Thank you. Good morning, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, for the Dogrib people of the North Slave region, one of the biggest challenges we face is developing strategies for achieving fiscal security in the region. However, Mr. Speaker, achieving fiscal security in the Dogrib North Slave region is only achievable with the help of partnerships with industry and government. With mutually beneficial partnerships we can, as the Premier put it, put the land to work for us to create jobs, business opportunities and revenues.

Mr. Speaker, earlier this week I attended with my other colleagues the Prospectors' and Developers' Conference in Toronto, and I also was joined with representatives of the Dogrib Treaty 11 Council members. I listened to and spoke with a number of industry representatives attending the conference. I was, for the most part, encouraged and pleased with the level of understanding of the industry representatives respecting the Northwest Territories. I was also pleased to hear that industry is very keen to involve local people in businesses and employment opportunities.

Mr. Speaker, I and the representatives of the Dogrib Treaty 11 Council took the message to the conference that the Dogrib region is open for business. However, Mr. Speaker, the message also said that the Dogrib people living in the region want to be respected and want to protect the integrity of the environment first and foremost. Mahsi.

---Applause