Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have not seen the tabled document or transcripts of the interview with CBC radio. So it probably stands to have some minor adjustments and corrections.

Having said that, it is my view that there is an opportunity to develop a good working relationship with Ottawa, with the Prime Minister's Office, with the Minister of Finance, Paul Martin, and with the Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs, Bob Nault. There is interest. I think they realize the position we are in.

The aboriginal leadership has unanimously called for a construction of a pipeline they would like to own and manage themselves. This spells and articulates a profound change in the North, an opportunity that was only dreamt about only a few years ago. We are on the verge of making even more progress in the area of settling claims and self-government negotiations.

There is a signal from the aboriginal groups that they are prepared to discuss devolution and revenue sharing. The federal government has said categorically they want to move as quickly as we can. There is, at a very minimum, a possibility that with the completion of an economic development strategy the federal government had requested a couple of years ago, we could see some generic funding made available not only to the Northwest Territories but to the Yukon and Nunavut as well.

This is the only part of Canada that does not enjoy money flowing to it through an economic development agreement. This has been noticeably absent from the Northwest Territories and Yukon for a number of years now. There is always a lot of room for optimism. This has been a very hectic two months. We are two months and a week into our mandate as a new government, a new Premier and a new Cabinet. We have not had time to consider reductions that we have had in the departments, for which we are being set up to be soundly chastised for. I believe those things will come once we finalize priorities with the Caucus and with the aboriginal leadership in the course of this year.

Those types of things will be looked at. In the meantime, we are setting the stage for what I hope will be a very positive and productive working relationship with the federal government. Thank you.