Mr. Speaker, does this mean we have $18 million in new funding that we can find some programs or some additional things to spend it on, Mr. Speaker?

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Literacy, volunteerism, tourism, museums, public health, are but a few of the programs here in the NWT which are devastated by the scattergun approach of federal cuts announced September 25th.

Mr. Speaker, no doubt there’s room to find savings of a billion dollars in the federal budget that now tops $200 billion, but once again the NWT is suffering disproportionately from ill-advised and uninformed federal program actions.

Mr. Speaker, we’ve seen rallies in the streets, postcard campaigns, letter writing. Few actions have caused such vocal and universal dismay among our...

Okay. So to some extent it was a revision of federal transfers or payments or contributions, then, Mr. Speaker. Is any of this subject to clawback in future years, Mr. Speaker? This is an aspect of our formula financing deal with Ottawa that has caused us considerable disruption, so are we going to have to look at having any of this amount clawed back in future years, Mr. Speaker?

Okay, we're in question period, right?

Mr. Speaker, the Premier, in a news interview in the past few days, said it’s his hope that this is something that could be done within four months. I guess I am assuming here that we might be looking at certain potential election processes that might engage in that time. Mr. Speaker, I would like to probe this a little bit. Is this four months’ time frame something that has been agreed to or discussed with Mr. Andre and, of course, with the aboriginal governments who are party to these negotiations as well, Mr. Speaker?

Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize Ms. Arlene Hache, one of the great advocates of women and family rights and opportunities here in the Northwest Territories, Mr. Speaker.

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Mr. Speaker, this deal really is no longer an option for the people of the NWT. It is time for results. What more can we do? The Speaker…I’m sorry, the Premier and his team, many politicians and other northern leaders have very consistently and strongly been on the record that it is time for results, it is time for action. What more can we do, Mr. Speaker, to convince Mr. Andre and his boss, Mr. Prentice, and everybody’s boss, Mr. Harper, and Mr. Flaherty, to convince them that this is no longer an option, Mr. Speaker?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions this afternoon are for the Premier. As many of my colleagues have discussed already, it is in the area of negotiations for resource and finance arrangements here in the NWT.

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Harvie Andre is the latest federal emissary to the NWT from Ottawa to negotiate these deals. I want to express my hope that he will be able to advance this issue. Mr. Speaker, this Assembly, chiefs and mayors have for years now been very clearly on the record with the federal and provincial governments that this is our goal. Resources and wealth are flying out of the...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. The sessional statement that the Premier read this afternoon was a fine inventory of the accomplishments of the 15th Assembly so far. I am proud of these accomplishments, too, Mr. Speaker, but I think at this very critical point in the Northwest Territories development I want to say that I am frustrated that the truly essential goals that we need as a people and territory, resource revenue sharing, territorial formula financing and devolution continue to elude us. These are achievements, Mr. Speaker, that are long overdue as millions of dollars in resource taxation and...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Yes, the investment that goes into the building on an ongoing basis I am sure is appreciated. Also of concern to the YWCA is the renewal of the lease. This is something that I understand we have been working on, but, of course, timing is always of some significance, Mr. Speaker. I am wondering if the Minister could advise how negotiations are going and when a conclusion might be expected, Mr. Speaker.