Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you colleagues. From the three signatories to the Nunavut Accord, we will be working on the detail of the plebiscite. More information will be released soon. The three signatories also agreed, in principle, with the design and scheduling for the Nunavut government, as proposed by the Nunavut Implementation Commission in the Footprints 2 Report. Further to this, the three parties have agreed to co-operatively cost the model being proposed by NIC.

I mentioned earlier, Mr. Speaker, that while all three parties, the federal government, Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated and the territorial government through the Nunavut Caucus agreed on some points, many issues remain outstanding, including the transfer of current staff to the new Nunavut government. The Government of the Northwest Territories maintains that current GNWT employees in the western Arctic be transferred to the Nunavut government. Leaders from the Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated agree, but they want the transfer to be based on individual employee's evaluations. This is one of the areas that needs further work and will probably be one issue that the interim commissioner, once appointed, will have a key role in addressing.

Mr. Speaker, this meeting was critical. While we did not reach consensus on all issues, I feel that we have taken some positive steps to work forward on the road to Nunavut. Many challenges still lie ahead. There are many substantial issues, including finances, infrastructure development and employment, that need our attention. I encourage all parties to deal responsively when considering these matters. Mr. Speaker, with little more than two years ahead until division, we have to move decisively and efficiently if we are to reach our goal. It is going to take the co-operation of everyone involved in the process.

Finally, I would like to once again, on behalf of all Members of Nunavut Caucus, to thank the mayor, Mr. Wilcox, the people of Cambridge Bay, and all the leaders and staff who have participated in the meetings. Thank you.