 |
|
|
|
|
  
|
Federal funding cuts force negotiators of Dehcho Process to consider a loan
Communities call for renewed information sessions on the Dehcho ProcessRoxanna Thompson Northern News Services Published Thursday, February 23, 2012
The meeting brought together leaders and representatives from Deh Cho communities in Fort Providence from Feb. 6 to 9. One of the key topics was how to continue to fund the Dehcho Process negotiation team. "We have to consider loan funding," said Grand Chief Samuel Gargan. Tight budget Gargan said the negotiation team has been working on a tight budget, especially since the federal government cut $1 million last summer from the pot Dehcho First Nation (DFN) receives yearly to fund negotiations. Gargan said fiscal restrictions have meant the team hasn't been able to go into the Deh Cho communities in the last year to provide updates. All negotiations have been taking place through video or telephone conferencing during the last year to cut costs. The outlook for this year's contribution agreement from the federal government isn't certain either, said Gargan. More money could be cut from the negotiation team's budget, he said. During the leadership meeting, the negotiation team was directed to examine loans as a funding option and report back to the leadership with information. The funding would be used to allow members of the team to get to communities to do meetings and workshops, said Gargan. Gargan said the negotiations have been going relatively well and advancements have been made on a number of chapters in the draft agreement-in-principle. Chief Stan Sanguez of Jean Marie River First Nation said he was one of the people to recommend that DFN look at obtaining a loan to fund the negotiation team. "We need these resources so we can hire people in the communities to tell them what the negotiations are about," he said. Sanguez said if the process of informing community members is left to the eleventh hour of the Dehcho Process, they will rebel and won't accept any proposed agreements because they will not have been informed. Sanguez said the winter leadership meeting was a good one and that direction was given to the negotiation team. The Dehcho Process wasn't the only topic covered at the leadership meeting. DFN is also looking at entering into a memorandum of understanding with the NWT Chamber of Mines. Final phase When the final phase of the Dehcho Process is reached, the region will need to look at economics. Gargan said it's better to work with the chamber now on a mining strategy, which will be part of the economic plan, rather than waiting until the Dehcho Process agreement is signed. DFN is putting together a working group to work on a draft version of the memorandum. During the meeting, DFN listened to a presentation by the Canadian Zinc Corporation and discussed potential benefits for the region stemming from Prairie Creek Mine. Gargan said approximately one-third of the items on the agenda for the leadership meeting weren't covered. The region is faced with many challenges including devolution, the Wildlife Act and the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act, he said. The sense emerging from the meeting, however, is that the member groups of DFN are not going to split up in the face of the challenges, said Gargan. "The region is more determined to remain united to tackle these items," he said.
|
