Thank you, Madam Chairperson. In regard to the other area and the Northern Accord, and we know that it is probably one of the most critical issues that is at hand to find a way to find new revenues, but also to find a workable solution to try to have these talks hopefully come to a positive end and we have an agreement with the aboriginal groups, the Government of the Northwest Territories and Ottawa. I think it is critical that through the term of this legislature it was always a priority of this government. With regard to the amount of progress that was made on this file, it seems there has been no progress to date. For this government to basically see this issue in our annual reports time and time again, listing it as a priority, and that there has to be some movement in that area. It is very hard to comprehend that there will be an eventual end to these negotiations and talks, but I think before we see the light at the end of the tunnel we have to start the process. It is critical that the process starts as soon as possible.

Myself, as an individual and some one who was involved in the negotiations with the Northern Accord in the past, feel that because of the political uncertainty in the west and the democratic changes that we see coming with the question about the Boundaries Commission, restructuring of government, and also ridings in the new Western Territory, that it will possibly have a setback to the outcome of the Northern Accord in the future. I think it is essential that we basically conclude these negotiations before any major changes to the political makeup of the Western Territory takes place. I honestly feel, as a person who has been involved in that, and also the problems that we see with the delivery of programs and services and also the challenges we have on self-government, where is the money going to come from? At the end of the day, we are all going to be going to the same, basically, funding source, which is the federal government. The only resources that we have presently to us is federal transfer payments and possibly resource revenue sharing.

I think the aboriginal groups and the self-government negotiations are seriously looking at how do they get those extra funds to carry out programs and services they are presently negotiating. I would like to ask the Premier exactly, at the timing of the Northern Accord has to be concluded or fast-tracked, and some effort has to be made by this government to start that process, regardless - having a meeting with all the aboriginal leaders and groups up and down the valley and trying to find a way to compromise and find a workable solution to have this concluded before the next election. Thank you, Madam Chairperson.