Mr. Speaker, my statement was not intended to imply that the Government of the Northwest Territories has the same status as a provincial government. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, provinces have status different from territorial governments. In fact, they are constitutionally-recognized governments. The territorial government does not have constitutional status. Having said that, it is the policy of the federal government that this includes the territorial government because we deliver programs and services on their behalf. We are mandated to deliver programs and services to all people of the territories, including aboriginal people in certain areas. It is in the best interest of the federal government, ourselves and the public that we be a party to these negotiations. That is a very simple explanation, but that is one of the primary reasons for having us involved in the negotiations. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is my understanding that our government doesn't have any constitutional authority to do this on their own. Is that what the Minister is saying? Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, it is the policy of the federal government. It has been in practice already, for instance, in the negotiations with the Gwich'in on developing the framework agreement and will be included in other subsequent self-government negotiations that we will be a party to. We believe that that is the best way to proceed. We are, and have been, for instance, in the claims negotiations, part of the federal team in negotiations and in many cases have laid almost separate status in order to assist in expediting and balancing of the negotiations in the interest of the aboriginal people themselves. So the issue of self-government

negotiations is going to affect the Constitutional Development Steering Committee process. It is going to affect the way in which the public, including the aboriginal people, will expect to have services delivered to them. So I think it is in the interest of everyone that the Government of the Northwest Territories be involved in those negotiations. Thank you.

Mr. Speaker, it is my understanding that a new federal policy with regard to negotiating self-government agreements hasn't been developed yet. I am curious as to why the Minister would be making those types of assumptions. I realize that it is based on previous policy from the previous government in power, but I don't know if that will be the case with the new policy with regard to self-government negotiations.

Mr. Speaker, I don't take it upon myself to explain what the federal position is with regard to the negotiations. We have been pushing very, very hard to make sure that the federal government lives up to its red book commitments in delivering a new policy that would recognize the inherent right and come out with a clear policy at the earliest possible date. This would certainly clarify for everybody exactly what the mandate is for the federal negotiators when they sit down, and what the role of the Government of the Northwest Territories will be in those negotiations.

At this time, it is not clear at all what the status of the inherent right to self-government policy is with the federal government. The last I heard from the Minister's office is that, at best, he has a handful of speaking points to consider and it is nowhere near to having some recognizable shape or form. Having said that, it is our understanding that the federal government will continue to insist that under the present policy, the Government of the Northwest Territories will be part of the negotiations and it will be particularly important because we are negotiating self-government specifically with aboriginal groups in particular regions. The money and the programs that are involved are not in the hands of the federal government; they are presently in the hands of this government and it is our duty to make sure that the programs and services which are being negotiated do not unduly undermine the quality of service that is presently provided or undermine the quality and level of service provided to other citizens of the Northwest Territories who are not a party to these negotiations. Thank you.