Thank you, Mr. Chair. This is a big question in the territory. When we talk about climate change, we often talk about adaptation because, as everyone knows, we are feeling the effects more than the rest of the world, essentially. There definitely need to be some strides taken to address that issue.

You know, we met with the Association of Communities, and the communities have been suffering greatly from this. I know Inuvik has been hit harder than anyone else in terms of the costs of keeping up with climate change, in the tens of millions of dollars. We need to utilize our expertise in certain areas. Right now, and unfortunately, this is going to become our expertise. This is an area in which we can build capacity, you know, climate change mitigation and adaptation.

It is tough in terms of reducing our greenhouse gases. I know that the carbon tax came in, and the whole point of the carbon tax was to reduce use by increasing costs. We are already at the point in the territory where our costs are so high that there is not much to give, you know. How much less are you going to drive? How much colder are you going to keep the house? This is a difficult issue, but there are steps that we can take. I know the government has been taking some in terms of installing biomass heaters, but there are additional things we can do, as well. There are interesting things happening with energy and heat production. I know that SSi Energy in Fort Providence has a project that they are getting off the ground to reduce emissions. There is the opportunity for converting diesel generators to biomass. There might not be a massive reduction in greenhouse gas. I don't have the numbers on me, but it would also create jobs as well.

We are in a tough position because we are feeling the effects so much more than the rest of the territory, but it doesn't mean that we get to stand by and claim that, "Well, since we are feeling the effects, we don't have to do anything." It is a hard reality. You know, not a lot of people want to hear that, but it is the reality of life in the North.

I look forward to the discussion next week in terms of our priorities to see what this Assembly wants to do going forward. Thank you, Mr. Chair.