Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to acknowledge a major milestone of aboriginal people and the Government of the Northwest Territories. They are reaching a goal set forth in Towards a Better Tomorrow. The signing of the memorandum of understanding between the Gwich'in Tribal Council and the Government of the Northwest Territories ensures the participation that will give aboriginal governments more success in the business sector.
Mr. Speaker, the aboriginal people being the majority of the population in the Gwich'in settlement region, it is only fitting that they benefit from economic development through public sector contracts, providing employment, capacity building for communities and for the region. The seasonal work being considered as sole income for a lot of our residents and also for the North, has caused much delight, knowing the government has taken the steps Towards a Better Tomorrow.
Mr. Speaker, this partnership will guarantee that both partners are working for the people and the residents of the NWT to ensure that the jobs, employment and economic opportunities stay within the local communities and the regions. With a more accountable system, the Gwich'in Nation would surely benefit from communities having ownership of the economic resources in the area they are serving. Mr. Speaker, the MOU intends that Gwich'in businesses be awarded 50 percent of public contracts for a five-year span. The GNWT contracting policies and procedures remain in place to ensure maximized local, regional and northern employment in business opportunities. This ensures that aboriginal ownership and work towards self-government in the Mackenzie Delta region is a success that allows for an economic footing in the developments that take place in the Mackenzie Delta and in the Gwich'in settlement region. With that, Mr. Speaker, I would like to wish the parties all the best and I look forward to the next five years of a fair footing for the people of the Mackenzie Delta. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
---Applause