Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I rise before the House to applaud the signing of the significant cooperative agreement in my constituency of Nahendeh. On Monday, February 3, the Nahanni Butte Dene Band and the San Andreas Resource Corporation successfully completed negotiations with respect to the Prairie Creek Development Corporation Agreement. The agreement was negotiated by partners without direct government intervention.

Prairie Creek, formally known as the Cadillac Mine, is a high potential lead, zinc, and silver mining prospect located in a remote site 170 kilometres north of the Liard Highway. There is considerable infrastructure on site and annual exploration efforts have increased ore reserves to levels where the event of advancing the project to a feasibility stage.

Nahanni Butte's objective is to achieve economic self-sufficiency by developing natural resources within its traditionally territory in accordance with sound environmental practices. The company's objective is to bring the project into production in the most cost effective and environmentally responsible manner. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to say that the recent signed agreement is the vehicle which will facilitate the partners in reaching the complimentary objectives.

As the project proceeds, the First Nation's people of Nahanni Butte will share in profits, management contracts, jobs and training opportunities. As we all know residents across the Deh Cho region and the N.W.T. will benefit from responsible new development initiatives such as the Prairie Creek Project.

I invite the Members of the Legislative Assembly to join me in congratulating the Nahanni Butte Dene Band and the San Andreas Resource for signing this milestone development agreement. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause