Thank you, Madam Speaker. Today the Premier is heading off to be part of a very important trade delegation to China. It is a sign of the times how much the Northwest Territories has grown over the years that our Premier now, as a matter of course, is considered equal to Premiers across the country. I think it is a very important trip to us, even though the Northwest Territories won't be selling Candu reactors in China -- the Prime Minister might be -- we have an opportunity to look at trade opportunities with China but, more importantly, our Premier will have an opportunity to be with the Prime Minister and the Premiers for a long period of time, away from Ottawa.

She will be able to have frank conversations with the Prime Minister to remind him of the solemn commitments he has made to the Legislative Assembly and the people of the Northwest Territories. It was right here a year ago when the Prime Minister promised that he would devolve programs to the Northwest Territories at a speed decided by us. Mr. Lewis brought that again to the House's attention very recently.

I think that there is a very important reality that all of us in the Northwest Territories have to accept. I know there are certain groups in the territories that are against devolution. The reality, because of the mountain of debt that the federal government faces, the federal government over the next two or three years is going to be gutting a lot of their programs. And if we don't get those programs devolved to our government in the next two or three years, there will be nothing left but empty shells. For those who say that we have to wait until we've decided our constitution in the future, I think we're only deluding ourselves. I say, take the programs, take them now so we'll have resources. In due course, we'll decide how those programs should be apportioned among the governments of the Northwest Territories.

Madam Speaker, I will be going on beyond the next 15 seconds. Can I seek unanimous consent to complete my statement?