Mr. Speaker, the obstacle right now is the fact that, in the southern part of the territories with the Deh Cho, the Dogrib Treaty 11 Council, the Metis, the South Slave, as well as Treaty 8, there are no land claim settlements reached, nor is there any substantive progress in negotiations of the self-government agreements. There is opposition at this time, or at least a reluctance, by certain aboriginal groups to support the transfer of any further responsibilities from Ottawa to the Government of the Northwest Territories. Somehow, the logic is that it is better to leave the controls outside of the Northwest Territories in Ottawa, than it is to support an arrangement where a government that is accountable and answerable to the people of the communities, including the constituents of the aboriginal organizations themselves, is not an attractive option at this time.

That is the obstacle. If we had our way, we would push to work out an agreement, at the earliest instance, with the aboriginal peoples of the Northwest Territories, to see successful conclusion of transfer talks, devolution talks, and jurisdiction over inland waters, all lands in the Northwest Territories, management, ownership of oil and gas and minerals, and the administration of that regime, would be transferred to this government at the earliest occasion. That is what we will strive to do. However, there are certain obstacles in the way at this time. Thank you.