Ottawa, NWT Sign Devolution Agreement

Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Bob McLeod, premier of the Northwest Territories, look on as Bernard Valcourt, minister of aboriginal affairs and northern development, signs a devolution agreement between the federal government and NWT. Harper travelled to Yellowknife to sign the deal Monday, which will make the territory responsible for granting oil and gas rights as well as managing the land within its boundaries. It will also enable NWT to collect some royalties on resource development. Although a second round of consultations still needs to take place with aboriginal groups and other stakeholders, it is expected that the handover will occur on April 1, 2014. (Deb Ransom)