Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to update Members on recent discussions with Mr. Justice de Weerdt. The parties spoke to Mr. Justice de Weerdt by conference call on Friday, March 26, 1999. We are all concerned about the April 1st deadline. I instructed my officials to seek an interim extension to the April 1st deadline to give us a comfort zone to work out a longer extension on the time. Mr. Justice de Weerdt agreed on Friday to an interim extension to April 10, 1999. In addition, a motion to extend that time further will now be heard by Mr. Justice de Weerdt in Yellowknife on Wednesday March 31, 1999. Open court will be held at approximately 10:00 a.m. to hear this motion. Everybody is welcome to come and listen to the case.
We have consistently said that the best decision for all residents of the Northwest Territories is to try to find a political solution. All parties seem to agree to that. We also agree that we have to buy some time to talk about that political solution. Hopefully, we will get that time on Wednesday. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
--Applause