That is correct, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Premier. Mr. O'Reilly.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. Are there any further staffing reductions contemplated with regard to negotiations in the current budget? Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. There is none indicated in here, but as we go forward, as we settle land claims, my expectation is we would reallocate the GSOs perhaps, but that would be for future governments. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Premier. Mr. O'Reilly.

Thanks, Mr. Chair. That is all I have for now. Just wanted to get it on the record that the fiscal reduction targets are driving funding that we have been allocating for negotiations. Thanks, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. O'Reilly. Next, Mr. McNeely.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. My question is on page 114, the implementation budgeted number that reduced a bit. Is there sufficient moneys coming up for this coming fiscal year for the implementation related to the Deline agreement? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. McNeely. Premier.

Thank you. Yes, we have funds set aside to make sure that the Deline implementation proceeds and is successful. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Premier. Nothing further from Mr. McNeely. I see nothing further from committee. Mr. Vanthuyne.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, in last year's business plan, we indicated that, in an effort to conclude our land, resources, and self-government agreements, we are actually in the midst at some stage of either leading or trying to conclude, framework agreements, agreements in principle, or final agreements, in fact, with regard to 14 sets of negotiations. We did indicate as well who those respective First Nations are. Notably absent from here is the North Slave Metis alliance. I am wondering if the department can give some kind of indication, to the ability that they can, as to what if any status there is to report with regard to the relationship that we have with the North Slave Metis Alliance? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Vanthuyne. Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The North Slave Metis Alliance went to court against the Government of the Northwest Territories for a number of reasons, but the court ruled that the North Slave Metis Alliance had Aboriginal right to hunt and fish, and they indicated that there should be a strength of claim assessment done by the government. The previous federal government had done a strength of claim.

There was no land claims table for the North Slave Metis Alliance. We have completed a preliminary strength of claim assessment for the North Slave Metis Alliance. We will be sharing it with the North Slave Metis Alliance and expect there will be further consideration, either through negotiations or through the courts. I am not sure exactly what the process would be. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Premier. Mr. Vanthuyne.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you to the Premier for that. Just for clarification, there was a previous strength of claim done; we now, under this government, are doing a preliminary strength of claim, is that correct, and that that might lead to negotiation of some kind? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Vanthuyne. Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The federal government had done their own strength of claim previously with the North Slave Metis Alliance, and the courts, the direction they gave us was to do a strength of claim with regards to hunting, Aboriginal hunting. We have done so on that basis. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. So none of this, from what I am gathering, is putting any kind of bearing behind the ability for the North Slave Metis Alliance to stake a land claim of sorts; there is no relevance to a land claim as it relates to the North Slave Metis Alliance? Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Mr. Vanthuyne. Premier.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The issue that was in the courts was with regards to trapping. The Member is referring to whether the North Slave Metis Alliance have a land claims table. That is the focus or the responsibility of the Government of Canada, and the Government of Canada determines whether there are grounds or enough information to determine whether they would have a separate land claims table or not. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Premier. Mr. Vanthuyne.