Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Honourable members, thank you for the invitation to address the Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development. I'm pleased to be here on behalf of the Government of the Northwest Territories to speak to you about Bill C-15, the Northwest Territories devolution

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you for the question. We believe that after April 1, 2014, which is the effective transfer date, there's...I don't see why we can't discuss it with the government. The government has said five years, so nothing should prevent us from talking about it in between then, in tha

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  The government of the day can choose to go earlier, if they decide to do so.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  This is a political system. We don't feel that everything has to be in an agreement.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  We have a commitment that it will be reviewed after five years. That's good enough for us.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  We have had long discussions with the Government of Canada. We have agreed that after five years we can look at reviewing and deciding on making further changes to the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act. This agreement was developed as part of the land claims negotiations w

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Let me finish, okay?

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  We have had discussions with the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs. I've also talked to the Prime Minister. It's very clear that some portions of the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act can be very easily changed. We can have those discussions within the next five years. Thank

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  First of all, I'm not here to make you feel better. Secondly, this is federal legislation so it's up to the federal government to put forward this legislation. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  This is federal legislation, so why would we have an open discussion in our territorial legislature? The federal institution is there for federal legislation. That's what the House of Commons is there for. That's what you are there for. We're not here to debate federal legislatio

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. The member is suggesting that we can tell the federal government when and how to introduce its legislation, and that's not the case. We were briefed as a party on the proposed MVRMA changes along with the other aboriginal governments that have settled land

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you very much for the question. As you know, devolution has been an ongoing feature in the Northwest Territories for over 40 years. The most recent round has been ongoing for about 12 years. We've made several different attempts. In the latest round, which resulted in thi

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I think the biggest advantage will be the fact that they increased the authorities and that the decisions will be made by the people living in the north. The people who are most affected by the decisions will be making those decisions. I think those changes to the Mackenzie Valle

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  The areas of land, water, and resource management will all be devolved to the Government of the Northwest Territories. We will also be responsible for oil and gas, mining, and their cumulative impacts. Those decisions of the 26 acts and regulations would mean that all of those au

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you for those questions. I think we were able to secure funding for the Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk highway by selling a dream or a vision, in which, for the first time in history, Canada will be able to say that we're joined from sea to sea to sea. I think that resonated and I