Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Tlicho Land Claims and Self-Government Agreement was signed in 2003 by representatives of the Dogrib Treaty 11 Council, the Government of the Northwest Territories, and the Government of Canada. Through the Tlicho Agreement, the Tlicho gained the tools and resources to strengthen our economy and protect and promote Tlicho culture, language, heritage, lands and resources. Currently, the Tlicho Community Services Agency delivers a number of programs and services including from the Government of the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, the 19th Legislative Assembly set out 22 priorities, including advancing regional decision-making authority. According to the February 2022 and January 2023 annual status report, this priority focused on empowering regional and community staff through providing training to ensure staff are aware of their decision-making authority. This priority has been marked as fulfilled but it did not go far enough.

Mr. Speaker, in 2016, Deline Got'ine government signed their self-government agreement. Currently, there are a number of other Indigenous groups that are negotiating self-government agreements. As more and more self-government agreements are signed and Indigenous governments draw down jurisdiction for programs and services, the government of the NWT needs to adapt and reevaluate the current administrative region.

To better serve Tlicho residents, the Tlicho needs a new and separate Tlicho administrative region that serves the communities of Behchoko, Gameti, Wekweeti, and Whati. The regions need to be consistent within all the departments so there are no confusion. This is real regional decision-making authorities. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the development of a Tlicho administrative region aligns with the spirit of the United Nation Declaration on Indigenous People to, quote, "freely pursue their economic, social, and cultural development."

Mr. Speaker, a Tlicho administrative region would provide Tlicho greater financial authority to provide additional programs and services that respond to the needs of Tlicho and for the people in the Tlicho region. Additional employment opportunities would be created with positions in the region. A Tlicho administrative region is more accountable to the Tlicho people.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to make corrections with reference to population I said on Friday, May 26th, 2023. According to Stats Canada 2022 the population in Tlicho region is about 3,200. Thank you. Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Premier.