I know I have asked the Minister this before, but every time he talks about this NWT Development Corporation I get an uneasy feeling. My interpretation of this NWT Development Corporation is that it was set up specifically to look at the have-not areas, at least that was my interpretation. But, in fact, it is an instrument of economic development, and the profit, at least on the front end, may not necessarily be the motivation. The fact is that we want to make sure that if it provides 12 or 13 jobs in Fort McPherson and people are not going to be on welfare or social assistance, they are going to be productive members of that community, then the government should invest in it.
We are in a unique situation in this country where we are all, in some ways, wards of the state in one way or another, and I am a strong supporter of this NWT Development Corporation. I think it is doing a reasonable job. It can obviously do better. It is essential that it stay in place so that we can organize some of the operations that provide jobs and opportunities for our people, where it may not necessarily be profit oriented, whether it is a fish plant in Whale Cove or an arts and crafts store in Coral Harbour, et cetera. The fact of the matter is, we have got to get our people to work, and some of our people need the assistance of this type of operation. I am somewhat concerned that the Minister is implying that we would be looking at less money, not more money, considering, I believe, there are $27 million worth of applications on the deck now; so I would have thought he would have come forward or implied that he was looking for more money next year, not less money.
Most of those applications, I suspect, are for areas where it would be difficult in any circumstance for an operation to be profitable. So on the one hand I am encouraged by it, and on the other hand I need to get assurances once again. I asked it last week, and I am going to ask it again. Is it certain in the department that there is a requirement in certain circumstances for government intervention to ensure that certain projects go forward that provide employment opportunities for people? Does the Minister agree with that statement?