Floyd Roland

Yes, we will provide that detail.

Mr. Chairman, the first piece we were working on is the government’s framework and out of that could come a self-government policy. Right now we’re using the key features document and then all the mandates, so the government’s framework will set out the parameters of that. If the Members are willing, that could go the next step and start working on development of an actual specific policy. Thank you.

Well, the Member knows that the Department of Executive budget is up in front of committee later on today and we can go through that detail at that time.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The role of Aboriginal Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations is one where we’re, in a sense, and I think the Member may have touched on this, but in a roundabout way we’re the face of our role when it comes to working with both Aboriginal governments and organizations, and with the federal government and with our provincial colleagues, with our communities, quite a gamut of things. In fact, we’ve now stretched ourselves to also deal with the federal government, Foreign Affairs, for example, on intergovernmental issues when it comes to Arctic Council and those areas.

T...

Mr. Chairman, if I could have Mr. Robertson give us the details on that.

Mr. Speaker, I guess first, the fund that Mr. Krutko spoke of -- $50,000 -- that was in a different category under the Creating Our Future Together scenario which didn’t take into consideration the agreement-in-principle. That table was a side table to the regional leaders’ discussions that were ongoing.

As for the consultation and approach, although much has been said about the signing and the timing of the signing, it all comes out of the framework agreement that was signed and a memorandum of intent that was reached in 2001 by the Government of the Northwest Territories Premier, the Minister...

Mr. Chairman, the amount that’s been allocated was straight across, every organization qualified for the same funding. We’re the only within our jurisdiction-only funding in that provide core funding. When other groups did not subscribe, we put in a policy that we would then take the remaining funds and spread it out for the rest of the organizations. We found this year that, as I was saying, many of the groups that did not qualify previously have renewed their society status and are now eligible again and we don’t have as much to share with everybody else. So I think everybody will have their...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Member may hang his head in shame but quite clearly the Government of the Northwest Territories had some difficult choices to make around both the volunteer sector, which is appropriately held in Municipal and Community Affairs, and the non-government organizations that we work with through Executive. The Member has discussed in contribution funding we’ve put in place for stabilization. Quite clearly, we have a difference of opinion on the volunteer sector. Within Executive we deal with those NGOs, as we call them, non-government organizations that we contract...

Yes, Mr. Chairman.

Well, the Member has been a Member for almost 16 years. He knows there is only one House in this Legislative Assembly. So for me to correct him with his experience here in the Legislative Assembly... As I pointed out in my last response, Cabinet gave me the authority to sign but not without having informed Members of the Legislative Assembly and all Members were aware of that. Yes, it is not unanimous, but in the interest of moving forward, we weighed all the considerations and the information before us and the decision was made on that basis. Thank you.