Yes, thank you. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce that a negotiated agreement has been reached with the NWT Teachers' Association. The NWTTA will submit the agreement to our teachers with a recommendation for ratification. Ratification results are expected by October 24, 1997.

The agreement covers the period September 1, 1996 to August 31, 1999. It contains all the provisions which were put in place on December 6, 1996. In addition, the agreement updates the northern allowance rates effective September 1, 1997 to reflect current cost-of-living differences especially in smaller and more remote communities. It also provides a onetime $1,500 signing bonus for teachers on strength during the 1996/97 school year.

The agreement contains a memorandum in which the GNWT agrees to strongly recommend to the Interim Commissioner and future government of Nunavut that the terms and conditions embodied in this collective agreement be continued as terms and conditions of employment for those employees located in Nunavut. Mr. Speaker, teachers are our employees and the educators of our children. They like most of our employees, are uncertain about their future as we create two new governments. We need to provide commitments and assurances to employees to make sure that both governments have the trained and skilled employees after division. That, Mr. Speaker, is one of the reasons why I felt strongly about a negotiated collective agreement, one that provides reasonable composition for our employees and labour stability as we work together to shape our future.

--Applause