(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to congratulate the Tungavik Federation of Nunavut in reaching a final agreement in Ottawa during the weekend. I would like to thank the Tungavik negotiators. They worked very hard, and I wish to thank them. They worked so hard they seemed to forget about their personal lives. There is to be a Nunavut territory, and the territorial government has agreed. We have a lot of work ahead of us. The residents of Nunavut have to be informed of the details of the agreement. A plebiscite has to be held on the boundary question, and the agreement has to be ratified.
In addition we still have to negotiate a political accord with TFN and the federal government which will cover such important questions as principles for financing the Nunavut government, transition arrangements and timing.
As the Minister of Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs mentioned, the federal government has agreed to a $580 million payment over 14 years, and it has a guaranteed interest rate of 9.36 per cent. That means a total federal contribution of over one billion dollars over 14 years.
Finally, as Minister of Education I was also pleased to learn that TFN has negotiated a special fund of $13 million dedicated to training. This will help ensure that northern people are prepared to implement the claim. Thank you.