Mr. Speaker, I would like to clarify information about the plebiscite question and the process for developing that question. This government is moving forward on a process and commitments made by a succession of Legislative Assemblies, including specific directions provided by the last Assembly in their spring session.

The Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories over the last 10 years has continuously indicated its support for the creation of Nunavut. A plebiscite was held in 1982 showing popular support for division. Residents over the years have also been involved in discussions about division, through processes such as the Western Constitutional Forum and Nunavut Constitutional Forum, which resulted in the 1987 Iqaluit Agreement. As Members of this Assembly will remember, Mr. Speaker, agreement was achieved through the work of the constitutional forum on certain principles, and it was agreed that the political boundary for division should be the same as the land claim boundaries.

Article 4 of the TFN final agreement requires that a Territories-wide plebiscite be held on the boundary between the eastern and western territories. This is not a vote on division, only a vote on the boundary. I have maps here that show the boundary which will be the subject of that plebiscite vote. It corresponds to the land claims' boundaries separating the Inuvialuit and Dene/Metis areas from the Eastern Arctic Inuit claim. If this boundary is accepted by the residents of the NWT, it will be the political boundary dividing the future western and eastern territories.

Agreement was also reached, as a result of Article 4, on a process for the creation of Nunavut and for the development of a constitution for the western territory.

Mr. Speaker, Members of the previous Legislative Assembly, in the spring session, discussed division, the plebiscite date and the plebiscite question. Directions were provided to government, and three motions were passed by the Assembly:

1) to establish a Western Constitutional Commission;

2) to develop, with TFN, a public consultation process for the East;

3) to amend the Plebiscite Act to hold the plebiscite vote.

Because the proposed timing for the plebiscite did not allow for a full discussion again in the Legislative Assembly, the caucus as a whole assigned responsibility to the Executive Council to set the date for the plebiscite vote and to finalize the plebiscite question.

Mr. Speaker, I want to clarify for the Members of the Legislative Assembly and for residents of the Northwest Territories that if we are to divide, it will not happen the day after the plebiscite votes are counted. The process and commitments for division of the Northwest Territories will allow some seven years for the elected leaders and residents of the East and West to work out their concerns and to shape the framework for the two new governments. Thank you.