Michael Nadli

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I move that this committee recommends that the Government of the Northwest Territories provide a comprehensive response to this report within 120 days. Mahsi, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Standing Committee on Government Operations submitted its Report on the Review of the 2013-2014 Annual Report of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of the Northwest Territories to the House on February 12, 2015. A motion was adopted by the House to receive the report and move it into Committee of the Whole for further consideration.

The committee would like to acknowledge the continued hard work and dedication of Ms. Elaine Keenan Bengts in her role as Information and Privacy Commissioner. Ms. Keenan Bengts highlighted three legislative issues in her report:...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister has stated that there will be continued work with the operators. Aside from that, are there any plans within the 2015-16 season to see if campgrounds and tourism facilities within my riding would be enhanced?

How will the NWT components of the Deh Cho Travel Connection be promoted and emphasized?

Can the Minister provide an update of the Dehcho Process negotiations? I know he’s spent a lot of time explaining where the process is at, but from his perspective, is there hope? Is there a point where we should be concerned? Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I too wanted to ask questions to the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations. I’d like to ask the Minister, can he clarify whether the offer of 37,000 square kilometres is the take it or leave it offer or the final offer?

Thank you. My final question is in all these negotiations sometimes they come to a point where you can’t really resolve the differences.

Are there any provisions within the negotiations policy of this government or else the framework agreement, that’s been hammered out with all the parties, for any provision for a dispute mechanism? Mahsi.

I think the negotiations process at this point has reached a perilous point where perhaps parties might walk away. There could be a call where negotiations are basically going to come to a halt, and that’s not in the best interests of the people of the Deh Cho, of the NWT, or even Canada, for that matter, for the uncertainty of the land tenure and the ownership and the jurisdiction to not be clarified.

At what point would the Premier or the Minister call upon his leadership and call upon the Dehcho leadership to step in, instead of leaving the negotiation process and the fate of the whole...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. The negotiations process is a path that is taken when the parties believe they can make an agreement. My hope is that the Government of the Northwest Territories and the Dehcho First Nations still believe they can work together.

Recently, the GNWT made an offer to the Dehcho First Nations in its efforts to move negotiations forward. However, as well intended the offer is, accusations of a “take it or leave it approach “and terse name calling has taken an unfortunate turn rather than examining the full merits of the offer and contemplating a counter offer.

It is my belief...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Could the Minister ensure by this spring hunt that those communities that have limited cell coverage out on the land, that efforts will be made to increase the services? Mahsi.