Thank you, Madam Speaker. Since the Prime Minister's strong statement of support for further devolution to the Government of the Northwest Territories, Members of this House have expressed a great deal of interest in the status of the northern accord. I would like to take this opportunity to update the Members on the most recent developments on this important initiative.

Over the past several months, I have met individually with the leadership of all major aboriginal groups in the Northwest Territories: Nunavut Tunngavik; the Deh Cho First Nations; NWT Treaty 8 Council; Dogrib Treaty 11 Tribal Council; Metis Nation; the Sahtu Secretariat; the Gwich'in Tribal Council; and, the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation.

I am pleased to inform this House that all of these organizations have agreed to meet in Yellowknife on December 14, 1994 to begin formal discussions on the northern accord to determine if we can reach a common position that we can move forward on with the federal government. The purpose of the initial meeting was to decide goals and objectives of the discussions between the Government of the Northwest Territories and aboriginal organizations, to outline guidelines and procedures for future meetings and to establish a more formalized process to encourage aboriginal involvement in the northern accord.

It is our hope we can reach a common position with all aboriginal groups on the northern accord early in the new year. We would then be in a position to submit a formal proposal to the federal government for devolution of these responsibilities to the people of the Northwest Territories.

Madam Speaker, I would like to assure the Members of this House that the Government of the Northwest Territories is committed to taking responsibility for non-renewable resource development in the Northwest Territories, while at the same time respecting aboriginal and treaty rights. We hope to accomplish this through negotiation of a northern accord with the federal government. I will keep Members of this House informed as the process unfolds.

In conclusion, Madam Speaker, I would like to express my personal appreciation to all the leaders of those aboriginal organizations for agreeing to meet to determine if we can move forward on this important initiative in a spirit of cooperation and trust. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

---Applause