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. I too would like to express my congratulations to Deline, and congratulations from my constituency and my communities. Which, of course, means that I’ll be supporting the bill that’s before us, Madam Chair.

You know, in our Aboriginal communities, as we grow up, we’ve got chartered governments like hamlets and villages, and we always wonder why. It’s because, of course, it’s a government that isn’t Aboriginal that instituted these institutions. But I see that with the Deline bill here is that they amalgamate, they rightfully take back the community that is theirs, and I’m really proud to say that and I wish them the absolute best and every success as they continue to learn and grow as their own community for their own people. Mahsi cho, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Next for general comments I have Mr. Bromley.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Welcome to the Premier and his witnesses here on this occasion. Just looking at this bill and the work that’s been done, I have to congratulate all involved. I know it’s been a tremendous amount of work and today is an exciting day indeed.

I see an elders’ council. I see a justice council. I see a beneficiary’s board. I see the main council. These elements tell me that there’s been a lot of focus brought to these negotiations that the people are there to serve their people here, and there’s been a lot of excellent consideration gone into this.

I see an annual report at a community gathering to bring the transparency that government requires and the participation of the people.

I see a promise of efficiency. This is a new single government that will take the place of the First Nations Land Corporation and the charter community. There’s some efficiency here that is attractive indeed.

Again, turning over the decision-making powers to the community itself, to me, the rubber hits the road with governance at the municipal level, at the community level, and I see this agreement as taking that head on, and I really appreciate that. Again, it can bring a new level of efficiency and transparency. So, again, that’s excellent work.

I know there’s a tax agreement that goes with this and there are some complexities to that. I’ll look forward to the communications that the government will have, to make sure the public is aware of what’s going on in this new agreement, and there’s some unique aspects to that I’m sure.

The community is provided with this legislation, with this new law, the power to participate in many areas. For example, the education, early childhood education and training of their people, the delivery of health care programs in the Deline district, social housing and income support. These are big programs that have been delivered by this government, and undoubtedly there will be a transfer period. But, I guess, as a Member of this government, I will need real clarity on how these changes do occur will affect my responsibilities which previously I had and may have for some time yet. But some clarity on that would be appreciated on how that’s going to transfer. Does this mean we no longer will need to worry about staffing nurses and building nursing infrastructure and so on, or how does this change the responsibility of this government? So that sort of clarity will be needed and I’m certain will develop over time.

Finally, there’s a certain attraction again to the model Deline has developed here, ensuring that one government deals with governance required at the community level. But this is different from some other visions where a self-government model is built for all communities in a land claim area, regionally, one self-government. The relevance through the GNWT as a public government dealing with one regional government versus many autonomous community governments is something I’m sure the Premier and his advisors have considered. I would appreciate some perspectives on those two different models here for the context that would be useful today.

That’s all I had, Madam Chair. I just want to once again – and I know every Member here does – congratulate the people of Deline who are well-represented in the House today, and this government, the Premier, for his leadership in getting this work done. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Minister McLeod.

Thank you, Madam Chair. First of all, I’d like to thank all the Members who gave positive comments and indicated their support for this bill. I’ll address some of the questions that were posed.

With regard to whether it’s a government in its own right, when this bill comes into effect it will be a self-government among the Sahtu Dene and Metis of Deline, the Government of the Northwest Territories and the Government of Canada. So this means the Deline Got’ine Government will be a government in its own right.

With regards to questions on regulations, there are no plans to introduce regulations at this time. The Government of Canada has indicated that they will introduce federal legislation to this bill into effect as soon as possible after it is passed in this Legislative Assembly.

With regards to how this self-government government agreement and Deline will affect individual MLAs, I don’t see it affecting them significantly. The Deline Got’ine Government will take on existing responsibilities, and as we go forward, they can call down further responsibilities.

With regards to Deline Got’ine Government governance, they will take over responsibilities for the Deline Land Corp and will continue to function as part of the Sahtu Dene-Metis Comprehensive Claim. But through you, Madam Chair, I’ll ask the negotiator to go into more detail, Mr. Talen. Thank you, Madam Chair.