Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to apologize for coming in late. I just arrived on a plane. Mr. Speaker, a search is still going on for one of my constituents, Mr. Johnny Tonka, approximately 120 miles up the Mackenzie River from Fort Simpson. The search is under the band council there. He was reported missing Saturday at 8:30 a.m. The RCMP and the chief chartered a 185 on floats to look for him Saturday, and a Renewable Resources boat also went up the river to look for him. Arnold Hope and I also searched for him Saturday and Sunday, but with no luck. There is a camp up there with Mary and Gabe Cazon and Mary Tsetso, and as well Peter Cazon has a camp up there. They are searching every day. I think there is still hope that he may be ashore some place.
Mr. Tonka is 71 years old and is a respected hunter and an elder. I personally have gone hunting with him many times He has taught me a lot about hunting, about our land, about our country and about the Dene history. If he is ashore some place, he would survive because of his skills.
I am concerned that not enough effort on the part of the government is being spent on him, Mr. Speaker. I say this because last winter, when an American explorer was lost looking for the North Pole, hundreds of thousands of dollars were spent looking for this person, yet someone of our own is missing, and no effort at all seems to be spent in looking for someone like this. Mahsi.
---Applause