Thank you. My understanding as well is that negotiating this is a lengthy process and a complex one that will probably get started in its earliest phases in the next little while.

What I am focusing on here is the emergence in the Northwest Territories, Mr. Chairman, of self-government agreements. I anticipate that we are going to have perhaps at least two deals, the Dogrib and the Beaufort-Delta agreements in place, at least in principle by then, or by the March, 2004 time frame and that over the years, their implementation will kick in.

The aspect that I wanted to explore is to what extent will the emergence of self-government deals and the need for cash and resources for those governments to get up to speed, how will that be incorporated into a formula financing deal? Does the Minister have anything he could offer in that area? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.