Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have been continuously meeting with the different organizations that the honourable Member mentioned, the Inuvialuit, the Gwich'in, the Sahtu. The chapter of the respective Gwich'in final agreement, as well as the Sahtu final agreement, there has been work in the last months in trying to address the economic measures that are mentioned in there. It is an ongoing process

that we have undertaken with the Government of the Northwest Territories in respect of organizations in the federal government in trying to get to a common interpretation of these economic measures. In that discussion, we are dealing with it. At the same time, the honourable Member from the Sahtu, the Minister responsible for Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, is undertaking an economic strategy that will look at the western territories and the resources we have. He has undertaken a process where he has a panel that will be looking at these things. He has told me that he has met with the Inuvialuit organization, the Gwich'in as well as the Sahtu to talk about how we, as a government, could do things better.

There are ongoing discussions and yes, I commit to the honourable Member that we will undertake to sit down with the Inuvialuit, the Gwich'in, the Sahtu, and the other First Nations like the Dogrib, the Deh Cho, and the Akaitcho territory to explain this policy here. Once we explain it thoroughly, I think it will clarify where this government is and when we are considering looking at negotiated contracts. As the Minister responsible for Public Works and Services indicated, the respective communities and organizations will have to come forward and state their case on the benefits of negotiated contracts in the communities. I think a lot of them have done that. They just explained to us what the benefits are going to be and will be supportive of helping communities grow and so forth. I agree that we should be meeting with these organizations and we have been and we will continue to do that. Thank you.