Bob McLeod

There are four pillars to good government: accountability, participation, predictability and transparency. For those that are in these three categories, in the highest categories we require this transparency. So if we’re giving them money to distribute, then they would have to account for it generally through audited financial statements. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I can only commit to the life of this 17th Assembly. We, as a government, have committed to undertaking that review. A future government would have to undertake a review to address the five-year window that the federal government has indicated they would be prepared to review the MVRMA in five years. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The federal government, or AANDC, still has responsibility with regard to some specific lands, so through you, I’ll ask Mr. Fulford to go into more detail, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Madam Chair. On my right I have Kelly McLaughlin, the director of legislation for the Department of Justice; and to my left I have Jamie Fulford, legal counsel with the Department of Justice.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. On occasion, especially in the discussion with the proposed Mackenzie Valley pipeline there was an indication there that a surface rights board would have facilitated some discussions, because without a Surface Rights Board Act, the only tool available to deal with disputes would be arbitration. But with regards to the specific question, Mr. Chair, through you I’ll ask Mr. Fulford to respond. Thank you.

Thank you for the opportunity to speak to the Bill 1, the Reindeer Act. The passage of this legislation is an important step towards implementing the Northwest Territories Lands and Resources Devolution Agreement.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources will administer the Government of the Northwest Territories’ new authorities under the Reindeer Act.

Under the Devolution Agreement, the GNWT is committed to “substantially mirror” Canada’s statutes and regulations that are being repealed or made inapplicable to all land, except federally retained land, transferring to the GNWT...

Thank you for the opportunity to speak to Bill 3, Surface Rights Board Act. The passage of this legislation is an important step towards implementing the Northwest Territories Lands and Resources Devolution Agreement.

The new Department of Lands will administer the Government of the Northwest Territories’ new authorities under the Surface Rights Board Act.

Under the Devolution Agreement, the GNWT is committed to “substantially mirror” Canada’s legislation that is repealed or made inapplicable to public lands transferring to the GNWT through devolution.

Mirrored legislation means that the GNWT’s...

Thank you for the opportunity to speak to Bill 2, Archaeological Sites Act. The passage of this legislation is an important step towards implementing the Northwest Territories Lands and Resources Devolution Agreement.

The Archaeological Sites Act will provide the Northwest Territories with the authority to mirror the Northwest Territories Archaeological Sites Regulations under the Northwest Territories Act. The mirroring of these regulations is a requirement of the Devolution Agreement.

Under the Devolution Agreement, the GNWT is committed to “substantially mirror” Canada’s statutes and...

Thank you, Madam Chair. We’d be pleased to make sure that the public is aware of what we are doing so that they will have adequate time for input.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I’ve always said from the start of this process that we will devolve and evolve, and I think I’ve indicated to the Member several times now that we can start evolving as of April 1st, and if that’s following due process that we can make those changes.