MLAs look at goals for the new year
Support for infrastructure projects and devolution loom large
Roxanna Thompson
Northern News Services
Published Thursday, December 19, 2013
DEH CHO
Working to secure funding for infrastructure development in their respective constituencies is one of the goals for 2014 that two MLAs have in common.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper, left, witnesses Premier Bob McLeod signing a devolution consensus agreement in the legislative assembly in March, which signified the end of devolution negotiations. MLAs Kevin Menicoche and Michael Nadli agree that the implementation of devolution will be a major part of 2014. - NNSL file photo
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When asked about their goals for the new year both Deh Cho MLA Michael Nadli and Nahendeh MLA Kevin Menicoche put funding infrastructure projects at the top of their lists.
Nadli said he hopes to work with community leaders in the Deh Cho on their community's plans and wishes for infrastructure, such as water treatment plants, youth centres and enhanced tourist facilities.
The 17th legislative assembly developed a fiscal strategy that included keeping expenditures low in the beginning, but then supporting infrastructure initiatives in its final two years. Nadli said he wants to connect communities with that money.
In the Nahendeh, Menicoche said he will continue to focus on highways in the new year, including getting more reconstruction and chipsealing done on Highway 7 and pressing for more maintenance and chipseal on the section of Highway 1, between Fort Simpson and its junction with Highway 3.
Residents of Wrigley also continue to be frustrated by the condition of the highway to their community, he said. Menicoche is looking to access the same increased capital dollars as Nadli.
"Now is the time to start pleading our case," he said.
Menicoche said he will also continue to press for a new school in Trout Lake and two nursing positions in Wrigley.
Increased resource development in the Sahtu, which will affect Wrigley, may help strengthen that case, he said.
On a political front, Nadli said supporting the Dehcho Process is also among his goals for 2014.
"My goal is to ensure we have a timely conclusion of a finalized Dehcho Process, hopefully by the time 2015 comes along," he said.
Nadli said he is willing to help with negotiations between Dehcho First Nations (DFN) and the territorial and federal governments, or at least be in a position of support where he can cheer on the parties to ensure continued progress.
Devolution, which will transfer the responsibility for the management of public land, water and resources to the territorial government on April 1, 2014, is also a major feature of the new year for both MLAs.
Nadli said one of the ongoing discussions about devolution that stands out for him is the talk about the heritage fund.
He hopes to see the fund bolstered from the five per cent of resource revenues that Minister Michael Miltenberger has discussed to a minimum of 25 per cent. The public seems to want a more sizable investment, he said.
There are also very public concerns about the creation of a super board that will preside over land use and natural resource development projects in the territory.
The board goes against the aspirations of some First Nation governments including DFN who want their own stand-alone board, he said.
"I'm hoping governments, both the federal and GNWT, are really conscious of that, and not trying to detract from the success of relationship building with First Nations," said Nadli.
Nadli and Menicoche agreed that most of their constituents shouldn't notice a change after April 1. The transition of responsibilities through devolution is expected to be seamless, Nadli said.
Menicoche does plan to push for more decentralization of the approximately 300 jobs that will be transferred to the territorial government.
"I'm working hard as an MLA to getting some of those positions decentralized to Fort Simpson, as a regional centre," he said.
DFN is one of the First Nations that hasn't signed onto the devolution agreement. Menicoche said he thinks DFN is taking a cautious approach by not signing on right away, but that it will miss out on accessing the portion of resource revenues from public land that the territorial government has agreed to share with aboriginal government who have signed on.
"I sure don't want to see the Deh Cho lose out on it," he said. "I truly believe that Deh Cho will not be impacted and that they in fact will gain by being a devolution partner."
Menicoche said he is stressing that existing aboriginal rights will be protected as part of devolution.
