Thank you for the correction, Mr. Speaker.
As the minister stated at the time of the announcement, the settlement agreement proposes a common experience payment for all eligible former students of Indian residential schools, an independent assessment process for claims of sexual or serious physical abuse, as well as measures to support healing, commemorative activities and the establishment of the truth and reconciliation commission.
Cheques for residential school survivors have already started to flow. The government sincerely hopes that this agreement will bring closure to former students and their descendants.
We have also made progress during our first 100 days on the advancement of claims and treaties. In March, the Government of Canada signed an agreement in principle with the province of B.C. and the Yale First Nation under the B.C. treaty process. The agreement in principle lays the framework for final negotiations toward a legally binding treaty.
In May, the Government of Canada tabled an offer to the Deh Cho First Nation of the Northwest Territories toward the settlement of a land and self-government agreement. This offer provides the base for the negotiation of a fair and reasonable agreement that can meet the Deh Cho's interests.
We have been working on many similar agreements and projects that will be added to the economic development opportunities of these respective communities. The Government of Canada has signed trapping harmonization agreements with the Government of Ontario and the first nations of Ontario.
Mr. Speaker, I want to note that I will be sharing my time with my colleague from Lévis--Bellechasse.
During the minister's first trip to the three northern territories, the minister pledged the federal government's support for the upcoming Canada Winter Games by announcing funding for the games' national marketing campaign under the strategic investments in the northern economic development initiative.
The minister also committed a $2.5 million investment in geoscience to support mapping and scientific data collection activities in Nunavut, and more than $1 million in funding toward the geoscience activities in Yukon.
It is the government's intention to work with our aboriginal partners, provinces and territories to build on these initial accomplishments.
I have given a quick overview of the highlights of our first 100 days. Compare this with the former government that delivered 13 years of scandal, indecision, damage control and broken promises.
This government is committed to improving the lives of aboriginal Canadians. We have already taken action and we will continue making concrete progress in the days to come.