I was not really, but I will speak, now that you have recognized me. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, I just have some brief comments from my western perspective and the first one is that, I, generally, support the work that was done on Footprints 2, although there are areas that in specific, in regards to the form of funding arrangements that we would have to ensure fairness and equity to both governments.

We would also have to make it very clear that it is the right of both the new territories and the people of the territories that define their respective structures. Mr. Chairman, it is clear that there is a strong need for western presence at the decision making tables on the following issues; formula financing, divisions of assets and liabilities, sharing of programs and services, including the WCB, and NWT Power Corporation and in the area of labour relations. As well, we have to have representation at the CCON table on issues which will relate or impact on the West. We also have to, as has been raised repeatedly by a number of people, make sure that the GNWT staff are treated fairly and equitably.

From my perspective, I think those MLAs from the west we want to make sure that provisions are in place to allow for the continuation of the 13th Assembly to November 1999, regardless of the timing of the first Nunavut election, so that neither side is affected by the decisions made by the other.

Mr. Chairman, I think it is critical that we keep to the high road on this whole process, it is not this Assembly's job to negotiate division, we have to ensure the processes are there, and that we represent the interests of the people we service, and that the most critical point to me is, that we get to division together in one piece, still working together, because we have relationships to maintain, resources to share, and even with a line there, we are still are going to have many, many common issues. So I look forward to moving on in this process, and I look forward to the west to be playing a much stronger and more active role in this process. Thank you.