Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The federal settlement legislation will address something of an uncertainty with respect to the GNWT's jurisdiction over Indians and lands reserved for Indians. There is some question as to whether or not the GNWT has the legislative authority to enact legislation such as a settlement legislation that deals with Indians as Indians. With that said, it is not certain that the GNWT doesn't because this is much more than an act dealing with Indians as Indians, this is an act to ratify a solemn treaty that is aimed at the reconciliation of the imposition of Canadian sovereignty on the aboriginal peoples. It was also noted yesterday that previous jurisdictions have introduced settlement legislation, the Yukon territory and also recently, and the legislature of British Columbia passed the Nishga'a Settlement Act.
However, to deal with that question, the Government of Canada has agreed to make amendments to the NWT Act to make it absolutely clear that there is legislative authority and while retroactively less if need be, should someone challenge the authority of this legislature to enact this legislation.