NNSL (JAN 06/97) - Many fundamental issues have yet to be addressed in the quest for Nunavut, says Finance Minister John Todd.

In a statement made recently in the legislative assembly, he said that with about two years to go until territorial division, discussing theories must give way to the "hard reality of establishing two new governments."

"For example, we must begin now to institute the programming required to establish information and processing systems," he said.

There's also the need for a staff transition and relocation plan, the building of Nunavut's government headquarters and the development of new staff training programs.

"We cannot wait until April 1, 1998, to begin the hiring and the large amount of in-service training that is required," he said.

With the release of Footprints 2, the second comprehensive report of the Nunavut Implementation Commission, major decisions that until now have been left on the back burner now require closer scrutiny.

"Footprints 2 presents an updated organizational design and more practical approach to staffing issues," said Todd.

"It lays out in much more detail areas such as communications requirements, and addresses some previous gaps in program areas such as the administration of justice in Nunavut."

The government is in the process of forming a response to the 256-page report.

Todd pointed out that the government will begin implementing the division of government functions this year.

"At the departmental level, division plans are now being prepared for incorporation into the business planning process over the next several months," he said.

But despite the difficulties and challenges inherent in such an enormous undertaking, Todd is confident the division process will be complete by April 1999.

"The job of planning and implementing division will require the collective effort and commitment of all members of the assembly," said Todd.

"I believe that if we remain committed to the principles we established a year ago ... we will, as the premier is fond of saying, make April 1, 1999, a day to celebrate. It is time for this assembly to get on with the job."

West: The constitutional journey

Developing a constitution for what remains of the Northwest Territories after division is one of the government's top priorities as the day of division draws near, says Aboriginal Affairs Minister Jim Antoine.

And while the long road toward a draft document has finally come to an end, the complex issues yet to be breached are far from settled.

"Most important to our success will be the search for balance and tolerance," said Antoine last month in the legislative assembly.

"We have had the benefit of extreme views from many sides in recent weeks. The goal now is to find reasonable and acceptable middle ground."

Antoine said the central issue involved in the constitution process is to come up with a document that:

- melds elements of public government and aboriginal government into one system

- establishes the inherent right of aboriginal self-government as a fundamental part of that system

- respects the rights of all Northerners.

"With the tabling of the draft constitution package for public consultation, the constitutional working group has begun the most important phase of our work in the West," said Antoine.

"We have awakened public debate on establishing a new government system."

He said that central issue is nothing new to a territory whose government -- past and present -- has consistently been the strongest proponent, nationally, of the inherent right to self-government.

"The people of the NWT strongly supported the 1992 Charlottetown Accord, which provided for the constitutional recognition of aboriginal governments," said Antoine.

The challenge now is to ensure that every community in the West has the opportunity to participate in the public debate that will result in a final document.

Antoine pointed out that while the draft constitution focused on one form of government (the two-assembly house model), two other government models were also proposed and other variations are still possible.

"When we develop a final constitutional proposal for the West, it must account not only for what our residents tell us over the coming months, but it must also account for what Canada's leaders are prepared to pass into law," he said.

Common ground

Division must not turn into East-West squabble

Territorial leaders must not allow division to turn into a squabble between the Eastern and Western Arctic, say two cabinet ministers.

Key to that is securing adequate funding from the federal government to achieve division goals, and to ensure that mechanisms are in place to deal with disputes.

"We must insist that the federal government support the western process adequately, provide sufficient funding so that both territories can be implemented effectively," said Aboriginal Affairs Minister Jim Antoine last month in the legislative assembly.

"Just as the federal government supports the implementation of Nunavut, so too must it support the western process."

With little more than two years to go, there is still time for East and West to get where each wants to go, said Antoine, but only if both sides move thoughtfully and co-operatively.

However, Finance Minister John Todd pointed out that while the Nunavut Act and the Nunavut Political Accord set out the process for the establishment of Nunavut, no similar provisions exist for the West.

"The development of this process (for the West) is critical to resolution of issues (already present) that affect both new territories," said Todd.

The negotiation of financial arrangements with the federal government, the negotiation of transitional and incremental costs of division and the division of assets and liabilities are among those issues yet to be resolved.

Todd said another important issue directly related to the East-West balance is the manner in which disputes are dealt with.

He recommended a dispute-resolution mechanism that works in a fair, equitable and timely manner, with input from all members of the assembly.

"While I am confident that the vast majority of issues can and will be resolved through mutual agreement, some consideration must be given to the adoption of an independent dispute-resolution mechanism," said Todd.

But with just over 800 days to go until division, both sides must be willing to work together and sort things out, if the process is to be completed on time.

That's one issue that everyone agrees on, dispute-resolution mechanism or not.