Robert C. McLeod

We do recognize them as the First Nation government and there’s no reason that they couldn’t serve on the interim corporation. We’re asking the band communities to form the interim corporation. Currently, we have seven of the eight band communities who have formed, or are in the process of forming, an interim corporation, so they can own real property and the capital money can flow to them. We’re sitting on close to $3 million, Mr. Speaker, in capital and gas tax money for the community of Lutselk’e. So it’s in their best interest to form a corporation and take advantage of that money. Thank...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today we are wearing green to celebrate a milestone in northern history that will take place in Whistler, British Columbia, when Brendan Green of Hay River becomes the first Northwest Territories resident to compete in the Olympic Games since 1984 when Sharon and Shirley Firth competed in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia.

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In about two and a half hours, Brendan and his teammates will compete in the men’s 4 by 7.5 kilometre biathlon relay at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games starting at 12:30 p.m. The race is scheduled to be broadcasted on TSN, and will...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker and thank you, colleagues. Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Deh Cho that Bill 11, An Act to Amend the Workers’ Compensation Act, be read for the third time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable Member for Monfwi, that Bill 5, An Act to Amend the Commissioner’s Land Act, be read for the third time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Yes, I would, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Further to my Return to Written Question 21-16(4), I wish to table the following two documents entitled Design Guideline: Units Incorporating Barrier-Free/Visitable Design Features and Public Housing Units that Incorporate Barrier-Free Features.

MACA officials have been meeting with Lutselk’e staff and council to try to see if they would be willing to form an interim corporation. Mr. Speaker, we’re not asking them to change status or anything along those lines. That would be a decision that they would have to make. We are asking them for the benefit of flowing money into their community, that the GNWT is holding for them. We are asking them to form an interim corporation so that they would be able to start using the money. We continue to have discussions with them. If it comes to where it needs to be a meeting between political...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We, as GNWT, recognize all communities’ rights to self-government, Mr. Speaker. Because of the Indian Act not allowing band communities to own real property, we have been working with band communities to form interim corporations so we can flow the capital and gas tax money to them. We view the interim corporations as a way to build capacity for their eventual transition into self-government. There’s nothing about the interim corporation model that would interfere with or go against the band communities’ self-government goals and objectives. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I seek consent to proceed with third reading of Bill 11, An Act to Amend the Workers’ Compensation Act.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have with me, on the left, Anne Clark, president of the Workers’ Safety and Compensation Commission; and, Mr. Ian Rennie, legislative counsel. Thank you, Mr. Chair.