Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. (Translation begins) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, I want to speak in my own language. This morning, I just got back from Fort Simpson. I flew there yesterday late at night. I would like to make a short comment. I was in Fort Simpson for two days and I met with the chiefs all around the Deh Cho communities, the Metis, the Grand Chief.
We gathered and we met last year in January in Fort Liard about the gas exploration in Fort Simpson. All the aboriginal people who have made a presentation on the oil and gas pipeline have spoken more about it.
From today, we will continue to work together to see how we could come up with one wording to make an agreement. For me, it sounds very good.
The Honourable Stephen Kakfwi made a presentation today in the meeting. North Slave MLA Leon Lafferty was also present at the meeting. We heard all of their concerns in their presentation. It sounds very good. What they have been talking about was for one year. This part of our land, the goal is the oil and gas exploration. We are trying to stop them from doing any further exploration.
For years they have been exploring and they have found gas. Last month, where they have gas, they have made a pipeline going down south. I presume there is still a lot of gas to be pumped out. When the aboriginal people...they should be the ones in the...inaudible...of this oil and gas exploration.
That is one of the biggest concerns they had. Tomorrow, they will continue to talk about how they are going to work together. That is all I have to say. Thank you very much. (Translation ends)
-- Applause