Madam Speaker, I would like to thank you for this opportunity to briefly elaborate on the motion to establish a Special Joint Committee on Division. I will be brief because the motion, itself, provides more detail than this House normally expects in a motion to establish a special committee and approve its terms of reference. Madam Speaker, this level of detail does reflect the amount of work which Members have put into this division issue during the past ten months.
It was just last April, Madam Speaker, when Caucus devoted considerable time to the division issue at its first strategic planning workshop in Fort Providence. That we were discussing division at that time was not unique, given that it's been on this Legislature's agenda for more than a decade. However, as Members will recall, the focus of our discussion has changed.
For example, we have defined division as the creation of two new territories, and not just the establishment of a Nunavut administration. Moreover, Madam Speaker, the indicators were positive that the federal government would soon be introducing legislation to create Nunavut. Therefore, our focus in Fort Providence also shifted to the operational obligations of the Assembly and the Government of the Northwest Territories in planning for and implementing division.
Madam Speaker, in particular, Caucus considered how both could work jointly and cooperatively during the remainder of our term to ensure a positive contribution to the eventual creation of the two new territories. In keeping with this common objective, Caucus requested that further work be done on a mechanism for information exchange and decision making on division issues by the Assembly and the Government of the Northwest Territories. As Madam Speaker knows, a number of the proposals were considered at our Cambridge Bay strategic planning workshop in October and to further develop the most effective option, a Caucus working group of Members and Ministers representing Nunavut and the west was struck.
Madam Speaker, Caucus has considered reports from the working group on two occasions, the most recent being February 22, when Members reached a consensus that the most effective mechanism would be a Special Joint Committee on Division. Madam Speaker, I expect that the honourable Member for Sahtu, who seconded the motion, will be providing some additional details on the special joint committee in his remarks.
I should say that I believe this Assembly and government must act quickly in order that we can begin to meet some of our obligations for creating two new territories between now and 1999. The time remaining for both to make a productive contribution is between one year and 18 months, and there is much work still to be done. Madam Speaker, I'll conclude my remarks by simply urging all Members to support this motion.