Fort Simpson (July 23/04) - A new minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development was sworn in Tuesday, but Deh Cho self-government negotiations likely won't be advanced until early fall, negotiators for both sides agree.

Andy Scott Born in Barker's Point, N.B. in 1955 Senior policy advisor under New Brunswick Premier Frank McKenna from 1989-92. Elected to the House of Commons in 1993. Following re-election in 1997, he was named Solicitor General. He was forced to resign in 1998 after allegedly pre-judging the outcome of the APEC inquiry. His conversation on an Air Canada flight was overheard by a New Democrat MP who, in the House of Commons, reported that Scott told a seat mate that the RCMP used excessive force while dealing with protesters. Last year, Scott was pummeled in his constituency office by a man who opposed his vote in favour of same-sex marriage.

Andy Scott, a New Brunswick MP, was named DIAND minister by Prime Minister Paul Martin. He replaces Andy Mitchell, who has the post of agriculture in Martin's new inner circle.

Federal negotiator Robin Aitken said he and his counterparts will brief Scott, "Sooner rather than later," because the Deh Cho Process and the pipeline are, "pretty hot issues."

"What we're trying to do now -- I had a bit of a chat with the Deh Cho yesterday -- is get a two-year road plan and accomplish as much as we possibly can, ideally getting an approved agreement in principle by then," Aitken said Tuesday. "I'm confident that the will is there on both sides... I know the feds want to move on so it's going to take some policy changes on our behalf and probably on the Deh Cho's behalf."

Chris Reid, legal council to the Dehcho First Nations, admitted Tuesday that he knew little of Scott, so he was planning to do an Internet search to find out more about him.

Ethel Blondin-Andrew, MP for the Western Arctic, has reportedly been named secretary of state for Northern development. Reid said that could be helpful to the Deh Cho's cause but questioned whether Blondin-Andrew would contravene cabinet solidarity.

"It depends on whether they really have the nerve to go to the wall for their constituents or not," he said.

Just as importantly, Reid noted, Stephan Dion was made Minister of Environment. It will then be Dion who will be responsible for signing a joint review panel agreement for a Mackenzie Valley pipeline. The Dehcho First Nations has been lobbying for representation on that panel, but has yet to reach terms with regulatory officials.