Mr. Speaker, I want to take a moment to recognize a few people who played a lead role on our successful road to signing the Nunavut Lands and Resources Devolution Agreement.
Most of us see the completed 239-page devolution document as a tool with a simple purpose – to return decision-making related to Nunavut public lands and waters to Nunavut, where it belongs. In three years, we will make our own resource decisions and retain revenue from the extraction of those resources.
Namminiqsurniq – achieving greater autonomy.
What we don’t see is the hours, days, weeks, months, and years of hammering out each word on each page. It takes tremendous work to navigate the legal complexities related to coordination between the GN, NTI and the Government of Canada. It is not easy to plan out details such as transfer of employees and implementation plans for the official transfer in 2027. Thankfully, the GN had excellent chief negotiators to ensure each detail was handled masterfully.
Mr. Speaker, the process officially began with the GN’s chief negotiator Tony Penikett – a former Yukon Premier. By 2008, a negotiation protocol was signed with the Government of Canada and Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. with a goal to reach an Agreement in Principle.
Our own Minister of Justice David Akeeagok took on the chief negotiator mantle in 2012, with negotiations formally beginning in 2014 – at which point Simon Awa took on this pivotal role.
In 2019 – another milestone – the Agreement in Principle is signed.
The great responsibility passed to Pauloosie Suvega in 2020, who took us to the finish line.
Gentleman, thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.