Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Yesterday the Government Leader announced that the government would be providing a grant of $233,000 to Dene bands to assist them in preparing for the discussions concerning community transfer agreements. I would like to express my full support for the provision of this particular funding. This money will give band councils an opportunity to thoroughly review and discuss the proposed community transfer agreement initiative. The inclusion of band councils in any discussion of a proposal of this kind is essential. As I have stated in this House I have some serious concerns about the whole Beatty report, and in particular, the community transfer agreement initiative that it proposes. I have stated that we need more time to review this report before jumping into it.

I hope to consult with the band councils in my region and in other regions over the next few months on what impact this initiative will have on community and band government, regional government, and the larger constitutional issue of aboriginal self-government in the Northwest Territories. Mahsi cho.