Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to second this motion. I agree with the comments that my colleague from Yellowknife North has made. Over the last several years as long as I have been serving in this House in many discussions in round tables on constitutional development, we always come back to the question of the unresolved land claims and self-government issues. It makes it very difficult to proceed and build on any progress that we have made because it remains out there. I certainly understand why some of the aboriginal leaders and groups are hesitant to proceed without these issues being resolved. It is a very large unanswered question.

With respect to political accord and Northern Accord, resource accords, it is almost impossible for aboriginal leaders to make sound decisions on behalf of their people without some of these questions being answered. I am very fearful about substantive resource development here in the North that will, due to the lack of progress on claims and self-government, will not deliver the kinds of benefits to Northerners that we want to see. We know that there is tremendous potential here in the North and we are going to see a lot of interest in this potential, but if it is not going to benefit the people of the North, it makes myself very nervous to proceed with it. We do not want to be selling ourselves short, so I think in any way that this government can assist, we know that most of the negotiations and relations are between the federal government and the First Nations, but in any way that this government can aid and facilitate and assist in that process we need to be very mindful of that. Since it will be to the benefit of all Northerners when these issues are resolved. Thank you.