Yellowknife (Oct 09/06) - The Conservative government is throwing out their Liberal predecessor's work on handing provincial-like powers to the NWT, but Premier Joe Handley remains confident a deal can be reached before the next territorial election.

"I told Harvie Andre (federal negotiator on devolution/revenue sharing) that I believe we can come to an agreement in principal on fiscal arrangements in three or four months," said Handley following his meeting with Andre in Calgary, Thursday.

Handley said the problem with the Liberal government's devolution offer was the territories had to take on federal programs and services without any fiscal certainty.

Given the wealth coming out of the NWT, Handley is looking for a fair deal.

"In twenty years' time we don't want to be accused of giving away the North."

With two aboriginal groups still working to settle land claims, Handley said there is a way to get the deal completed to facilitate future aboriginal governments' participation.

"We can't keep those who have completed claims waiting forever to be able to exercise and implement their claims," said Handley.

No date has been set for further talks, but Handley said Andre would be meeting with aboriginal leaders in the near future.

"It's a good start and I'm glad to see some fresh thinking and new perspectives," he said of his meeting with Andre. "We were pretty much at a stall in 2005, so we need somebody new to come an have a look at things. Andre may just be our guy."