Thank you, Madam Chair. I appreciate committee's careful consideration of the bill and that there is a strong interest in the future work of the action plan committee to be established. The action plan committee will have important work to do that will further guide the implementation of the United Nations Declaration for Indigenous People. It will help ensure that our laws and policies align with the principles of the declaration. This is a key feature to this legislation and the two other examples from Canada like it.
The action plan committee does not change the fundamental roles of Cabinet and Regular Members. We continue to have process conventions on the sharing of information, committee review of proposed legislation, and the opportunity to review policy changes. None of that changes as a result of the action plan committee meant to provide a place for Indigenous governments and the GNWT to work collaboratively on areas of shared priority.
To speak as plainly as I can, consensus government does not require MLAs to participate directly in the workings of the executive branch. That is why this Assembly elects Ministers from within its ranks to serve as Ministers. And Ministers are then responsible to consider the interests of all residents of the NWT. Indigenous governments do not want to muddy the waters of accountability and do not want to unnecessarily complicate the work of reconciliation. The concern from Indigenous governments is a real one. They are concerned that legislatively requiring MLA participation, even as observers, potentially challenges the hard work of reconciliation and could further complicate the balancing of interest that may be required as the United Nations Declaration for Indigenous Peoples matters are considered. Indigenous governments know that Ministers are accountable to MLAs. But they also know that Ministers must represent and promote the interests of all residents of the Northwest Territories. GNWT officials at intergovernmental meetings are accountable to Ministers.
And Indigenous governments organization officials know that their governments have their own intergovernmental relationship with Ministers as the heads of the executive branch of government. The same responsibilities and obligations are not part of the accountability of Regular MLAs. Their accountability is to their individual constituents. MLAs should and will continue to have oversight of government business, but we do need to keep a distinction between the executive branch and the legislative branch in our intergovernmental work. As stated, Madam Chair, the Indigenous governments and organizations are not in support of this motion and, therefore, Cabinet will not be supporting this motion. Thank you, Madam Chair.