Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to speak about the self-government process that has been ongoing in the Beaufort-Delta region.

As one of the updates we were given by the Department of Aboriginal Affairs pointed out recently, the negotiation process in the Beaufort-Delta has come to what we call the agreement-in-principle stage, where initialling was to occur by all the parties involved. I think it is time that, with this process and as it starts to evolve from here, we start to try to inform our constituents a little more -- in my case, the residents of Inuvik and Inuvik Boot Lake.

I know that the negotiators and those staff working in the community for the self-government process, that is a combined public and self-government process, have been very busy and trying to make sure they meet the time lines that they have established. It has been very difficult at times, but I think there is an opportunity where we can raise more awareness so that our own constituents can be aware. Sometimes when things are so busy in a community, we can often forget and not make the different meetings, public hearings and scheduled meetings that are set up to make ourselves aware of that process.

Later on in question period, I will have questions for the Minister responsible for Aboriginal Affairs to try to bring more of this information to light. Thank you.