Thank you, Mr. Talen. Just before I go to the next speaker for general comments, I’d like to welcome all of the visitors in the gallery today. We have a very large delegation here of elders, leaders, negotiators and citizens of Deline here with us. I understand that our government processes and the way that we do things may not be something that you’re completely familiar with, so let me just explain that we’re going to continue with general comments about the bill, 46. At the end of general comments, we will go through the clauses of the bill to be approved, and then this committee will accept them as the bill as a whole. Then Committee of the Whole will continue on with a little bit of business that we have to do to conclude today, and then when the Speaker comes back and we go on to orders of the day, we will come to third reading of bills. That is where we will then vote on the third and final reading of the passage of Bill 46. I just wanted to explain that to you, that there may be a little break in the program. You’re welcome to stay in the gallery. You’re welcome to visit in the Great Hall or do whatever you would like to do, but I just wanted to explain a little bit about the process here.

Now we will continue on with general comments. Next I have Mr. Blake.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Just a few comments. I’m honoured to be a part of this process. The community has worked very hard over the years. I would like to congratulate the community, the negotiators and leadership as you have negotiated from a common goal and as you begin down a new path of self-sufficiency.

Many times over the years I’ve been to a number of meetings and that’s what our people want is to be self-sufficient, and today you begin down that path. Also, taking over the programs in your community and making changes where you see fit. Many times our programs are not structured around what our community needs, but through this process you’ll have that power to change what will work for your community. Also, building the capacity and training your next generation to fill the positions in your new government.

In my prior role, as I mentioned, I sat on a self-government table for four years, and during that time through our Gwich’in Tribal Government, our negotiators changed four times through those four years. On the federal government side it changed three times. The same with the GNWT. As I look through your information that was provided to us, I see that the negotiator for the Deline self-government was there for 17 years.

---Applause

Mr. Gaudet. That shows commitment for the people in the community. I would just like to thank him for that. You have my full support.

Next for general comments I have Mr. Nadli.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I too wanted to speak in support of Bill 46. I wanted to say something briefly in my language, and more than likely a lot of the elders could understand me.

[English translation not provided.]

I would like to thank you for your vision and your leadership and your commitment to your people. I will also acknowledge, of course, both governments, the federal and the GNWT officials that were parties to this agreement. It’s been 19 years in the making, but we all know, as First Nations people, the struggle that we began when Europeans arrived on the North American continent. Today is a proud moment and I am extremely proud for you, the community of Deline.

Of course, I speak in support of Bill 46, Deline Final Self-Government Agreement Act. The passage of Bill 46 enables the people of Deline to make decisions for themselves. This contrasts with the paternalistic history of government and First Nations relations. The decision-making rested with government for the longest time. Today this legacy of parents knows best relationship ends and a new dawn has arrived.

Bill 46 is the realization of past spiritual leaders and a vision fulfilled by elders that played an integral role in setting the path for the future for the Deline Got’ine Government. For that I say mahsi and congratulations.

Thank you, Mr. Nadli. Any further general comments? Are we ready for the clause-by-clause consideration?

Thank you. There are 20 clauses in this bill. We will stand down the preamble to the bill and we will go to clause 1.

---Clauses 1 through 20 inclusive approved

To the preamble of the bill.

---Preamble approved

Does the committee agree that Bill 46, Deline Final Self-Agreement Act, is ready for third reading?

---Bill 46 as a whole approved for third reading

Bill 46 is now ready for third reading. Thank you, colleagues. Thank you, Mr. Premier and your witnesses. I’ll ask the Sergeant-at-Arms if he would please escort the witnesses from the Chamber. What is the committee’s wish to continue with the business before us? Ms. Bisaro.

Thank you, Madam Chair. We would like to consider Tabled Document 188-17(5), Department of Education.

Is committee agreed?

Thank you. We will continue with the Department of Education.

Thank you, committee. We’ll go the Minister responsible. Minister Lafferty, do you have witnesses to bring into the Chamber?

Yes, Mr. Chair.

Is committee agreed?

Sergeant-at-Arms, please escort in the witnesses.

Minister, could you please introduce your witnesses.

Mahsi, Mr. Chair. I have to my left, Deputy Minister Gabriela Eggenhofer. To my immediate right is Olin Lovely. He is assistant deputy minister of corporate services. To my far right is Dana Heide. He is associate deputy minister, Education, Culture and Employment.

Thank you, Minister Lafferty. Committee, we’re on page 61, Education, Culture and Employment, corporate management, operations expenditure summary, $11.967 million. Mr. Dolynny.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The other day the Minister was very kind to walk us through, I guess, some of the dance steps in terms of some of the changes with respect to the different levels of structure under corporate management, and there has been a relatively large change in the last year or so. I guess to the question. We did get a sense of who some of these new players were and we did get a feel for some of these new divisions.

But to the question, how is this new structure working today? We’ve had a chance to drive this new structure for about a year-plus and we’ve had some new players in terms of leadership within these so-called corporate management divisions. But maybe an overview here is how effective has this change been to the delivery that was to be expected by the department? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. Minister Lafferty.