Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Ever since 50 years ago – actually, this is the 50th anniversary of the Government of the Northwest Territories moving to Yellowknife – when the government moved from Ottawa to Yellowknife, that was the first step in achieving decision-making by Northerners. With the devolution in 2014, we further took control through Lands and Resources, and there was also a provision through the devolution agreement where 60 days after implementation. We would begin to negotiate the offshore and co-management of oil and gas, so we were taken aback when the federal government unilaterally imposed a moratorium and it ignored three areas.

One was we had a devolution agreement. There is a land claim with the Inuvialuit that requires a consultation constitutionally protected. Also, we were concerned that Bill 55, where the federal government is looking at – they can take, identify, and establish marine-protected areas without consultation with anybody. We are working with the Aboriginal governments to look at what we can do in terms of dealing with the oil and gas moratorium. It has had negative effects on the other parts of the Northwest Territories. For the first time since 1936, there has been not one drop of oil being produced for the past six months, and it looks like for the foreseeable future. We have to work together and we have to look at resource development as still a very important part of our economy, including mining. Jobs are very important, the Northwest Territories has been the only jurisdiction in the past 15 years whose population has been declining, so we need the good jobs for our people. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.