Thank you. My question, Mr. Speaker, is to the Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources. It is to do with northern accord negotiations.

We seem to be getting mixed messages. I know the Minister has been in discussions with aboriginal organizations and the federal government for many months. There seem to still be some differences of opinion as to whether or not a northern accord will go ahead. My concern is, if the northern accord doesn't go ahead or if the federal government, for whatever reason, decides that it won't proceed with a northern accord, do we have a fall-back position? So my question to the Minister is, is there is another mechanism besides the northern accord to protect northerners to make sure they get their share of benefits and opportunities if the northern accord doesn't go ahead?