Thank you. Honourable Premier.

So maybe I need clarification. The Intergovernmental Council partners are ready to begin developing the terms of reference for the review. So, sorry about that. And we've been discussing the approach of the review through the secretariat, the Intergovernmental Council's Secretariat, and also with federal officials.

I don't know if I can commit to sharing that with committee. I'd sure like to, but I think what -- out of respect, I would have to bring it back to the Intergovernmental Council, and with their permission, once that's done, then I could perhaps give an update to committee in confidence. I have no problem with that but out of respect, I'd like to work with our Indigenous partners because we're doing this together at that table. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you. Member for Frame Lake.

Thanks, Madam Chair. Yeah, I too respect the Intergovernmental Council, but I thought we were partners here somehow within the Government of the Northwest Territories, the lowly Regular MLAs with Cabinet. So I would hope that the Premier would find a way to share this terms of reference, even in draft form, with our side of the House before it's finalized with the Indigenous governments. I thought we were kind of partners but I guess I'd like to hear from the Premier about how she intends to engage Regular MLAs in this work. Thanks, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Member. Honourable Premier.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I do believe that we regularly have -- at every meeting, we invite the -- I believe it's the chair of AOC to come to the Intergovernmental Council's meeting. We'll continue do that. And as we learn more from officials, like I said, I'm willing to ask them. It's not a matter that I'm not willing to. It's a matter that I respect that relationship, and we see ourself as one member at that table, and so I'll bring it forward to them and bring back the reply. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you. Member for Frame Lake.

Yeah, thanks, Madam Chair. I think we may be passing ships here somehow. You know, yes, I got to go to the Intergovernmental Council meeting. It's held once a year. But there's lots of work that happens in between those council meetings by working groups and whatever, and I'm sure there's probably even a special working group looking at this MVRMA issue.

I don't see how our government has to go to the Intergovernmental Council to say that you want to consult and work with Regular MLAs in developing what the GNWT position is and in sharing a draft so that you can get input from the Regular MLAs. That should not require Indigenous government support. That's Cabinet working with Regular MLAs the way consensus government is supposed work.

So I'd like to get a response from the government, or from the Premier on if that's her view of how things should work within GNWT as a consensus government? Thanks, Madam Chair.

Thank you. Honourable Premier.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I guess we'll agree to disagree. Within devolution, we did form the Intergovernmental Council. We signed protocol on legislation, protocol around land and resources and water. I think that -- I have said that we are one member at that table. And Madam Chair, out of respect for the Indigenous governments that take the time and put officials at that table, I will continue to say that we are one member.

I respect the procedure of this House. I respect that no act shall get passed without Regular Members. But I also respect the relationship at that table. And so therefore, Madam Chair, anything that's done except for a -- except for passing an act, which has to come through this House, then I shall be asking to the Indigenous governments at that table. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you. Member for Frame Lake.

Thanks, Madam Chair. I think we're still miscommunicating here. I don't see why Intergovernmental Council consent or agreement is requirement for Cabinet to work with Regular MLAs in getting our input into what that terms of reference might look like or even running a draft by us. That's our internal business as GNWT. Working, and then -- I fully understand that GNWT needs to -- is part of the Intergovernmental Council and that they've got to work with them but having Regular MLA input is not -- interfere, does not take away from any rights of the Indigenous governments. This is about how our consensus government works and how Regular MLAs are supposed to work with Cabinet.

I'm going to leave it at that because I don't want to go any further down this road, but -- and I'm just astounded to hear what I think I've heard from the Premier. But I do want to ask what role, then, the public is going to have in this review of the delegated authority under the MVRMA? Thanks, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Member. Honourable Premier.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Public engagement, I'll turn it to Martin Goldney to see if he can speak to that. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you. Deputy minister Goldney.

Thank you. Member for Frame Lake.

Okay, thanks, Madam Chair. Yeah, I -- I'm going to take that as a commitment because I'll be watching carefully for that.

I want to go to the Status of Women Council briefly. I participated in a survey that a consultant had been hired to engage a bunch of people around the legislation governing the Status of Women Council. I think the report is finished. But when is legislative change going to be considered, and are we likely to see a legislative proposal, a change to this legislation within the lifetime of this Assembly? Thanks, Madam Chair.

Thank you. Honourable Premier.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I do know that we are working on that. I'll pass it to the Minister of the Status of Women to give an update on where we are at exactly with that legislation. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you. Minister responsible for Status of Women.

Thank you. Are there any further questions from Members under the directorate? Member for Thebacha.

Madam Chair, I just want to make -- provide some clarity on the Intergovernmental Council because when I was Chief for, like, 14 years and when devolution came about, it was an agreement with a negotiator out of Ottawa. Those agreements were secret and privy to the Indigenous groups. The Indigenous groups made it very clear that it was -- anything that happened in Intergovernmental Council with those particular groups was to remain with those particular groups. I'm happy to learn that the person from AOC, the chair, is welcome to go to one of those meetings once a year but the agreements were made with Indigenous governments. And any Indigenous government was privy to join at that time and it was -- it was a relationship between the federal government and Indigenous government and was signed on by the Government of the Northwest Territories and was -- and I think it's a -- it's an incredible group that you have. There's changes every time leadership changes, but it's a place where open and frank discussions take place. And that's all I want to say, Madam Chair. It's -- I just want to make it very clear that it is very sacred to the Indigenous groups. Thank you, Madam Chair.