Mr. Speaker, I seek consent to proceed with third reading of Bill 34, Tlicho Land Claims and Self-Government Agreement Act.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the North Slave Metis Alliance members are probably in a very tough situation here. This Tlicho land claims and self-government agreement is defining the rights of the Tlicho and they say they are not defining anybody else's rights. However, we need to provide some assistance to the North Slave Metis Alliance in pursuing their rights. In this case, it's the federal government who has that obligation to recognize them and start a process with them. This has not happened ever since they have been formed. My staff have been in contact, talking and looking at the possibilities. Yes, we will commit here that we want to work with them in the remaining life as Minister of Aboriginal affairs to start political discussions with the federal government who has that obligation. So, yes, we will provide whatever assistance we can to do that in the remaining life continuing as Minister of Aboriginal Affairs. Thank you.

Mr. Chairman, I just wanted to say that on this tax treatment agreement, Canada's practice when they enter into these tax treatment agreements with aboriginal governments, they have been doing that rather than amending the Income Tax Act every time a self-government agreement is negotiated. So in this case, the Tlicho Land Claims and Self-Government Agreement Act gives this tax treatment agreement the force of law and this is needed to provide the legal framework for recognition of the Tlicho government and its corporation under the Income Tax Act. I just wanted to say that first, so it is a way that they do it to have this in place. For income tax purposes, the Tlicho government will be treated as a public body, as a government, performing a function of government so that it will not pay taxes on income generated from performing their function as a government. Thank you.

Yes, Mr. Chairman. This will allow the Government of the Northwest Territories to meet our minimal financial obligation under this Tlicho agreement. It is similar to the statutory supplementary budget appropriation but it is very minimal. Thank you.

That is correct, Mr. Chairman. No money from the Government of the Northwest Territories can be paid without legislative authority for appropriation. Thank you.

Mr. Chairman, I just want to make a general statement first and then reply just to put it in context. Whenever there's a claim negotiated, in this case the Tlicho agreement, there are a set of rules that are set out in the agreement. This clause wants to ensure that everybody who is going to be involved, like the boards and others, abide by these rules. In this way it's focused on the Tlicho and whoever is involved close to their area. The Tlicho are involved in the whole devolution and resource revenue sharing as a separate type of a process, and at this stage we don't anticipate any negative repercussions because of ratifying this Tlicho claim. Thank you.

Yes, Mr. Chairman, in regard to the financial payments. The funding of this claims process was done through a program that the federal government has in their comprehensive claims policy, where they advance funding to the claimant groups that will eventually come out of the overall compensation of their claim. So it's an advance on their claim through the federal program. So the GNWT doesn't provide any assistance in that area. Thank you.

Mr. Chairman, from the previous question, there are other non-Tlicho residents in the Tlicho area as well, and I should add that to be clear.

To this question specifically, the Tlicho have already ratified their agreement through their vote this summer, so their part is done. Our part is not done. We're doing it now, part of it, there are two other pieces that still have to be done in the next government, but this is the main one that will eventually be the first to give effect.

The federal government still has to introduce their legislation. We understand it's going to happen in December, and they'll go through the House of Commons and Senate to ratify it. So this is part of our ratification process. Thank you.

Mr. Chairman, it will affect all the Dogrib, the Tlicho citizens. I don't know exactly what the numbers are. Thank you.