Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Congratulations on your election as Speaker. I am not in favour of a ninth position on Cabinet at this time. However, I would like to see this topic tabled at a future date for reconsideration, possibly at the mid- term review when we would better know the financial situation of this government and the workload placed on the Ministers and the Premier. In the past week or so, we've been told by our existing Premier that the workload for the Premier is very extensive and it gets heavier and heavier as more and more the Territories is recognized nationally. They believe this applies to the Ministers' position as well. As this Territory grows, there is a larger workload on the Ministers and on Cabinet as a whole.

I appreciate the fact that we are in a deficit position or a forecasted deficit position; however, I think we must be realistic in putting workloads on the Ministers and on the Premier; particularly the fact that in the past we've lost many Ministers due to stress associated with the positions. I really think that this topic should be reconsidered after the Premier, the Cabinet and this Legislative Assembly have had an opportunity to view the situation. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.