Nunavik Regional Government – The Agreement in Principle and Where It’s At

The Agreement in Principle was initialled by the 3 party negotiators on August 9, 2007 which is just another step in the approval process. The fact that the AIP is now initialled helps the leaders move forward to the signing of the ageement.

Following the Katimajiit Forum in Kuujjuaq, we can now say that the Agreement in Principle is well on its way to being formally signed by all parties in the very near future.Premier Charest has publicly announced during the press conference that his government is in full support and that it is only a matter of time before the Nunavik Regional Government is fully approved. The only delay now is in seeing the AIP being approved at the Federal level.

“The reason for the delay is not in the content but in the process.” the Premier mentioned.

The new Minister of Indian Affairs Chuck Strahl indicated that his government is also in full support and looks forward to seeing the creation of the new public regional government for Nunavik.

Once this AIP is signed, the next step will be to negotiate a Final Agreement which will be legally binding and will include a detailed Implementation Plan. The Final Agreement will have to be ratified by the Nunavik population, the Quebec Government and the Federal Government. Following approval, the implementation process will start to amalgamate the 3 institutions which will form the Nunavik Regional Government.

A big part of the implementation will include amendments to certain sections of the JBNQA pertaining to the Kativik School Board, Kativik Regional Government and the Nunavik Health and Social Services. New legislation will have to be approved by the Quebec Government to replace these sections to create the Nunavik Regional Government.

Much work is ahead of us and we are being very ambitious in saying that we hope to see the actual amalgamation and creation of the Nunavik Government by the year 2011.

Listen to: An excerpt from Premier Charest’s speech
Also read: Towards a Government of Nunavik, How far are we in the process?

August 31, 2007/ Minnie Grey