Thank you, Madam Speaker. Congratulations to you, too. I rise today to speak about a certain Minister's conduct, in relation to facility funding for the Dene Cultural Institute. In the capital budget, this House had approved $500,000 under item 16-14, to provide the Dene Cultural Institute with the money to start construction of their new home. Madam Speaker, the Minister, the Honourable Richard Nerysoo, in a meeting on April 29 with some board and staff members of the Dene Cultural Institute, was questioned on when the funding could be expected. The Minister's response both shocked and dismayed me. The response, which was relayed to myself and some other MLAs, was as follows and I quote, "I have two cultural centre proposals in front of me, one from you and one from the Gwich'in. There is not enough money for both and we both know who elected me." In response to a question about the fact that the Legislative Assembly had already committed $500,000 towards the project for this fiscal year, the Minister replied, and I again quote, "There has been no commitment made to the Dene Cultural Institute for this project and as far as I'm concerned, it is still open and I am faced with a similar proposal from the Gwich'in. As the Minister, I have to decide between them. They need to show me that they represent my region."

Madam Speaker, on December 8 we passed a set of conduct guidelines for all Members to live up to. We are supposed to distribute resources fairly and justly and we are not supposed to act in ways that are dishonest or which exploit positions of privilege for personal gains. Madam Speaker, I really have to question the Minister's commitment to fairness. I believe that, in this case, the Minister has used, or at least thought of using, his power for personal political gains.

Madam Speaker, I see this incident as no different than the time I was passed a threatening note in the House by a previous Minister. The only difference as I perceive it is, instead of threatening one Member, the Minister has threatened an entire organization. Madam Speaker, as an ordinary Member and because of the Minister's action, I have had to spend a considerable amount of time working with this concern on behalf of the Dene Cultural Institute, to the detriment of the rest of my constituents.