I am also pleased to report on the significant progress the Government of the Northwest Territories has made in building momentum with our provincial and territorial counterparts. This momentum is expressed in a clearer understanding of our mutual interests and in agreement on how we will pursue these joint interests through a coordinated approach.

The annual Western Premier's Conference was held from May 23rd through the 25th this year in Brandon, Manitoba. It involved the leaders of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, the Yukon, Nunavut and the Northwest Territories. While in Brandon, I met with my counterparts, Nunavut Premier Paul Okalik and Yukon Premier Pat Duncan, in what we are calling the Northern Premiers' Forum. We talked about how we can help each other deal more effectively with the federal government in areas of mutual interest such as economic development and the devolution of federal powers to the territorial governments.

As northern Premiers, we confirmed the renewed support of the western Premiers for the devolution of federal jurisdiction over land and resources to the territorial governments. The support we received at the Western Premiers Conference will strengthen the message we are taking to the federal government; namely that it is time to talk seriously about implementing federally funded economic development and diversification programs in the North.

Mr. Speaker, coming on the heels of the WPC, I had the pleasure of joining Premier Ujjal Dossanjh for the signing of a formal five-year Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperation and Development with the Government of British Columbia at a ceremony held in Victoria, British Columbia, on June 6th. This MOU is a general agreement to develop cooperative measures related to developing the communities, services and infrastructure of northern British Columbia and the Northwest Territories.

This agreement follows the recent commitment by the Government of British Columbia to pave part of the Liard Highway, mentioned earlier. The paving of this section of the highway is one of several initiatives which will serve to develop our communities, services and infrastructure. A joint steering committee will oversee the implementation of the MOU and further specific initiatives will be identified for implementation.

The agreement with British Columbia complements a similar one made with the Government of Alberta in October, 1998, to improve the coordination of programs, opportunities and initiatives related to economic and human resource development. We also have similar memoranda of understanding with Manitoba and the Yukon.

We will continue to pursue such partnerships within the Canadian Confederation because they promote our respective and joint efforts to deliver programs and services to our respective jurisdictions in a more effective and coordinated way. GNWT officials are presently engaged in preliminary discussions that might lead to similar arrangements with one or more of the Atlantic Provinces.