Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Perhaps I can just make a quick statement and try to clarify a number of the points that were raised. Mr. Ballantyne raised the question of orderly development and the involvement of environmentalists. I think we have made it pretty clear over the last two years, and certainly over the last eight months -- whether it was the Premier or the Finance Minister in his budget address or myself -- that this government's position is that we're open for business and we must proceed with responsible development.

I think that's as clear a statement as I can make. I think the advocates and opposition should understand that that is the position of this government and that we intend to aggressively pursue the orderly and responsible development of mines, whether it is in the Lac de Gras area or, for that matter, in my own riding.

A concern was raised about the accord -- which is getting lots of profile these days -- with respect to the difference of positions with aboriginal groups that Mr. Antoine raised, vis-a-vis of land claims versus nation to nation with some of the First Nations. We've tried, in the discussions we've held, both formally and informally, to develop language within the accord that would provide comfort to the aboriginal groups and to avoid infringing, if you want, on the positions that they've taken, in particular where there isn't a claim. I've met on a number of occasions with the groups individually and, of course, Mr. Bailey and Mr. Nicholls are meeting with the groups as a whole in round table discussions.

It is extremely difficult to reach an arrangement when you have the diversity of opinion that we have across the territories. It would be my desire as the Minister responsible for Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources to make an arrangement with all the people in the Northwest Territories. However, I have said up front -- and most of you know that I'm reasonably direct in what my position is -- that if I'm unable to reach an accommodation with all groups, it's my opinion that if there is broad-based support for an accord amongst the majority of groups in the Northwest Territories that we would have to proceed with the negotiations. That is my public position and I've said it on a number of occasions. My preference, obviously, would be to try to reach an arrangement with all groups.

I want to stress again, particularly for Mr. Antoine in his area and, of course, for the Treaty 8 group, that really I think we have aggressively pursued language that is satisfactory to these groups in order to provide them with the comfort that we are not infringing upon any arrangements they are currently negotiating with the federal government. It is certainly not my intent to do that and I want to state that publicly today.

On the alternative energy resources that Mr. Antoine alluded to also, we are reasonably active on it, but I think it is fair to say it is not a priority, quite frankly, right now. A great deal of our energy has been put into this accord and the development that is being driven by the diamond exploration. However, we are now looking at, along with the Power Corporation, other alternative sources of energy both in the dams...Mr. Zoe, I am sure, will agree that we were very supportive of the Dogrib and their arrangement of trying to organize -- and are, I believe -- putting together a dam. We do work closely with the NWT Power Corporation on wind generation. And, of course, at the same time, we are trying to -- at a very pragmatic level -- suggest to people across the territories that we have to be more energy efficient in both our old buildings and certainly in any new developments that we do. So that would be my general response, Mr. Chairman, at this time. Thank you.