Mr. Speaker, as a party with no money, they are not jumping up and down demanding to pay the bill. In fact, there has been no great deal of enthusiasm to do so. But on the other hand, I think all of us should recognize the tremendous steps taken by the federal government in recent years to show how seriously they take the question of division and the proposal by the TFN and residents of the Eastern Arctic to work toward the creation of Nunavut. I draw attention to the fact that the Prime Minister has made some mention of it. We have written letters to the Prime Minister; he has written back. The Minister of the federal government has signed the TFN agreement. That makes it really clear that we are all committed to negotiating and working out a process whereby Nunavut will be created. And to have a federal government make commitments like that, with largely unforeseen costs, I think is a significant achievement for those people who have been working all these years to work toward the realization of Nunavut. I believe it is a very serious proposal taken by the federal government, that they are willing to engage in this process even though they do not know exactly what the costs will be. But I would expect that as much as possible they will try to minimize the costs by looking at our own budget once the negotiations start. Especially if the plebiscite results in an affirmative vote.
Stephen Kakfwi on Question O458-12(2): Payment For Cost Of Division Of The Nwt
In the Legislative Assembly on March 31st, 1992. See this statement in context.
Further Return To Question O458-12(2): Payment For Cost Of Division Of The Nwt
Question O458-12(2): Payment For Cost Of Division Of The Nwt
Item 5: Oral Questions
March 30th, 1992
Page 539
See context to find out what was said next.