Bob McLeod

I think we have had this discussion before. We will certainly work with our Aboriginal government partners. If they are in support, we will fully support the initiative, as well.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Our government supports any initiatives that will enhance the situation of Aboriginal Peoples and also reinforce their Aboriginal rights and treaties. Certainly, I will be consulting with the Aboriginal governments to see if they are in full support of the announcement by the Prime Minister. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to table to following document released by the Dene Nahjo, a report prepared with the Gordon Foundation entitled "We are One Mind - Perspectives from Emerging Indigenous Leaders on the Arctic Policy Framework." Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I'd be pleased to do so if somebody would tell me what the problem was. Is it a service problem? It's been suggested that our employees are not providing the necessary service to businesses. If that's the problem, then we can look at educating our employees further, which we seem to be doing a lot of. If it's the policy problem, well, tell us what the problems are, then we can determine. I mean, working for the government, I like doing reviews, but I want to have a reason for doing it.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I've been in government a long time. I've probably been through about six reviews of the Business Incentive Policy, and every time we've brought it forward, there have been no changes because everybody sees that the Business Incentive Policy is the best government policy ever written. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I'd be prepared to look at that, but, obviously, we've gotten to a lot of issues with the fact that we need to protect the government's investments, and if we make progress payments without the necessary securities, then it might put us in a difficult situation. Certainly, now that the Member has raised it, even though I do not know if it is a committee concern, I am prepared to look at that. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I've had many meetings with the NWT Chamber of Commerce and almost in every instance, when we raise concerns about procurement, it's because of a difference in understanding. Certainly, if the Members can provide me with a list of the problems, as they see them, then we can determine whether there is actually a need for a review of it. And, as I said, the last time I met with the Chamber of Commerce, which was about four months ago, we asked them to tell us what they see as the problem or what concerns they have, and then we can act on it. Certainly, if we have a whole host of problems where...

Mr. Speaker, today I'm pleased to recognize the following people from Dene Nahjo in the gallery today. They are authors of "We are One Mind - Perspectives from Emerging Indigenous Leaders on the Arctic Policy Framework," a document that I will be tabling later today; Nina Larsson, Kayla Kakfwi Scott, Mandee McDonald and Deneshe N'akehkoe. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

We support balance, sustainable development, and we believe that with the PanTerritorial Vision for Sustainable Development, at least in the Northwest Territories chapter, we will have some balance between conservation and development. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

As part of the overall framework, our government has the opportunity to develop a chapter. We have begun that process with a series of round tables with Indigenous governments, industry, and non-government organizations to identify key issues to include in the NWT chapter. I should point out that Indigenous governments certainly have other opportunities. The Inuit can have input into the ITK chapter. They have alliances with Nunavut, so they could have input in the Nunavut chapter. The federal government is holding parallel round tables throughout the North with the same people. They will be...