Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Health and Social Services about the announcement that the Minister made yesterday with regard to the federal/territorial health care billings dispute. Mr. Speaker, over the last three years plus of this Assembly, I have been pursuing this issue in the House to see how it was going. This announcement has become public and I've been aware of the developments of this for some time. The concern here is with regard to the health services to be provided to the aboriginal people; mainly treaty, Dene and Inuit people.

In 1988 when administration of health services was transferred to the territorial government from the federal government, people in my constituency were concerned about it. As a result, we have an unresolved situation of no health boards in my area which I think is beneficial to the government in that we're not spending that much money in the health board administration area.

The Minister said at the conclusion of the third or fourth year, the escalated amount will be added to the gross expenditure base of the territorial government and increased thereafter under the terms of the formula financing agreement. What this agreement does is roll the $33.5 million and the six, three, three percentage increases from the first, second and third years into the formula agreement. Later on, the Minister stated that the terms cannot be interpreted to prejudice treaty and aboriginal rights or future self-government arrangements. How can that be if you're going to be rolling the funding for treaty Indians and Inuit into the base after the fourth year? Thank you.