(Translation) Mr. Chairman, I have been able to go over the report. I am happy to see decentralization in that there are more services in the communities, because this has been long in the planning, and the services given to the communities will create jobs.

With regard to decentralizing Arctic College and centres for educational programs to Iqaluit and Fort Smith, I have further questions on this issue. Perhaps this was agreed to prior to our becoming MLAs. We represent the people of the North, and we have to be well informed of the issues. Often we hear the communities seeking information and communication regarding services and jobs being moved into communities. I have no problem with this, however, I think there has to be more consultation and that a community has to agree on decentralizing things such as Arctic College. We always want to be well informed so that we just do not agree without consulting with our communities.

I feel very strongly that communities have to be consulted. I feel we have to be well informed of how to have input from the MLAs so that they can consult their communities. I feel that there is a need for more input. I know we are consulted often, but sometimes they miss the opportunity. For this reason, I wanted to voice my concern that before decentralizing, communities are to be well consulted.

The deficit is the reason that these 160 people are losing their jobs. Are we in a deficit because of the 160 jobs that are being lost? We will have to plan through the reports and through the acts. We will have to be very careful that it will be well planned, as to where headquarters should be and how our government will be run. During our plebiscite, we decided how our government is going to be, and that our communities are to be consulted in the reports that are being documented and in drawing up our plans for Nunavut in the communities in the North.