NWT is Ottawa's best chance, says Kakfwi
Doug Ashbury
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (Jan 31/01) - The Government of Canada has presented its Speech from the Throne, now it should make firm commitments to the North, Premier Stephen Kakfwi says.
 Stephen Kakfwi |
"Anybody can make a speech, we need firm commitments," Kakfwi told Yellowknifer Tuesday afternoon.
To open the first session of the 37th parliament, Governor-General Adrienne Clarkson read the Speech from the Throne. There were no NWT-specific comments.
If Ottawa is looking for a place to show Canada it is ready to commit to development which will benefit the entire country, it need look no further than the NWT where aboriginal groups are supporting a proposed Mackenzie Valley natural gas pipeline, Kakfwi said.
"Here's an opportunity to show that commitment, to show that aboriginal people can benefit from oil and gas development, an opportunity to show that the Canadian government is prepared to support partnerships," he said.
"We're saying aboriginal people have an economic opportunity," Kakfwi, said.
Kakfwi, who was in Ottawa and met with Prime Minister Jean Chretien Tuesday morning said he reminded Chretien of comments made seven years ago at the opening of the NWT legislative assembly building.
Kakfwi said he reminded Chretien of how the Prime Minister, then Indian Affairs minister, said he supported devolution -- the transferring of people responsible for the NWT to the NWT.
Now that resource companies are looking at the feasibility of commercializing Mackenzie Delta natural gas, the federal government will be adding new oil and gas staff, Kakfwi said.
If Ottawa means what it says about devolution, it will position new staff responsible for the NWT oil and gas sector in the NWT, he said.
Asked when the NWT will know the answer, Kakfwi said in "the next few months."
