I would like to make the comment and it would lead to a question, that the big initiative of this department in my experience has been pursuing the northern energy accord and I know an enormous amount of work has been done to develop a very detailed NWT position on the northern accord. I know, as well, recently the Yukon government has become very much involved and, I believe, supportive of the NWT position. It has been an initiative of the Government of Canada, we know the Prime Minister signed the enabling agreement to negotiate the northern energy accord, here in Yellowknife. We also know that a tremendous amount of effort has been put into this initiative by the Honourable Nellie Cournoyea.

Are we in danger of all this tremendous effort and work ending without a whimper as the term of Mr. Mulroney comes to a close, or is there a possibility that this work can be finished off, especially now that we have Mr. McKnight in the Energy, Mines portfolio, federally? I would like to get a feeling from the Minister. Do we still have a chance of finishing off this very important business before a federal election or, perhaps, before the leadership convention in June distracts everyone's attention? Is it still possible we can conclude this long-standing issue? Thank you.