Executive Council
December 1, 2016

The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Dwight Ball, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador:

Premier Ball Recognizes Nunatsiavut Day

Mr. Speaker, today, it gives me great pleasure to offer my own congratulations and that of all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to the Labrador Inuit as they celebrate Nunatsiavut Day.

On this day 11 years ago, Labrador Inuit marked a new era and changed the face of Newfoundland and Labrador forever giving the Labrador Inuit more control over their own affairs. The Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement set out a new regime for land ownership, resource sharing and self-government including Inuit ownership of 15,800 square kilometres of land referred to as Labrador Inuit Lands and the creation of the 9,600 square kilometre Torngat Mountains National Park Reserve.

As Minister of Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs, it pleases me to recognize this very important date in the province’s history. It is important we remember that for over 30 years the Labrador Inuit negotiated their land claims agreement which provided for the new self-government regime – the first modern comprehensive land claims and self-government agreement.

The Nunatsiavut Government has made great progress in improving the lives of Labrador Inuit and all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians should be proud of what has been accomplished by the Nunatsiavut Government.

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador looks forward to continuing to work with the Nunatsiavut Government to help advance issues of importance to Labrador Inuit, and I am optimistic that our governments, working together, can make great progress on matters of mutual interest.

Thank you.

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2016 12 01                              1:55 p.m.