Mr. Speaker, my question is directed to the Government Leader to clarify the government's position in regard to the approval of the Gwich'in final agreement. The final agreement, if approved, will position the Gwich'in to benefit from economic development, especially in areas of resource management and resource development and allow the Gwich'in to become major stakeholders in development of their area.

This is a simple statement of the positive impacts of the land claim, but it is apparent that the Government of the NWT takes a narrow vision of some of these benefits and is keen on the negative impacts of the government's budget, in particular, in the negotiations of their implementation plan seek only assurance that the land claim obligations will be carried out. Some of these are within the mandate of the GNWT, yet this government refuses to accept any financial burden over and above existing programs and services.

There is an agreement that these negotiations for a general principle protecting the GNWT's position, that all incremental costs will be paid by the Government of Canada. Is this government willing to take a leap of faith, based on a general principle that the Government of the NWT has no land claim financial obligation, and approve the Gwich'in final agreement?