Floyd Roland

We have started our discussion, following some questions by Members, around the makeup of that and are looking at including some of the business community as well as the Department of ITI. So we’ve started to have those discussions on bringing the business side in. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. No, I have not heard yet from the working group. Thank you.

The process we have established, the work that is being done, we’ll have to look at that, look at the inclusion of the business sector as well, trying to bring in as many of the groups from around the Territory as we do this work, and, of course, coming back to Members as a follow-up as we continue on in this process.

As the Member stated, in preparation for doing our work and leading up to what the 17th Assembly may be looking at or what they may implement, we will have to look at how we include this work in our transition work that’s going to happen. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, I’d have to look at the budget that we had set up for the work that’s being looked at. One of the other things is the fact we’re trying to be as inclusive as possible from around the whole Territory and have other people work with us as we move forward on the Anti-Poverty Strategy. I will have to look at the budget to see what is available. Thank you.

Again, this AIP that’s before all the partners in the North as well as the federal government spells out an ongoing government-to-government relationship between aboriginal governments and the public government. This agreement-in-principle that’s before us as a government is one that recognizes the aboriginal rights. It does not take away from those. In fact, the language protects those rights in place of existing and future aboriginal governments.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Believe me, over the life of this government I have tried to respect that process. We do need to be careful. At the same time, I think, I know in my time when I leave this Assembly, the new Assembly that comes to do their work, I’ll leave them to do their work.

The numbers, unfortunately, that were used, again without the proper context, can spell a rather inflammatory process and response. As we have scheduled time with the committee around this, we hope that we’ll be able to supply all that information for Members to be aware.

The unfortunate part is we’ve got to deal...

The record will show that we have tried to work with every regional government in the North. We have given dollars to be at the table, to help with the technical evaluations, to travel to our meetings, to put items on the meeting agenda. In fact, we’ll have another one. We had one at the end of August, a regional leaders meeting in Inuvik, that all the parties were invited to. Unfortunately, sometimes their busy schedules mean they’re unable to make it. On top of that, there are many calls made on the technical side to provide additional information.

We’ll continue to work with all parties to...

Again, I will provide that and it will all be spelled out in the policy what the members are able to claim for. The process that they go through when making a claim will be spelled out, we’ll get that information.

The issue is of trying to get that information and as we have, right through this process, had full working relationships, technical as well as through the negotiation sessions. Of course, as we’ve pointed out, we’ve had some groups or one group particularly stay away from the negotiations since it’s been picked up again. The work throughout has continued to have that door open and invite all to continue to be part of the process. As we hear back from them, we will consider how we progress forward together.

The residents of the Territories are eligible for this program if there is a claim or something that has occurred that caused the equipment failure in their residences or businesses. There is a process of evaluating those, and approvals that are in place, but I’ll get that policy and provide that to Members.