Madam Speaker, the federal government, as I understand it, is bound by a policy to deliver all programs and services in the Northwest Territories through the Government of the Northwest Territories. I understand that to be a policy of the federal government. One of the obstacles is how do we negotiate with that obstacle, which is why I say I think it's largely the federal government's responsibility to try to figure out how they can respond to Treaty 8. They can say yes or they can say no. If they say yes, they have to be prepared to set up a bilateral relationship that bypasses and leaves out the GNWT for programs and services. That might mean a change in Cabinet policy. They have to decide whether they're prepared to provide that in the absence of reserves or other land-based definitions.

There are a number of things that the federal government has to respond to. Our view is that, politically, it is the right way to go. If First Nations want to take over their own programs and services, if it can work to their advantage, if their membership supports them in it and there is actually improvement in prospects for the delivery of programs and services, we will support it 100 per cent. Thank you.