Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to congratulate the Northwest Territories Metis Nation. There was a signing ceremony today in the media room at noon and the representatives and leadership of their government were on hand to sign and to witness this historic document.
Mr. Speaker, as Ms. Betty Villebrun noted in her comments today, she said: “In signing the agreement-in-principle, the NWT Metis Nation is now in a position to be a part of the negotiations that will ultimately determine the final agreement that will come and will be in the best interests of their citizens.”
When we took office, Mr. Speaker, as the 16
th
Assembly, as always, we had an eye to the future. We said that our role was to build a foundation and to put in place decisions that would advance the agenda of the people of the Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker, on January 26
th
the Government of
the Northwest Territories and the federal government took a bold step in that direction, in my opinion. Today the Metis Nation joined with their
official signing, and this, again, another crucial piece in forming this foundation of how we move forward together as a Territory.
Mr. Speaker, once completed, the devolution agreement will provide us with the resources and decision-making authorities to shape our future. But it is important to remember at the same time, the signing of the AIP is not the conclusion of the work; instead, it is a roadmap to continue to move to a different level of negotiations with the federal government.
The AIP, as it reads, as I said, is simply the beginning. It opens the door to a final agreement and next steps towards that final agreement. Much work is yet to be done, many negotiations still to be completed. I believe that, to that end, the Premier will be going into the different regions of the Northwest Territories to continue to meet and dialogue with the people about this agreement that we have embarked on.
As we have done until now, I am competent that we can and will continue to work together as the Northwest Territories leaders, for the benefit of all of our people. Thank you.