I did not realize it was going to be so emotional and I am surprised, quite frankly, at Mr. Steen's comments; but Mr. Steen, of course, frequently surprises me, which is not unusual. I do not know where anybody gets the idea that we are trying, Mr. Steen or others, to impose this on anybody's will. I carefully crafted my opening ministerial comments to ensure that we sent the right signal to

everybody. Just so, in case some of you have forgotten or have not taken the time to read the stuff, I am going to repeat some of it because I think it bears repeating.

We said in the plan, in my comments, that in this plan, we have no legal mandate to implement transition measures in Nunavut. Let me repeat that, no legal mandate to implement transition measures in Nunavut. It is clear that transitional responsibility lies with the Interim Commissioner and the federal government. I also said, to a large extent we have to make some critical decisions on the provision of reasonable funding from the federal government. We have tried to document, very clearly and succinctly, what we could not do a year and a half ago which we demonstrated in March, 1996, in a letter from Mr. Bailey to Mr. Rainer what the shortfall of funding was. I also said I was pleased, and I am pleased, that the Federal Minister is prepared to move, to put a table together to try to determine what the shortfall will be and to try to find a way to examine the $150 million, as well as any additional dollars that are required.

I want to talk about the continuing concern that I have heard from many Members which I thought we had addressed clearly and I need to say it again, with respect to decentralization. I think it was pretty clear, unequivocal, that this government supports decentralization, has from the beginning, and clearly in this report it identifies a $18 million cost that was not in the $150 million Cabinet submission, which we indicated to the federal government at the time. In fact, this transition document, because that is all it is, is adhered to the Footprints in the Snow 2 document. Take the darn time to read it. Excuse my language.

As Members of this House are aware, the Government of the Northwest Territories has continually supported the concept of a decentralized government for Nunavut so long as it was efficiently designed and that adequate federal funding was made available. The Government of the Northwest Territories remains committed to the implementation of a decentralized model of the government for Nunavut on this basis. I mean, how clearer can you be than that. Did I just flap my gums the other day there? Did some of you choose not to be in the House? This is probably the most important document we have put on the table since this Legislature has been elected. To suggest for one minute that we are imposing on somebody is wrong and to suggest also there is no decentralization is wrong! Mr. Chairman, this report and this creation of two new territories is a stepping stone to the partners in the process and we are a legitimate third party in the process, Mr. Steen. The GNWT, NTI and the federal government signed off on the political accord. We have not only the responsibility, we have the obligation to provide as much support and as much advice to the Interim Commissioner as we should. He has the responsibility, pardon me, if he so chooses to accept it or not. That is all we have done here. Nothing else. The other part that is important here, this is a transition document, an interim step. It does not impose on the new government any political ideology with respect to programs, concepts, political innings. It merely provides a concise and detailed report that shows where we can get the essential services up and running for April 1, 1999, to ensure that you have got a Legislative Assembly in place, which we have agreed to in Footprints 2; to ensure that we have got a fiscal position in place so that people can get paid, if you want, and there has to be some legal aspect in place. To me, that is the way I view it. It also clearly shows, and I think this was the important exercise for me, the amount of shortfall on the fiscal side and recognizes that it is a negotiation position and the starting position. So, you know, I could be very candid, I object. I strongly object to the comments being made that we are imposing this on anybody. That was not what the intention was. That is not what it is and I strongly object to the implication that we are not supportive to decentralization. It is just simply not true. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.