Mr. Speaker, with respect to the potential sale of the NWT Power Corporation, I can state that a majority of my constituents and I oppose the privatization of the Power Corporation until such time as we are assured that the existing subsidies will continue and the long-term interests of all northerners are protected.

With regard to the establishment of a northern workplace commission, I have some serious reservations about the apparent needless expenditures of close to $2 million to review labour matters. If it is intended to support the establishment of back-to-work legislative powers for the GNWT, then I support it even less.

On more positive initiatives from the government, I do support their initiative to lobby for funding to develop the transportation infrastructure in the Slave geological corridor. I truly believe this initiative, if successful in establishing an all-weather road, will open up the NWT to a new boom era, which will benefit the entire Northwest Territories and the entire country, if developed in an orderly manner.

Mr. Speaker, I also support the government's building and learning strategy, the staff housing strategy, and the community transfer initiative. I believe these programs are geared toward strengthening our communities and serving the needs of our residents in a more effective manner. With regard to the government initiative to develop a comprehensive strategy, to map out the needs and requirements for educating and training our human resources, although I support this initiative, I wish to point out that there are some immediate training and upgrading needs relating to the mining industry which I feel the government should pursue as a priority.

In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, although we can not ignore our social program needs, I believe our government must take the lead role, with the support of this Assembly, in addressing our high unemployment factor. The government must do this through their continued support of small business, the development and support of our growing renewable resource sector, and a commitment to ensuring that all northerners maximize the benefits from future mining developments.

The GNWT's support of these activities must not only be from developing and enforcing policies, but through a priority to implement a comprehensive strategy for education and training our human resources, a priority to negotiate a mineral accord to protect NWT interests, and a priority to maximize the utilization of our renewable resource sector.

Mr. Speaker, we only have two years to go before a new leadership takes office. Let's all do our utmost in our remaining term to improve the lifestyle of all our residents. Mahsi.

---Applause