Again, I will provide that and it will all be spelled out in the policy what the members are able to claim for. The process that they go through when making a claim will be spelled out, we’ll get that information.

The issue is of trying to get that information and as we have, right through this process, had full working relationships, technical as well as through the negotiation sessions. Of course, as we’ve pointed out, we’ve had some groups or one group particularly stay away from the negotiations since it’s been picked up again. The work throughout has continued to have that door open and invite all to continue to be part of the process. As we hear back from them, we will consider how we progress forward together.

The residents of the Territories are eligible for this program if there is a claim or something that has occurred that caused the equipment failure in their residences or businesses. There is a process of evaluating those, and approvals that are in place, but I’ll get that policy and provide that to Members.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would say it is a shame that it has come about in this manner. To think what may have happened if the first land claim was being negotiated and this type of document was put out before the groups had a chance to really look at it and make their decisions on that, we may never have had an agreement. I think that is, in fact, a concern.

More importantly, now that it is out there, we do need to look at how we inform the people of the North of what’s there and clear the air. That’s the confusion that’s been caused. We are looking at our options of trying to get that out...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to advise Members that the Honourable Robert C. McLeod will be absent from the House today to attend to a personal family matter.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I can’t talk about what the result was or decisions made. All I can put out is the fact that in 2007 the Government of the Northwest Territories, along with four partners, signed an agreement, sent it in to Ottawa, and in fact I would say that the agreement that is before us today has improved upon that deal. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Again, it is disappointing to have the media jump on this before we’ve had an opportunity as governments that are directly involved to allow the process to flow. We are in a process where we have to evaluate how we now inform the public, but again I go back to the fact that this agreement-in-principle is a starting point if we decide it needs to go forward. It is a starting point to a series of negotiations that then we will be able to get out to the public and let them know what is on the table and what we’re trying to do on that process. In the meantime, I’ve...

Mr. Speaker, the Member, having experience as a chief negotiator quite involved in the land claims process within the Northwest Territories in his past life, is quite familiar. Once the chief negotiators initialled off and sent it to the parties for decision, that document is then decided upon as it goes forward from that draft agreement-in-principle towards a formal set of negotiations. That incorporates a whole new level of talks and all the players at the table as full partners. This joint letter that has gone out has invited the groups to be a part of our table and be full partners. This...

The caps that are talked about at times, if you look at, again, I go back to the scenario of a homeowner in the Northwest Territories, the fact that if we look at that house we want to buy and we know it’s not going to fit our needs, we’re going to have to make some changes. Now, that unit, as it stood, may have a dollar figure attached, but if we’re going to expand it, build on it and strengthen it, we’re going to go to the bank, or in this case the federal government, to say we believe it should be done this way. In fact, this AIP identifies that and has gone a long way to reducing the caps...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The AIP spells out the involvement of the GNWT and the federal government. It also incorporates a forward-going involvement of aboriginal governments in the process. Through discussions with the leaders at the table, it was felt that they would have that opportunity to join on, but if they were to sign a document side by side and they may have some disputes on some of it or their claims processes, there was some unease there. But what is in place is a government-to-government relationship and a bilateral process government to government with the GNWT, and the door is...