Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, we have had these kinds of discussions, as well. We would like to see that we carry on the course of action that we took to try to have something in place by 1999. I know the window for putting a document forward, so that it will run through the legislative course in Ottawa is very timely. I think that, at this point in time, I am optimistic that if we are able to achieve what we say we want to do with the consultation process and the revision and a ratification by the fall, perhaps we still have enough time to have legislation go through the Parliament in Ottawa before 1999. That is the intention all along.
Yes, there is a lot of unknowns out there. We have a lot of different bodies in the north here that are participants. The different aboriginal regions and the groups along with us here in the Legislative Assembly. The federal government are also now directly involved with us, committed to go through this process with us. These are outside factors of which we have to be aware. At any time, there might be some major problems which may come up that may slow us down.
At the same time, the federal government is going into an election, so there again there are outside factors. We realize these things. The worst case scenario would probably be that we may not have something there by 1999, and then we have to start thinking of different options, maybe what the honourable Member is suggesting here is that, are there other options out there? My answer there is, no, we are pursuing this course of action, and perhaps we should be seriously considering what the honourable Member is saying, that we may not be able to meet the 1999 deadline and we may have to see whether this type of process that is under way could carry on beyond 1999. I hope that we could be able to maintain that course of action and be successful in getting the legislation through Parliament by 1999. However, there is possibilities out there that it may not happen and we will have to consider other options. Thank you.