Michael Nadli

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, students in Fort Providence of the Introduction to Northern Leadership provided this statement to me to express on their behalf.

Mr. Speaker, the tourism industry is a great opportunity for the Northwest Territories. Tourism brought in nearly $94.1 million between 2010 and 2011. This number increased to $146 million in the period from 2014 to 2015, which is approximately a 50 per cent increase. Tourism has made a comeback in the NWT and is an important part of the economy.

Mr. Speaker, Fort Providence can take advantage of this opportunity by upgrading...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. [Translation not provided.] Mr. Speaker, some First Nations that live around Great Slave Lake are stating that they were not consulted in the development of the GNWT fishing strategy.

The ITI Minister tabled the Strategy for Revitalizing the Great Slave Lake Commercial Fishery in the House last week. A ceremony was held in Hay River to celebrate this milestone of the 70-year-old industry.

Mr. Speaker, in developing the Commercial Fishing Strategy, the question of whether true meaningful consultations were carried out in engaging all parties, including First Nations, to...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my other question is: in terms of trying to understand the roles of this government and the federal government, in light of the recent transfer of responsibility of devolution from Ottawa to Yellowknife in terms of lands and public resources, where is the GNWT in terms of its responsibility regarding the Great Slave Lake and the fisheries stock that we have here? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment. Last week, the Minster had unrolled the development of the fishing strategy that had been in the making for some time. It basically heralds the initiative of this government in trying to revitalize the fishing industry on Great Slave Lake that has been around for about 70 years. My question is to the Minister: can the Minister explain the scope of the fishing strategy; in particular, how the matter of jurisdictions in the role of First Nations were addressed in the development of the...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My last question verges on the first question that I asked, and I don’t feel that the Minister answered my question, in whether the fishing strategy has a functional responsibility and whether, indeed, it addresses the very fundamental issue of the jurisdictions in the role of the First Nations. Would the Minister please answer that question? Mahsi.

My second question is: is this driven upon the Minister's statement? He stated very clearly that there were meetings in the region, so can the Minister explain the level of consultation and whether those meetings were held at a ministerial level, or a senior official level, where senior officials from this department engage people and stakeholders in those meetings?

Thank you to the Minister for answering the few questions that I had. It is true that the ministerial special reporter has met with all parties and will be more likely tabling the report to the parties, including the GNWT and the federal government. Could the Minister explain just the key steps of the go-forward work plan that he anticipates will follow once the reports have been received by the parties?

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier I spoke on the United Nations Declarations on the Rights of Indigenous People. My questions are to the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs. In the past the GNWT has played the key role in terms of the national and international levels. I wanted to ask the Minister what ways, in his view, is the GNWT going to continue working to uphold the United Nations Declarations on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples? Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, UNDRIP, was adopted by the UN General Assembly in September 2007 by a majority of 144 nations voting in favour. There were 11 abstentions and four votes against this historic declaration, and I am sorry to say that Canada, along with the United States, New Zealand, and Australia, was one of the "no" votes.

The declaration sets out the individual and collective rights of Indigenous peoples, as well as our rights to culture, identity, language, employment, health, education, and other issues. It...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My final question is that it seems that, you know, there is a waiting game at this point in terms of when the reports will be received and then there is a contemplation of the next steps, and it seems very clear that, of course, within the framework of the federal government, including the GNWT or the Northwest Territories, it is almost that we have to wait for the lead of the federal government. One of the points that have been made by the parties is that there has to be a new mandate from the federal government including the GNWT. Is that the case, Mr. Speaker?