Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It is true that there are some changes in the Department of the Executive, some new positions, some new functions that are being put in place. One of them, dealing with regional operations, as the Member pointed out, was in fact set up by the previous Cabinet. It was simply not funded. So we are just carrying on with that initiative. The Member would be very aware, with his long memory, that it happened in the previous Cabinet and that it was a good initiative that I think he personally supported.

The regions in the Northwest Territories are changing with division. The old Fort Smith region that some of us fondly remember is no longer able to be a reality.

The Inuvik region is also changing, not at the demand of this government, but of the aboriginal and community leaders in that part of the Territory. What is emerging are new realities for us that we have to grapple with as a government. There is a Beaufort Delta region that is emerging. A Sahtu region that is defined in land claim legislation. There is a Deh Cho region, which is accepted as a political fact. A Dogrib region is also becoming a legislative reality in the very near future.

These are the realities the Executive and this government have to grapple with. It requires central planning. It requires a capacity to be able to look at how we can enhance recognition of these realities in the way we operate as a government.

The functions within the Executive that were set up by the previous Cabinet are something this Assembly and this government should continue to support. It is what the communities and regions are asking us to do. We have to find a way to ensure the way we operate reflects what the Deh Cho, the Dogribs, the Sahtu, and the Beaufort Delta want, as well as make an effort to support what people in the southern part of the Territory want as well. That explains that part of it.

There is the call by all governments, the federal government, our government and aboriginal governments, to set up an intergovernmental forum. This function has to be provided by the Department of the Executive. We cannot do it within existing resources. It is a major initiative that demands full time attention by a core group.

In keeping with the high priority that has been placed on this by the previous government and Legislature, as well as this government and this Legislature, we have set up a secretariat to provide support to our government on how to engage in an intergovernmental forum.

We have created an additional Cabinet position that was asked for by the Legislature. We have complied with that wish of this Legislature. With my insistence, we have enhanced the executive assistant position that is tied to my office and created a chief of staff. This is to ensure we begin a concerted effort to ensure that all Ministers' staff and offices are coordinated in the best way possible to ensure the Cabinet, Ministers' offices and staff operate as a unit. It is an opportunity to enhance the operation of the Executive. We have done that. It has been a very welcomed development by all of the Ministers, as well as by the staff that service each individual minister, the executive assistants and the executive secretaries.

We have asked the Executive to provide an additional executive assistant to my office simply because I retain the portfolio of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development. That requires a full time, executive assistant to help me deal with the responsibilities that comes with that portfolio. We have brought in a secretary to provide support to the office of the principle secretary. These are all things that we require in order to operate in a time when there are incredible demands put on the Premier and the Ministers.

There is a tremendous amount of activity and there are exciting opportunities that none of us can afford to miss. The excuse that we simply did not have the time or the resources to respond quickly to opportunities that presented themselves to us is just not going to fly.

We have to be ready. We have to be prepared. As Members know, it has been non-stop since we have been elected. There have been workshops and sessions.

We are into our second session already. There have been no breaks. There have been no free days for most of us. The opportunities are tremendous.

We have just come back from a week in Ottawa. The federal government has indicated a keen interest in what is happening here for the first time in many years. They have also indicated a very strong commitment to work with us to make some things happen.

Members should take comfort in knowing we are not alone and we should not continue to express our fears and think we are talking into the dark. There is some real possibility that exciting things can happen with the federal and aboriginal governments partnering with us.

I believe we are well positioned to take advantage of the opportunities that are there and that we have helped to create. We cannot lose sight of that. My response has been too long for the Member. I will stop here.

-- Interjection