Thank you. I would like to make further comments after listening to the Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources. It has to do with the northern accord. I just want to get this clear. Mr. Todd, in discussing meetings with aboriginal groups and having all the aboriginal groups involved, stated that if he has broad-based support by a majority of the people then he may have to go ahead. He used the language, "if it is satisfactory to all the aboriginal groups at the table..." His statement indicates that negotiations for the northern accord will go by June. I'm concerned about my particular constituency, the Deh Cho area. Does that mean if the Deh Cho area is not on board by June, that you will go ahead anyway with the northern accord? I just wanted to get that clear.

There is a lot of concern on the part of some of the Members here, who are making it sound like it is going to be the end of the world if this northern accord doesn't happen and that all these mining companies will go elsewhere. It sounds like a scare tactic to me. I don't know anything about mining, but usually whenever statements are made like that, they are based on a study or briefing paper. I don't have those studies and I just take the sense from the words that are being spoken, that this is what is happening. It would be good to find that information out, if that is the case. If it is, we're in serious trouble here.

But the way I understood this northern accord, it is taking over the administration of oil and gas and mining resources in the north. My understanding is that we are taking over the administration of it which Ottawa presently has; it is a devolving of responsibility to the territorial government. What it really entails is included in it. But, the final analysis is that the amount of royalties that the government could levy on the oil and gas industries and mining companies is still controlled by the federal government. Here, there are smoke and mirrors and all kinds of hype that we are going to lose all of this mining, gas and oil activity if this northern accord doesn't get approved. But, the fact of the matter is, the real control will still be in Ottawa where they dictate the royalty regime for oil and gas. Maybe the Minister could explain this and clear it up.

During the Western Constitutional Conference, this was raised and the consensus was that the control that Ottawa has has to be changed so more benefits could accrue to people of the north if arrangements regarding oil, gas and minerals are changed. There was supposed to have been a study or analysis of that arrangement. I haven't, to date, seen such a briefing paper or analysis. That is where the control lies. It is not going to be in the northern accord. All I understand the northern accord is going to do is we will be administering oil, gas and mining, but the real control will still be in Ottawa. Thank you.