Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to report to this Legislative Assembly that negotiations on the Deline self-government agreement-in-principle were completed on May 17, 2003. The GNWT Chief negotiator, along with the chief negotiators for Deline and the Government of Canada, plan to initial the agreement-in-principle at a ceremony in Deline later this month. Following that, the GNWT, Deline and the Government of Canada plan to formally sign the Deline self-government agreement-in-principle in the summer, setting the stage for final agreement negotiations.

Mr. Speaker, this agreement-in-principle is another expression of this government's support for implementation of the aboriginal inherent right of self-government in the NWT. It will form the basis for the first self-government agreement in the NWT at the community or district level. It proposes the creation of a government that will represent and serve all residents of Deline, while protecting a role for the Dene and Metis of Deline.

The agreement-in-principle describes the potential law-making authority of the Deline First Nation government over a number of territorial-type jurisdictions and clarifies the ongoing relationship between the Deline government, the GNWT and Canada.

Mr. Speaker, with formal approval of the agreement-in-principle, the parties can continue the hard work of concluding a final agreement. I would ask Members to join me in extending congratulations to the three chief negotiators; Fred Talen for the GNWT, Danny Gaudet of Deline and Kevan Flood for Canada, and to their negotiating teams, for a job well done. Most importantly, I would like to congratulate the people of Deline for achieving this important and historic milestone. Mahsi Cho, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause