Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you for that question. Mr. Chair, we undertook a number of different steps to ensure a full, exhaustive list of the contaminated sites. First, we negotiated diligently with the Government of the Northwest Territories and the aboriginal parties with respect to the definition of what would constitute a waste site that Canada would retain.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I believe that is also found in the Canada Elections Act, schedule 3, I believe.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  What sections?

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you. Section 29 on page 14 falls under part 1, the changes to the NWT Act. It is consistent, both in 29(1) and 29(2). We talk about the power to withhold assent and the assent of the Governor in Council. It is consistent with what we've done in both the Yukon Act and the Nunavut Act.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  That's correct. The power of disallowance is not only found in the territories through those acts, but it's also found in the Constitution between the Government of Canada's power of dissolution with disallowance of legislation with provincial legislation, so it is consistent.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I'll let my colleague, Mr. Isaac, answer that last question, but just for the record, I may have mentioned earlier that there were four “bills”. Actually, it's four acts that comprise the four parts in the bill. While we may have consulted on four separate acts, the four separate acts form the bill.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  If I may, Mr. Chair, if I understand the honourable member's question correctly, I just wanted, for the record, to point out that in devolution and in the devolution agreement, what we've actually done is that Canada has agreed to retain responsibility and liability for any of the waste sites that were created prior to transfer.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Mr. Chair, one of the elements we agreed to with the Government of the Northwest Territories in the agreement in principle signed back in January 2011 was what we described as one-time funding. One-time funding was allocated to not just the Government of the Northwest Territories but all the aboriginal parties that were contemplated in devolution.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  There were actually four. The bill is structured in four parts. The way we sent out the package, although it was sent in one envelope, it was in four different bills.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Are you referring to the devolution AIP?

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  No.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Mr. Chair, if I may do so, I think it's important to provide the full contextual piece of how the consultations were done with both initiatives. First of all, with respect to devolution, we conducted a fairly comprehensive consultation process—three phases—which took place from January 2011 up until we signed the devolution agreement.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Chapter 7 outlines what we call the human resources chapter and that governs the whole transfer of functions from the Government of Canada to the Government of the Northwest Territories with respect to human resources. It was the objective of the two governments and of all the parties to ensure a seamless transition.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I think the biggest lesson learned is our approach to waste sites. The model that was employed in the Yukon was somewhat different than what we've done in the Northwest Territories. In the Northwest Territories we've identified those sites that Canada is fully responsible for. Rather than transferring sites and then remediating them, in coordination with the Government of Yukon we've decided to maintain full liability for the sites.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  The devolution agreement speaks to a number of different pots of money or revenue streams, for lack of a better term. The first we talk about is one-time funding. Both the Government of the Northwest Territories and aboriginal parties will receive one-time funding in order to get set up for devolution.