Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to a question asked by Mr. Pudluk on December 12, 1991, regarding the difficulties in joining Yellowknife's co-operative. The co-op in Yellowknife is a direct charge co-op, while all other co-ops in the Northwest Territories, with the exception of the co-op in Hay River, are consumer co-ops. Consumer co-ops operate like any other store or business with many shareholders. Goods are purchased and resold. Operating costs are covered by store revenue. The prices on goods sold in any consumer co-op are competitive with similar stores. Anyone can shop in the store, but profits from operations are distributed only to the members through dividends.

A direct charge co-op sells only to members. The reason for this is that goods are sold at prices much lower than those set by competitors. The store operates on a break-even basis. Members pay the operating costs of the store through a weekly fee. The owners get their return on investment by paying less for goods. No dividends are paid to members. Any year-end surplus funds are used to reduce the cost of goods to members.

The Yellowknife Co-op has had to restrict membership because the physical plant could not handle the number of people wishing to join. By extending hours and upgrading equipment, the waiting period to get into the co-op has been reduced. I have been informed that people joining the co-op no longer have to wait 18 months. If application was made today, the new member would likely be shopping in the store by February. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.