I’m going to own up to the fact that I don’t know a whole lot about Devolution in hopes to garner some comments from both sides to help me understand where the controversies are coming from.
My very limited understanding (and please do correct me if I’m not understanding right) is that currently the GNWT has very little control over what development happens here and does not have the authority to collect resource revenue from the development that does happen. Instead, final approval for projects comes from the Federal Government, the revenue goes to Ottawa, who then provides the Territory with transfer payments.
So what I remember from the BHP Billiton Diamond Debate (and please don’t take this as God given truth, because it’s an anecdotal recap based on what people tell me, not from years of research and deep understanding, I’m trying to understand better so if I have something wrong I WANT you to explain it!) Is that the Territorial Government gets back about 3 percent of the revenue created by diamonds coming out of the mine, and that the revenue percentage is mainly based on the value of uncut Diamonds because our Diamond cutting dream fell flat on its face, *SO* compared to the revenue earned from the final product, our share is probably much lower than 3%.
What I also have heard is that the expenditures in policing and social programs paid for by the Territorial Government rose significantly more than 3% in the years immediately following the opening of the mine.
So what I understand to be the benefit of Devolution is that the Territory would have more control over deciding what development happens here, and that the Territory would be able to get more revenue from resources.
So far that sounds good, because the federal government has been transferring less and less into social housing programs, our health and social programs are costing more and more and we (supposedly) don’t have the money to cover it, along with everything else that the GNWT should be spending on but isn’t… so what’s the downside?
Well from my white, female, teetering above poverty while being the primary caregiver/provider for two children perspective: The first question I have is “Do we have the expertise and capacity to negotiate development deals, implement agreements, know when to say no to development and enforce the agreements we’ve made?”
My gut doesn’t have a lot of faith that we do.. but frankly it hasn’t been happening with the Feds either.. I believe that The Mackenzie Valley Environmental Review Board has archives upon archives of pictures of unremediated sites. Equipment abandoned throughout our landscape, NEVER MIND the fact that someone let Peggy Witte back into the North after her shining performance at Giant.
If we have control, Can We Do Better? and WILL we do better? I don’t know, but I have serious doubts.
So going onto what I would really like to know more about is that out of 7 Aboriginal groups asked to sign, only 2 did.
Why?
I’ve read in the news that they feel like there wasn’t enough consultation, and that some groups felt like it wasn’t a good deal. But I didn’t read anything about why they felt that way or what exactly they were looking for. Can someone clarify for me? (I’m seriously asking, I genuinely want to know)
So given that this is indeed a historic moment for the Northwest Territories, one that has been talked about since I can remember, I feel like a bad Northerner for not knowing enough to feel like I can have a valid opinion one way or another on the issue, and I’m really hoping that through discussion I’ll know more and maybe other Northerners will too:)
