I have a question regarding the cost. I support the dollars that are in here, but my concern is, what about those groups that are not involved in this process? You mentioned the South Slave Metis Alliance, the North Slave Metis Alliance. However, there is also the Mackenzie Valley Metis Federation, which presently does not receive core funding from this government.
I would like to ask, where are those groups that are out there that are not funded through this process? Are those groups going to have the opportunity to apply or put forth an application to your department to see if they can also receive funding to take place? The Northern Accord process has to include as many groups as possible, but I think what we do not want to see is we find out that they are negotiating with a handful of people but forgetting some groups who are sort of observers, sitting on the sidelines. At the end of the day, say one of them decides to file an injunction or a court action against the devolution or transfer of oil and gas revenues to the Government of the Northwest Territories. They have every legal leg to stand on.
I would like to ask the Minister, what happens to those groups that have not had the opportunity similar to that of the Dene Nation? Will the Mackenzie Valley Metis Federation have an opportunity to submit a similar proposal?