Minister of Finance, Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, the Social Envelope Committee recommended to me that they prepare this document and present it to the Standing Committee on Finance as an information item. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, that was not part of the budget deliberation considerations. There were certainly no funds available for that particular initiative; we were already in the hole $14 million. So it wasn't considered by FMB. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mr. Dent.

Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, if my memory serves me correct, this did not come out of the Social Envelope Committee and get reported as part of the budget. This is something that occurred after the reports from the envelope committees. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Final supplementary.

Mr. Pollard.

Mr. Speaker, I never disregard what the Standing Committee on Finance says. Thank you.

Thank you. Item 6, oral questions. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources. In reviewing unedited Hansard, Mr. Speaker, one of my colleagues had asked whether the Minister felt they could achieve a mining accord. It's my understanding that this government is trying to achieve a northern accord -- and possibly a mining accord may be subsequent to a northern accord -- in addition to an oil and gas accord.

Mr. Speaker, can I ask the Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources whether or not he feels a northern accord can be achieved by this government by the fall?

Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I should clarify. The honourable Member is correct, it is a northern accord; oil and gas/minerals. As I said yesterday, my optimistic side is if we can reach an arrangement with the aboriginal groups by the end of May in which they assist us in the development of the accord and the language of the accord, then I'm optimistic with the commitment that has been given by Mr. Irwin, Minister of Indian Affairs, and the priorities being placed on this initiative by both the Premier and our illustrious Finance Minister, that we should be in a position to conclude an accord that is reflective of the majority of people in the territories. I'm certainly optimistic we can achieve that.

However, in all fairness, I think it's contingent upon, to some extent, the ability of all of us who are meeting to reach an arrangement on the accord, to work with each other in an effort to reach a compromise position. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you. Recognizing that the Treaty 8 organization is in their land selection process, and also recognizing that there are some other native organizations that don't have their claims settled, I recognize the Minister is being optimistic; however, stating the reality of the world today, inside and outside of the Northwest Territories, and the reluctance of certain native organizations without a claim, I cannot see how they can achieve a northern accord; how this government can get the support of all native organizations for a northern accord. I would like to ask the Minister, can he

advise this House as to what aboriginal organizations do not support the acquisition of a northern accord for this government? Thank you.

Mr. Todd.

Mr. Speaker, I'm not trying to avoid the question but I can't speak for aboriginal organizations that are at the table. I can say this; both Treaty 8 and the Deh Cho people have expressed some concern. They are in intensive discussions with the federal government as it relates to a nation-to-nation relationship, rather than a claim relationship. I think I can say, I hope without contradiction, that the Inuvialuit, the Gwich'in, Sahtu, NTI and the Metis Nation have all agreed to sit around the table and try to reach an arrangement and language that would make them feel comfortable so that we could move forward in trying to reach an accord. I don't know whether that satisfies the honourable Member, but that's the best way I can describe it at this time.

It would be my hope -- and I believe I've been reasonably public and candid particularly with my colleagues, the Treaty 8 people -- that while they view themselves as observers and not direct participants, they would still give us their best advice on how we should proceed. Thank you.

Thank you. Supplementary, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister advise this House and the public of the Northwest Territories, as of this date, does he have the support of Treaty 8 to acquire a northern accord for the Government of the Northwest Territories? Thank you.