Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

WHEREAS, the Constitution Act, 1982 recognizes and affirms the existing aboriginal and treaty rights of the aboriginal peoples of Canada;

AND WHEREAS the Government of Canada has fiduciary responsibility for aboriginal peoples and constitutional responsibility for the Northwest Territories;

AND WHEREAS representative public government is and will continue to be embodied in the Government of the Northwest Territories;

AND WHEREAS the western Members of the 13th Legislative Assembly are accountable and mandated to achieve ongoing political stability in the Western Northwest Territories prior to and after division of the Northwest Territories on April 1st, 1999;

AND WHEREAS political stability depends upon meaningful commitment of all parties to achieve a common purpose for the future western Northwest Territories.

NOW, THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the Member for Thebacha, that the Government of the Northwest Territories begin discussions with the Government of Canada and elected leaders representing all the western Northwest Territories regional aboriginal governments as may be represented by the Western NWT Aboriginal Summit to negotiate a political accord which would set out the ongoing relationship between the parties;

AND FURTHERMORE that the parties, with the best intentions, make every effort to reach agreement on a Western Political Accord by October 30, 1998. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.