Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I recommend that everyone look into Guthrie House. I think it offers a lot of possibilities for our territory. The Minister mentioned that there has been a committee struck. How far along is the committee in its work? When can we expect some more solid answers from the Minister?

We are at the steering committee stage, but I have directed that this study, this examination of the program, must be a priority for the department. Certainly, we were all impressed, very much impressed, by both the staff and the high motivation of the residents in the institution. If it leads, as it seems to do, to lessening recidivism, we should look at it very seriously. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Deh Cho.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are in follow-up to the statement that I made. Treaties for the most part in the NWT and in Canada are bilateral in nature, involving two parties, Aboriginal governments and the Government of Canada. From a First Nations perspective, treaties take on the features of being peace and friendship or cooperation agreements. At times, through governments' measuring and ensuring that the level of accountability and transparency does prevail over those regimes, sometimes it takes on the face of being paternalistic. My question is to the Premier: does the GNWT engage in any discussions with the federal government about changing the way First Nations are funded in the NWT? Mahsi.

Masi. The Honourable Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Government of the Northwest Territories has not formally engaged with Canada about changing the way First Nations are funded in the Northwest Territories, nor about how such changes would be reflected in the negotiations taking place under the Dehcho process. However, I can state that Canada, through its federal working group of Ministers on the review of laws and policies related to Indigenous people, did release 10 principles that Canada will be using to guide the relationships with Indigenous governments, and one of the principles talks about review of the fiscal arrangements with First Nations.

I would like to thank the Premier for his reply. Recently, a Parliamentary committee from the federal level was here in Yellowknife and had run consultations in preparation for the federal budget that we expect in the new year. Has the GNWT undertaken any analysis or discussions with Canada about financing for designated authority communities funded by the federal government? Will future arrangements continue the practice of treating these communities differently than other First Nations communities in the NWT?

We have engaged the federal government to try to determine what their future vision is for their fiscal relationships with Aboriginal governments, and we have not been successful. I, myself, have written twice to the chair of the federal working group of Ministers on the review of laws and policies related to Indigenous people, offering to make a presentation about how we have an integrated system of health and education and to try to determine what their future plans are, but we have not undertaken any analysis with Canada about financing designated authorities funded by the federal government. I cannot speak for Canada. It has been very difficult to determine where they are going with future funding arrangements. The Government of the Northwest Territories currently contracts designated authority communities to provide municipal services in their communities, and currently we do not see changing that approach.

My question is: can the Premier clarify whether the GNWT sees these designated authority communities as Aboriginal governments?

The Government of the Northwest Territories views any First Nations, Metis, or Inuit communities that have completed or are currently in or about to start Aboriginal land claim and/or self-government negotiations as an Aboriginal government.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Deh Cho.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the region that I am strongly, of course, affiliated with is the Deh Cho region, and they are an unsettled region. Would this government, through the Premier's eyes, view the Deh Cho as an Aboriginal government?

I have said that the Government of the Northwest Territories views any First Nation that is involved in Aboriginal land claims or in self-government negotiations as an Aboriginal government, so it falls under that definition. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nunakput.

Masi. The Honourable Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In all my discussions, I view a sustainable community in the 21st century as a community where its residents are physically and mentally healthy; are actively participating in the community, territorial, and national economies and expect to do so for the foreseeable future. The natural environment is also healthy and provides the foundation for economic, social, and cultural well-being. A sustainable community in the Northwest Territories is a community that is resilient and adaptable to climate change. We would like to see all of our 33 communities be healthy communities.

I appreciate the response from the Premier. Mr. Speaker, my second question is: how will the Premier engage in the newly revised government mandate in making that vision a reality?

Our government will continue to work with Regular Members through the legislative business planning and budget processes to continue to make progress on the implementing of the mandate that has been approved by the 18th Legislative Assembly. I truly believe that, by fully implementing the mandate, this Legislative Assembly will have made significant progress by making all communities sustainable over the longer term.

I appreciate the response. Mr. Speaker, coastal erosion accelerated by climate change is threatening both human-inhabited and human-uninhabited territory in the Arctic. Mr. Speaker, how will the forthcoming Climate Change Strategic Framework recognize this reality and lead the government to take action on it?

We have always said that the Northwest Territories has been the most affected by climate change. All you have to do is look at the Beaufort Sea, where for decades the Beaufort Sea was ice-free for five weeks a year and now it is ice-free for about 20 weeks a year. Consequently, it has very significant effects on coastal erosion. We are prepared to do our part in the Northwest Territories to combat climate change, and also we will be releasing new strategies so that our government's efforts to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions will continue, and also we will work very hard to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. Also, we will be working with the Government of Canada. We will be negotiating a bilateral agreement as provided for in the recent federal budget and through the draft climate change strategic framework and also the draft energy strategy that are complementary, and we will be releasing them shortly. We expect we will be able to make significant progress in dealing with these challenges. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Masi. Oral questions. Member for Nahendeh.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I was talking to the Minister of Justice about the legalization of cannabis here. Can the Minister advise this House: has the federal government set the legal consumption limit for driving while under the influence of cannabis? If they haven't, when will this be coming forth? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Minister of Justice.