Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the whole process of the intergovernmental forum process is finally getting off the ground. The federal government like the honourable Member has said, has settled finally on a negotiator. Mr. David Peterson, who used to be the Premier of Ontario and who is now doing legal work in Ontario has been appointed by Robert Nault, the Minister of DIAND to head up the federal government's negotiating team.
Mr. Peterson had already visited the Northwest Territories about a month ago for a meet and greet, to meet us and see who our negotiators are. There was work done during his visit. We have been ready. As the Government of the Northwest Territories we have our own negotiator, Hal Gerein. The Aboriginal Summit has Bob Simpson as their chief negotiator. They have their own team, we have our own team.
In meeting the federal government's team, the question of a full mandate came up. The process is to negotiate devolution from Ottawa to the Northwest Territories, the programs and services that still remain, as well as the resource revenue sharing, which is the net fiscal benefit to the Northwest Territories.
Upon meeting Mr. Peterson we learned that his mandate is to negotiate DIAND's programs and services to the Northwest Territories and we were hoping that he had the mandate from Finance Canada as well to deal with the net fiscal benefits.
Unfortunately, upon meeting Mr. Peterson we find that he does not have the mandate from Finance Canada so we do have a big concern here. The concern has already been relayed to federal Minister Manley last week by our Finance Minister, Joe Handley, and myself in Ottawa. We have to do some work with the Aboriginal Summit to see how we can move from here. Thank you.