Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we all know that in 1999 the Northwest Territories will be divided with the establishment of Nunavut and a new western territory. As division approaches, we know that a considerable amount of work remains to be done. With that in mind, I want to take a few moments today to address some important issues of particular relevance to Nunavut.

Mr. Speaker, the Nunavut Caucus and the Premier will be travelling to Cambridge Bay this weekend to participate in a Nunavut Leaders' Summit. This meeting has been called to discuss a number of issues that need to be resolved so that we can move ahead in our planning for Nunavut. Mr. Speaker, I look forward to this meeting. Not only because it permits me the opportunity to travel to my home constituency during session, but it also gives us an opportunity to clear the air on several fronts, including the following: we need to make an effort to find consensus on the government design, we need to decide on the nature of the Nunavut Legislative Assembly, we need to determine how we can ensure the long term fiscal stability of Nunavut and finally, and in my mind most importantly, we need to ensure the efficiency and effectiveness of the programs and services that will have to sustain post division.

In recent weeks we have had the benefit of receiving the NIC report, Footprints Two; a GNWT response to that report; an NTI response and, most recently, a letter from the federal DIAND Minister, Mr. Irwin, that comments on elements of that report. All of this is useful because it gives us the opportunity to see where various parties are coming from. In that spirit, I want to set out my thoughts on issues that in my view have not yet received sufficient attention.

Mr. Speaker, like others in this House, I look forward to the day when Nunavut becomes reality and, like others, I am committed to seeing that happen early in 1999. However, I am concerned that many people have become so preoccupied with the design of government and bureaucracies that we are failing to dedicate similar levels of energy and attention to the issues that should more appropriately demand our attention. It may well be that the role that I currently find myself in as Minister of Health, Social Services and Justice has an impact on my thinking and on my priorities. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.