Mr. Speaker, Northerners have long been known for their generosity, and each year the Government of the Northwest Territories employees continue to show their commitment to building stronger, healthier communities by supporting the United Way NWT.

I am very pleased to announce that this year the Government of the Northwest Territories Workplace Campaign raised just over $102,000. 

Mr. Speaker, this is the 12th year of the campaign and the most successful. The number of Government of the Northwest Territories staff generosity has doubled and their campaign pledges commit to donating nearly $100...

As I said yesterday, we have not walked away from any meetings. We have not suspended anything. We have asked for a response to a very generous offer, the best offer this government has made in the Northwest Territories. We have increased the Government of Canada’s offer from 33,448 to 37,500, and as I said, there is a main table that’s there. That involves the Government of Canada, the Government of the Northwest Territories and Dehcho First Nation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Certainly, Mr. Speaker, it is unfortunate that this type of behaviour from the Dehcho negotiators is not new. At this point it is getting even more difficult to see a path forward through negotiations.

To answer the Member’s questions, all you have to do is do the math. The federal government offered 39,000. That’s when the Dehcho included the Acho Dene Koe, the Fort Liard Metis Nation and the K’atlodeeche First Nation. So when you subtract those numbers, you come to 33,448 and we have offered 37,500 square kilometres of land, so it’s a substantial increase. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I don’t mind repeating myself many times. As I’ve said, we’re on track, we’re on schedule. The plan was for the government to respond to the Energy Charrette recommendations in May, at the same time we would identify investment in alternative and renewable forms of energy. At the same time, we are doing a tremendous amount in developing alternative sources of energy. We are the leaders in the country when it comes to biomass and other forms of renewable energy. I don’t think that should be discounted. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

As far as we’re concerned, nothing has changed. We are prepared to negotiate. The DCFN legal counsel has rejected out of hand our latest offer. He’s threatened to take us to court. He won’t say on what basis. We have always said we have never left the table. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I would suggest, Mr. Speaker, the next step would be for the Dehcho First Nations to attend the main table meeting. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. The Dehcho First Nations has written to the Government of Canada, asking for a bilateral process with the Government of Canada despite the fact that our government has increased the Government of Canada’s land quantum offer of 2007 from 33,448 square kilometres to 37,500 kilometres. Despite that, it appears the Dehcho First Nations would prefer a bilateral process with the Government of Canada. Despite that, we are prepared to negotiate at the main table. The Dehcho First Nations chief negotiator wrote to our chief negotiator, asking for a main table meeting and then turned around...

Mr. Speaker, I wish to advise Members that the Honourable David Ramsay will be absent from the House today due to illness. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

There is a main table involving the Government of Canada, the Dehcho First Nations and the Government of the Northwest Territories, so I would suggest they get together, Mr. Speaker.

I won’t repeat my comments about the boy who cried wolf. We’ve never left the table. We have never threatened not to negotiate. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.