Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This question is for the Minister responsible for Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development. As a government, we have been talking about the need to raise territorial dollars through getting control of our northern resources and by opening the door to non-renewable resource development. Examples of this include encouraging oil and gas development and diamond mining.
While a growing interest in non-renewable resources development, we have also talked about the need to develop a policy around this issue. Recently, the government established an Inter-governmental Forum Secretariat. This office is meant to provide a base for the Government of the Northwest Territories, Canada, and aboriginal groups to reach agreement on issues of common concern, in this case, a non-renewable resources policy.
Further input by aboriginal groups, regions, communities, mining interests, environmental groups, and other residents is necessary to complete the stake-holder consultation process. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister assure me that any development of a non-renewable resource policy will involve and integrate not only land claim concerns, but also the general perspective of all stake holders? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.