Thank you, Mr. Speaker, honourable colleges. I would ask for the support of this House that we agree on basic principles of decentralization and not simply base the concept of decentralization on political agreements or arrangements. Mr. Speaker, if I sound frustrated with this process it is because I am. This government cannot continue to ignore its responsibility to develop the economy of the Kitikmeot region. Economic development issues of this government have to take into account all regions of the territories, not simply the most aggressive. Mr. Speaker, if this government is truly committed to developing the economy of the Kitikmeot region and feels the exploration for minerals in this region will contribute greatly to this development, then it would seem only natural that the Department of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources be considered a prime candidate for decentralization to Cambridge Bay, the regional centre for Kitikmeot. I would expect that this government would give this request due consideration, as it has for other regions of the
territories such as the Keewatin, Fort Smith and Inuvik regions. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.