Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my statement today is regarding this government's obligation it made when land claims were settled as a signatory to those agreements, and also for this government to enact certain sections of the land claim agreements to bring it into effect. Mr. Speaker, what I am talking about is the whole area of the Wildlife Act of the Northwest Territories, where certain amendments have to be made to allow the Gwich'in and Sahtu agreements to take part in enacting those sections which will give the boards and agencies of this agreement the authority to carry out its work and activities. Mr. Speaker, in regard to the Inuvialuit, who settled their claim in 1984, it took almost ten years for them to implement certain sections of their wildlife agreement. The Gwich'in agreement, which was signed in 1992, six years to the day, nothing has been done to ensure that those agreements are enacted so that that section also can come into effect.
Mr. Speaker, I have asked this question to the Minister several times in regard to what is being done with the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development to ensure that this legislation is being carried out to its fullest, and the Government of the Northwest Territories is doing its part to ensure that legislation is drafted and passed through this House so those agreements can take effect. Mr. Speaker, I feel it is time this government stood up and stated exactly when these agreements will have the power they need to carry them forth and the legislation drafted, so that this House can pass the appropriate legislation to enact these agreements so they can be carried out as they were negotiated, and the aboriginal groups and this government could work along ensuring that our wildlife is being protected, and also that boards have the ability to carry that out. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.