Thank you, Madam Chair. In regards to the Department of Aboriginal Affairs, I would like to note to the other Members that 1993/94 there was almost four and a half million dollars to this department. Today, it is almost two and a half which is almost half of the original budget five years ago. I think that people have to realize that it is to the benefit of not only the government but the people of the Northwest Territories that we resolve these outstanding issues with the aboriginal community and also, allow the aboriginal organizations to determine what their ambitions are in regards to being self-sufficient through the self-government talks and also the claim settlements in the north, especially in the western territory, where we see interest by mining companies, forestry companies, and other interest groups. But I also have to state that, without certainty being taken care of and clarified, that any investor will not invest in the north until these items have been identified.

In regards to the diamond mine operation that has been set forth, there is nothing that is going to state that everything has been taken care of, because there is still outstanding treaty talks with the Treaty 8 people and also the Treaty 11 negotiations are still under way. So until those negotiations are complete, I would not like to state that it is 100 percent taken care of, which it is not.

I think it is critical for us to have the adequate resources to complete these outstanding issues as soon as possible, but with the limited resources that is presently in the budget for the Aboriginal Affairs, I do not believe it is adequate to resolve these outstanding issues. I would also like to state that, regardless of what constituency you come from, in remarks by Mr. Erasmus in regards to the social statistics of aboriginal people in regards to the education system, drop outs, the alcohol and drug statistics, and the health statistics of those aboriginal people, which we see.

The problem in southern Canada, with outstanding treaty rights in relation to programs and services, we either deal with those problems now, or eventually they will come back to haunt us later. I think it is critical that we deal with those problems now and have the resources to deal with them in which they had to be adequate. I believe the $2.3 million that is being asked by this department is not adequate, so I would like to ask the Minister and this government to ensure that there is some attempt made to ensure that there is adequate funding to carry out these other outstanding issues, such as the constitutional process and the self-government talks with the aboriginal groups. Thank you, Madam Chair.