(Translation) Mr. Speaker, I would like to table Tabled Document 16-12(2), a letter from the municipality of Sanikiluaq regarding the proposed arts and craft centre in Baker Lake, for the attention of the Minister of Economic Development and Tourism. I know that we have to help each other economically here in the Northwest Territories. When the Baffin Regional Council met on December 28, in Iqaluit, we did not want to be against the economic development of communities such as Baker Lake, as they are proposing to open an arts and crafts centre.
We, the people in Baffin South, feel that the three communities that I represent have a very good potential of becoming economically viable through arts and crafts -- Sanikiluaq, Cape Dorset and Lake Harbour -- and the problem that my constituents have is that -- the carvers in my constituency have a problem whereby they live off the revenue from their carvings and that is their traditional pursuit. We all have to try to make our own living. For this reason the arts and crafts centre that is proposed to open in Baker Lake is very much of a concern for my constituency, because my constituents feel that they might not have any employment, or be able to sell their carvings.
My constituents have a trademark where there is the logo of an igloo, and they are recognized by the people in Canada. They feel that if the centre in Baker Lake opens they will be left behind, and their carvings will no longer be valuable. That is the concern of the people in Baffin South. They feel that their way of life might be taken away from them. They feel that their carvings might not be as valuable as they are at the present time. They feel that there would be more people buying carvings from Baker Lake, rather than my constituency, and they are worried that their livelihood might be taken away; they are recognized for their good carvings. I am producing this letter and express the concerns of my people...