Thank you, Madam Chair. We have made a commitment in this government to look at the mandates and negotiations. How we move forward to that, I think we've put it out there that that would be within a joint committee, to do that work. I'm open to that, as well. However, I do want to say that I think there's a misperception. Negotiations are still going on. They've been going on. It's not that they have zero mandate, Madam Chair. It's that they have a mandate that says, for example, it might say, you can go into, there are three categories: land, royalties, and money. Often, Indigenous governments pick and choose amongst that, and so, when they come and if we say, as Cabinet, that we will give this much land, and the negotiators have broached that, and then the Indigenous government says, "But we want more, of everything," then it has to come back through Cabinet. When we're talking money, nothing can be done at that level without coming through FMB, Financial Management Board. That is good practice. We're not just throwing money out and saying, "Go ahead; spend millions," and if they ask for $50 billion, go ahead. There has to be some accountability, Madam Chair. They already do have mandates to move forward in the negotiations; it's only if they exceed that, then they bring it forward, but we are willing to look at our mandate negotiations in that joint committee as we move forward. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Caroline Cochrane on Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
In the Legislative Assembly on March 4th, 2020. See this statement in context.
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
March 4th, 2020
Page 498
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