Mr. Chairman, the preamble is part of the act. It clarifies the basis on which we will interpret the application of the act and, as such, section 15 and 23 that the honourable Member is referring to has to form the basis of the application of the administration of education.

We're not in the business of defining what those rights are; we're making certain that we apply them accordingly. The problem is that there are a number of things that have to be done yet to continue to define those rights: whether or not they are court cases, negotiations, redefinition of treaties, or other arrangements, like new policy changes that take place. All of these will have a bearing on the applications that are in the preamble.

We can not change the definition of section 35, 25, 15, or 23 because we don't have the authority to amend the Constitution of Canada. Those arrangements are reached between the parties and are defined accordingly in court proceedings. Every change that occurs is applicable under our legislation because we are the administrators. However, the trustees still remain the federal government and they have the final obligation to ensure that we have an ability to live up to the agreements that are reached between the parties, whether they are aboriginal people or the Francophone-speaking community in the Northwest Territories. Or if individual rights expand, then we have to consider that in the administration of education programs and services in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.