This is page numbers 6211 - 6256 of the Hansard for the 19th Assembly, 2nd Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was know.

Topics

Rylund Johnson

Rylund Johnson Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As committee has been dealing with its UNDRIP legislation, I think it's fair to say there are some fairly high expectations about what the government is willing to change and there are some fairly tall asks being made of the government, and I think it is in everyone's interest that the GNWT be transparent about what it is and isn't willing to do. The GNWT, in that legislation, commits that Indigenous rights are not frozen in time; they are capable of evolution and growth. We have heard that if that is true, then cede and surrender language in agreements is not appropriate and that it should be removed.

My question is, is this the position of the GNWT, that if an Indigenous government wants that language removed from their agreement that we are willing to do that? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Yellowknife North. Honourable Premier.

Caroline Cochrane

Caroline Cochrane Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The GNWT is being very transparent about how we feel about that issue. We publicly stated it's -- or interests parties. Mr. Speaker, I think that not all agreements have the cease and surrender. The ones that do, there are issues with it. I know that I get concerns on both sides. Sometimes Indigenous governments say, you know, you're taking too long, we want to have it general, and make it broader and we can look at it later.

But I've learned from reading agreements, and I've learned the problems that happen when you don't have clarity in agreements. So I've been a real stickler, Mr. Speaker, that to try to make the agreements as plain language as possible so that there aren't the misunderstandings that I've seen happen in previous agreements. So, yes, Mr. Speaker, I think that clause -- it's a federal government clause my understanding, the cease and surrender -- is not appropriate in this time and day. But I also believe, Mr. Speaker, that agreements need to be as clear as possible in as plain language as possible so that all parties, not just the lawyers, understand the meaning of these agreements. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Rylund Johnson

Rylund Johnson Yellowknife North

Yeah, thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm glad to hear that. You know, I think we all know there's a lack of trust and there's still a narrative of the government going up and down the valley, and you know, putting those cede and surrender clauses in, and I think it would be a symbolic win to get them out and to show that we are willing to move on.

We've also heard that for truly free and prior informed consent to exist, perhaps the current regulatory system, although, you know, a great made-in-the North solution, is not one truly built on consent. There is a number of things in agreements where GNWT or federal Ministers still have the last say. I'm wondering if the GNWT has a position on reopening existing agreements on some of those larger questions around consent? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Caroline Cochrane

Caroline Cochrane Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, like I said earlier, all agreements are a little bit different in terminology. Some of the agreements actually have it that they can be opened at any time. I do think that if agreements -- I think that an agreement that's signed at any time should actually be looked into it. It should not be something that is one time, if you made a mistake you're stuck with it forever. However, in saying that, Mr. Speaker, I'm also very conscious of the amount of agreements that we want to get across the table and so, therefore, Mr. Speaker, I've been really focusing on getting the unsigned agreements done but still being flexible and working as much as possible with the existing agreements and the Indigenous governments applicable. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Rylund Johnson

Rylund Johnson Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday in this House, the Premier referred to a number of agreements that I believe they were in draft stage and going out for consultation. I'm just wondering when and if, at all, those will be available for the public to see or myself to see? You know, it's been about 20 years, I think, since you can see whether the GNWT's negotiating position has changed on these matters. There's not a lot of documents out there that shows where we are currently where we have been negotiating for decades. So I'd be very interested to see where we're at and what's changed in the last couple decades. Are any of those going to be public any time soon? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Question 1535-19(2): Land Claims
Oral Questions

May 30th, 2023

Page 6220

Caroline Cochrane

Caroline Cochrane Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think in this term of this government we've done a lot in regards to land claims, self-government agreements. In fact, we had two years of COVID that people don't -- would rather not remember, including myself, and that often I've said you can't talk about that. But the amount of work that this government has done in the two years after COVID with these agreements has been phenomenal, Mr. Speaker. As I said yesterday, we have three agreements in draft. They're not called draft because they're not done or proposed. They're called draft, Mr. Speaker, because part of the process of actually doing agreements is that we have to consult with all the other Indigenous governments to make sure that they don't have concerns, that we're not impeding on their rights. So they're called draft, Mr. Speaker, because once we get that consultation process done, which usually takes between four months to eight months, then we have a final agreement. But in that time, if an Indigenous government says, whoa, you're stepping on my rights, I'm not okay with this, then we may have to change that agreement and that's why they're called draft, Mr. Speaker. So I am hopeful that at least one of them -- the Norman Wells Self-Government Agreement -- I am hopeful that we'll be able to sign it off final agreement in this government. At that time, it would be public.

In saying that, Mr. Speaker, if it's not done, all three in this government, I would say in very early in the next government that that agreement will be the first one to cross the line. And once they're done, I believe they're public. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Madam Premier. Final supplementary. Member for Yellowknife North.

Rylund Johnson

Rylund Johnson Yellowknife North

Yeah, thank you, Mr. Speaker. You know, unfortunately, this is an area where, you know, doing a lot doesn't really count until it's signed and the ink is dry. It's unfortunate. We've been doing a lot for 20 years. I know many negotiators who have poured their entire careers into this, and I'm not -- you know, I don't want to take away from their work. But it's tough work. I guess, you know, if this is the path we're on where we have three draft agreements, maybe one in the life of this Assembly. I'm wondering if the Premier has any kind of direction on how we can speed this up, or is it just the reality that we're -- every Assembly will maybe get one, and that's the pace we're on, in which case I think we have got another hundred years before we're done. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Caroline Cochrane

Caroline Cochrane Range Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As stated, right now all those agreements are in the final stage of them; they are in the consultation phase. I have sent letters to the Indigenous governments applicable saying here's the agreements. They are in confidence, let me know if you have concerns. I can't speed up -- I'm not willing to push them on that. But if the Member thinks that he should -- that we should, then I would invite the Member. I'll give the list of the Indigenous governments. He's more than willing to write a letter to them and say he wants it done by this Assembly. But, Mr. Speaker, I've been firm all through this Assembly, and I've stated that with the United Nations Declaration, if we respect Indigenous governments, then it cannot be on the timeline of this Assembly so that Members here can take glory. It has to be done right. And that means that the Indigenous governments have to be ready to sign on. I'm ready to sign today. But I respect them, and I will wait until they have done their process. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Madam Premier. Oral questions. Member for Monfwi.

Jane Weyallon Armstrong

Jane Weyallon Armstrong Monfwi

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, following up from my Member's statement, it appears that the Dehk'e Bridge is not a priority of this government. Will the Minister of Infrastructure commit to being firm and not accepting any further delays on the Dehk'e Bridge? It is it my hope to see it constructed within -- not the lifetime of this government but, you know, like any time soon. Thank you.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Monfwi. Minister responsible for Infrastructure.

Diane Archie

Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Dehk'e Frank Channel Bridge is a priority of this government. It's a priority because I went to Ottawa asking for more money to get this bridge completed. So, I mean, if that doesn't show priority, I don't know what does.

Mr. Speaker, we are working with the Tlicho partnership to be able to look -- you know, I just want to say it takes about three years, Mr. Speaker, from award of the design-build contract to obtaining permits, to carrying out some of the design work, complete the construction. Then that bridge will be ready for traffic. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Jane Weyallon Armstrong

Jane Weyallon Armstrong Monfwi

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, will the Minister commit to giving an update every three months with specific details of action, sequencing, and project timelines so that we know the department is being diligent and that progress is being made.

Mr. Speaker, the inability to meet past projection makes the current projection suspect. It lacks credibility. Again, I ask that the Department of Infrastructure does all that it can to advance the critical infrastructure project. Thank you.

Diane Archie

Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we can absolutely work with the Tlicho government and the Member to be able to give updates, you know, when there are updates available. I just want to note that, you know, we are expecting a proposal from the Tlicho-Kiewit partnership by the end of June to be able to look at the design, and then we can start the aggregate production. So, I mean, that's where we're at right now, Mr. Speaker. And I'd be willing at any time there are updates to be able to share. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Jane Weyallon Armstrong

Jane Weyallon Armstrong Monfwi

Mr. Speaker, I also asked the Department of Infrastructure ensure the safety of the current bridge seeing that a replacement is not around the corner. Can the Minister commit to reviewing inspection reports and updating the inspection frequency by bridge experts should the situation require it? Thank you.

Diane Archie

Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in the last Assembly, the -- or in the last sitting, the Member had asked to be a part of the bridge inspection. I'm now in the process of finalizing a letter that will go out to the leadership as well as the Member for Monfwi to be able to invite the membership -- the Member and the leadership to come to one of our bridge inspections. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Monfwi.

Jane Weyallon Armstrong

Jane Weyallon Armstrong Monfwi

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Department of Infrastructure has claimed that the new bridge will be wider and higher than the current bridge that was built in 1960. Could the Minister tell this Assembly details of the new design? Will there be walkways, a viewing platform; how is traditional knowledge and signs being incorporated? Let us see the design. Thank you.

Diane Archie

Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Member for Monfwi. Minister responsible for Infrastructure.

Diane Archie

Diane Archie Inuvik Boot Lake

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I just mentioned, you know, it's going to take three years to award this contract and some of the things that we're still working on now is getting our permits, carrying out the design, so we're not there yet, Mr. Speaker, to be able to complete construction. So I mean, there is no design as of yet but, you know, our department would be willing to have a look at -- look at some of our work going forward. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Deh Cho.

Ronald Bonnetrouge

Ronald Bonnetrouge Deh Cho

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in my Member's statement I referenced a news article which found that 71 percent of athletes were from Yellowknife alone. Does the Minister find that statistic concerning given that the NWT is home to 33 communities in total? Mahsi.

The Speaker

The Speaker Frederick Blake Jr.

Thank you, Member for Deh Cho. Minister responsible for MACA.