In accordance with the Intergovernmental Affairs Act the Minister for Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs is legally required to be a party to the negotiation of all Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs Secretariat (IGAAS) Agreements and sign all agreements between the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador and another sovereign government. Staff of the Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs Secretariat (IGAAS) routinely provide assistance and support to government departments in the negotiation of these agreements and review all such agreements to ensure their consistency with the government’s intergovernmental policies and priorities. In addition, IGAAS provides support to the Premier in the negotiation of policies with intergovernmental scope through key fora such as the Council of the Federation and the Council of Atlantic Premiers.