Our government has been engaging with the Government of Canada to try to make some progress on a specific commitment in the devolution agreement to begin negotiations of a co-management of the Beaufort Sea. As the Member knows, we have just passed the one-year anniversary of Canada implementing a moratorium on offshore exploration in the Beaufort Sea. Specifically, they have said they are definitely off-limits to new offshore oil and gas licences, to be tested every five years by a science-based review.

Also, as well, federal officials have been approaching and asking oil and gas companies with licences in the Beaufort Sea what it would take to give up their leases and licences. Obviously, there's a different intention there. Canada negotiated specific commitments to negotiate co-management of offshore oil and gas resources with the Government of the Northwest Territories and the Inuvialuit Regional Council, and those negotiations are not taking place in spite of several requests. The Government of the Northwest Territories' position is that it has a right to be involved in management of offshore oil and gas resources, and this was recognized in the devolution agreement, and the unilateral imposition of a moratorium was contradictory to that.

Along with IRC, we continue to communicate to Canada our interest in getting started on negotiations and fulfillment of this commitment of the devolution agreement. Northerners need a plan for the long-term social and economic development of the Northwest Territories, and Canada needs to be a part of that. We are waiting for the federal government to give us a response as to whether we will proceed with negotiation of co-management. There is provisions for dispute resolution in a devolution agreement, and we are awaiting some feedback from the federal government before we look at our various options. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.