Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 1, too, agree in principle on decentralizing the government to the regions and the communities, but the paper that is before us does not seriously address the question of decentralization. As I indicated in my Member's statement this afternoon, I am not happy about how the government is anticipating to go. I have been pursuing decentralization of government since I was elected in 1987, and I have always pursued it, but the direction the government is taking today does not reflect

Decentralizing to North Slave And Kitikmeot Regions Not Addressed

The decentralization program that is outlined in the paper is basically catering to the regional centres, not the small communities within the regions, and that is where I think decentralization should occur. I do not know what method the government used to arrive at the conclusion that these targeted communities are severely impacted by the sluggish economy. What I do not understand is, what method did they use to determine that those regional centres were the poorest? I am having a difficult time with the paper entitled New Directions that has been put forward by the government. Although I am totally in favour of the principle of decentralization, there has got to be some explanation here, or a rationale that fits the reality. Until that is answered, Mr. Chairman, I am having difficulty with the paper they put forward.

With regard to the cutbacks and how they anticipate they are going to deal with the effects of certain cutbacks to various communities, I think that initiative is adequate at this time. In regard to amalgamating various departments, I totally agree with this, but until these various questions are answered, Mr. Chairman, I am having difficulty dealing with this paper entitled New Directions. Mahsi.