Evidence of meeting #13 for Indigenous and Northern Affairs in the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site.) The winning word was board.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Chris Warkentin
Not seeing any additional speakers on Liberal....
Pardon me, Mr. Bevington.
NDP
Dennis Bevington NDP Western Arctic, NT
I have a question for the government. Before any of the other non-settled land claims groups would be approached to join this, is it correct that there would be a requirement for amendments to this act?
Senior Counsel, Negotiations, Northern Affairs and Federal Interlocutor, Department of Justice
Can you repeat the question, Mr. Bevington?
NDP
Dennis Bevington NDP Western Arctic, NT
Basically, what you've done with the act is keep a number of positions on the board open. I assume that's for future consideration with other settled land claims. If it's not, I would suggest, then, that any future additions to this board from other accepted land claims—if that's what happens with them—would require further amendments to this act.
Tara Shannon Director, Resource Policy and Programs Directorate, Northern Affairs, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
The three additional members are Government of Canada appointees to the board.
Liberal
Yvonne Jones Liberal Labrador, NL
Thank you.
My motion is asking that those three appointees be appointed from the first nation governments. In the context of additional land claim agreements being reached with first nation governments in the Northwest Territories, the composition of the board doesn't speak to that, from what I understand.
Manager, Legislation and Policy, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
I'm sorry. Could I could just clarify? Are you proposing that three of the eleven members on the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board, the three government members, would no longer be appointed by the government and would instead be appointed by the Gwich'in, the Sahtu, and the Tlicho?
Liberal
Yvonne Jones Liberal Labrador, NL
No, that's not what my amendment is. My amendment is basically saying that instead of having one member from each of the first nations, there would be two, because the bill only really addresses the appointment of eight. What we're saying is that for the other three members, whoever appoints them, they should be appointed from those particular governments.
Senior Counsel, Negotiations, Northern Affairs and Federal Interlocutor, Department of Justice
The structure of the board was intended to maintain a balance between government members and members that are appointed directly or on the nomination of a first nation. Currently, five of the members are appointed on a nomination of or directly by government. Five of the members are appointed on a nomination of or directly by aboriginal groups.
What you're suggesting would take three of the five government members and put them as being appointed by first nations. It would change the balance of appointments and nominations between first nations and government that is contemplated in the land claim agreements.
Liberal
Yvonne Jones Liberal Labrador, NL
I think the amendment is very clear. I'm not talking about changing who appoints them. What I'm saying is that they should be appointed from those three groups.
Conservative
Senior Counsel, Negotiations, Northern Affairs and Federal Interlocutor, Department of Justice
I understand what you're saying, but what I'm saying is that if that were to occur, there would be eight members appointed on the nomination of or directly by first nations, and only two plus the chair appointed on the nomination of or directly by government.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Chris Warkentin
Thank you. That is clear.
(Amendment negatived)
(Clause 136 agreed to)
(Clauses 137 to 198 agreed to)
(On clause 199)
Clause 199 has two proposed amendments, NDP-9 and NDP-10.
Mr. Bevington, would you like to speak to amendment NDP-9?
NDP
Dennis Bevington NDP Western Arctic, NT
I move that Bill C-15, in clause 199, be amended by adding after line 20 on page 174 the following:
111.2 The federal Minister shall only exercise the powers and perform the duties and functions referred to in section 111.1 after consulting with the minister who was the responsible minister for the purposes of the provisions referred to in that section before the coming into force of section 111.1.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Chris Warkentin
Thank you, Mr. Bevington.
Not seeing additional speakers to amendment NDP-9—
NDP
Dennis Bevington NDP Western Arctic, NT
I'll speak to it then, so we can explain it. I was just giving you time in case you had—
Conservative
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Chris Warkentin
A vote on amendment NDP-9 will also apply to amendment NDP-10, so you may want to speak to both.
