Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Congratulations on your newly acquired position. We've discussed this issue over the last number of days, along with many others. But I go back further than that when I started out on this campaign to represent the people of Inuvik, and I'm sure many of us did as well. There is concern out there of cutting budgets, of people having to do more with less. We have people in our ridings who are worried about social assistance, health concerns, education. At this level, we come from each of our different ridings and I'm sure we've all heard similar stories and concerns: that if the rest of our departments that are under our control have to do more with less, then I believe we should be leading by example.

We're in a time when money is longer running and overflowing from our cup. Instead we are looking elsewhere for money, we don't have any more, we cannot give away any more. There has been mention of doing this within our existing budget. If we can take this money -- which we've heard from $250,000 to $500,000 -- if we can do this within the existing budget, I don't believe we should try to put another position in. If that money can be cut, let's take it out of the budget as we're telling the rest of the departments to do: to take money from their budgets. We have to lead by example. We're chosen by the people of the NWT to do the right thing. Are we doing the right thing by saying yes, it's very hard up here, the stress is high, we need more people on the top?

I, myself, made comments during my campaign that we're top heavy as is. If we're seen as creating more of this, it goes against what I stand for. I don't have to say that looking again at this, in my mind, will change anything. We're in the days of reduction, doing more with less. I believe that's the example we should lead by.

As for the workload, we all knew when we jumped into the ring that we would put the rest of our lives on hold for the sake of the people of the NWT. If we didn't know that, then we're going to have a rude awakening.

I think that for those who are interested in running for Cabinet -- I've heard a lot of talk about how busy it is and the stress that comes with it, as there is running for MLA -- if you want to make the next step forward, then you must be aware that by taking that next step you are also talking an increased workload and what comes with that is the extra stress. If you're in touch with your constituents in your community and they say to you that they agree with you to run for Cabinet and also agree that you will spend less time in your own riding, if the concern of time in your own riding comes up, I believe that would be dealt with by being in touch with your own riding, your own community, the people who put you here. If they want to see you in a Cabinet position, then by all means put your name forward. As for mine, I was told they want to see me.

I'm not at all in favour of creating a ninth position now or in the future. If we can justify .it within our own dollars, let's take those dollars. If we can do it within our own dollars, that means we can cut that much money out of our existing budget right here. It doesn't matter to me, if this ninth position was to be created, which side it would come from. Let's get real, let's face the facts. We don't have that kind of money and whatever side you put it on, we're still going to come up shy $500,000 or more.

I think it is time we lead by example. We were ·elected by the people of our communities to make a decision on their behalf at this position here. I've heard throughout my campaign that they're concerned about their education, their health and how they live. I believe if we lead by example, we're helping them and their cause back home to have a little better life, lo have a little better education and to have a better health system. Instead of cutting from those, if we can raise this position, let's lake that money instead and cut here. Let's save the people back home from any more of the pain and the hurt that they'll have to suffer in the upcoming years. Thank you very much.