Madam Chair, I met with a group on the weekend, and there was a group that is very concerned about the transboundary agreements that are coming forth with the Denesuline and the Manitoba group because they said that, once that is signed, because the previous government was in court with litigation with that, and now it seems to be that we are going along with the federal government and letting them do that. Any time there is any development within those areas, the people in the territories are subject to section 35, and we have to agree to consult them when it's our land. Those are big issues, and people are really, really concerned about that.

They are also concerned that they are also going to get seats on the Mackenzie Valley water board. There will be three of them. There are three, I think, decided, wanted to go on. Part of this whole Denesuline and the Manitoba group or whatever, agreeing to transboundary agreements within the Northwest Territories is unacceptable. That is what I was told. It's unacceptable, and it's going to be a big topic because we are not going to be going into Saskatchewan or Manitoba and start claiming lands there. No, but let's be reasonable about this, okay? I am from here, born and raised, Indigenous to this area. Salt River has lands right next to where the Denesuline want to go. Okay? Every time, if Salt River wants to do something, we will always have to go to consult once they are there. Those kinds of agreements are not okay. As MLA for Thebacha and representing these two groups, I will not be in favour of something like that because they have already told me that they are not.

I know you are going to go and consult, but going to consult and putting people at a meeting, Mr. Goldney knows this, is not consulting. People have extreme concerns about this whole thing with the transboundary and the federal government. We should not be agreeing to that. We are not going to be starting going to claim land next to Edmonton, even though the Northwest Territories paid for all of Edmonton to grow up because we all have to go there if we want to go anywhere else.

I am very strong about that because I have talked to both sides. I have also talked to people from both claims, and they have very much a concern about that. I know I am going to be on SCRIA, and I am going to have a look, and I am going to be briefed and everything. I have to make sure that people know what's happening here because not everybody has been a chief in a negotiation process. It's not a good process sometimes. I mean, Mr. Goldney knows that. We have had our differences. We have also had our whatever, and we are still friends today. It's just that transboundary thing is a major, it's going to be a major, hurdle. The previous government, under Premier McLeod, okay, you were part of that government, and we were in litigation with that. Now, all of a sudden, I see that they are going to get lands there, and that is a major concern. Thank you, Madam Chair.