Bob McLeod

There’s always hope. From what I’m hearing from the two Members here, it seems apparent that the Dehcho First Nations have rejected the land offer that we’ve made, but that is a bilateral process. It was between the Dehcho First Nations and the Government of the Northwest Territories. We have offered to go to the communities to explain the offer that we’ve made, and we’ve also offered to anyone that invites us to come to present that. Obviously, at the end of the day, there’s always the main table, which involves the federal government, the Government of the Northwest Territories and the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Government of the Northwest Territories is working hard to find solutions to the significant outstanding issues at the Dehcho Process negotiations. Part of this work included making an offer to the Dehcho on land quantum and how to conclude a Dehcho agreement-in-principle. This offer took many months to develop and incorporated the work of senior officials appointed by myself and the Dehcho grand chief to consider innovative solutions to these very challenges. When I wrote to the grand chief to clarify our offer, I indicated that we were looking forward to receiving...

Mr. Speaker, all around the world International Women's Day represents an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of women while calling for greater equality.

Each year International Women's Day is celebrated on March 8th. The first International Women's Day was held in 1911. Thousands of events occur to mark the economic, political and social achievements of women. Organizations, governments, charities, educational institutions, women's groups, corporations and the media celebrate the day.

In the Northwest Territories we have made great strides for women’s equality. We have many powerful...

Thank you, Madam Chair. I can confirm to the Member that this will be a priority. As we’ve laid out the timetable, the government will be preparing a response to the recommendations of the Energy Charrette report, and at that time, for those recommendations that are accepted, we will identify the sources of funding accordingly.

All inmates sentenced, remands and intermittents, should receive case management assessments. We agree and we will be working to ensure case plans to guide inmate rehabilitations are developed for all inmates including release dates. Plans will need to be documented, monitored and adjusted as necessary. This is what the Auditor General has recommended and we have agreed and we accept all of his recommendations.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To enhance accountability, the development of a performance assurance and accountability framework commenced last year. This framework outlines consistent and effective management as well as proper monitoring of procedures and protocols and improved rehabilitative and reintegration programs. The framework will be fully implemented by 2016.

On behalf of the government, we will commit to ensuring we do that as we do all of this important work to implement the recommendations of the Auditor General. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Earlier on, the government made a statement about on-the-land programs with the Department of Justice. We did have a number of programs and they fell by the wayside because of a number of operational issues. The Department of Justice is going out for expressions of interest to have these programs come into effect. I did discuss it with the office of the Auditor General as part of the rehabilitation. As you know, having inmates go out on the land has to be a voluntary situation. We can’t force them to go on on-the-land programs. That is part of the issue as well.

Mr. Speaker, I seek consent to proceed with third reading of Bill 46, Deline Self-Government Agreement Act.

Thank you, Madam Chair. To my right I have Fred Talen, senior negotiator, Aboriginal Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations. To my left I have Ken Chutskoff, legal counsel.