Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, would like to send our condolences to the RCMP families and their loved ones. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about the Northern Strategy as, unfortunately, I was unable to participate in the debate during Committee of the Whole.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to inform this government of my support for the Northern Strategy and its goals and objectives. This has been a long journey for the people of the Northwest Territories in our struggle to take our rightful place in Canada and be recognized for our contribution. Without an agreement, Mr. Speaker, protecting our resources and revenues expected from the diamond mines and oil and gas, we will always be dependant on the federal government.

Mr. Speaker, I believe it is about time we left the nest and built our own. The Northern Strategy is our ticket to independence and the right for the people of the Northwest Territories to one day become self-sufficient, self-reliant and a healthy, viable territory. We have the commitment from the Prime Minister to move forward with the Northern Strategy. The commitment is one thing, Mr. Speaker, but there will still be a lot of hard work, determination and focus needed to get everything signed, sealed and delivered.

I say this, Mr. Speaker, because I speak firsthand of how we, as Inuvialuit, rejoiced when the Inuvialuit Final Agreement was signed and sealed. We are still working on getting it delivered. This government must recognize the importance of the Northern Strategy and concentrate on arriving at a deal for resource revenue sharing and devolution, rather than worrying about changing the name of the Northwest Territories.

Mr. Speaker, the time is now and it is the responsibility of this government to take advantage of this small window of opportunity. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause