Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would briefly like to speak in favour of this motion and recite some of the frustrations of one organization in my constituency, and there are others, most notably the broadcasting bodies that are doing such important work throughout Nunavut, has been coping with in facing the financial pressures while trying to do its good work in my constituency and in the region, that is the Baffin Region Inuit Association.

Mr. Speaker, ten years ago the annual core funding to BRIA was about $400,000. Last year, it has eroded to just over $200,000. I am told by Mr. Keyotik, the president of BRIA, that every year since 1986 the Baffin Region Inuit Association has had its core funding cut. Every year, Mr. Keyotik submits budgets to the Secretary of State forecasting their expenses for the work they want to do in the region in the coming year. Every year, in recent years, a reply comes back in a form letter announcing further reductions. Mr. Speaker, the Baffin is the largest region in the Northwest Territories. It can easily cost $50,000 merely to hold a meeting of the directors of the board for all 13 communities. The organization has a core staff of four including the president. They are pursuing a wide variety of issues from all 13 communities, ranging from PanArctic's ocean dumping, the James Bay II project, renegotiation of migratory birds convention, literacy projects in young offenders' facilities in the Baffin correctional centre, the founding of the Baffin youth council and, equally important, BRIA has been the critical organization for representing the interests of the Inuit of the region with respect to the Inuit land claim and Nunavut.

Their hard pressed staff are trying to undertake these important tasks, while spending most of their time worrying about their financial situation and raising funds. Mr. Speaker, I used to work for a struggling organization of that kind that was dependent on the federal government for its funds. I can tell you it is very demoralizing when you have to worry about doing your work, but also worry about financial survival and fund raising. I am very pleased to speak in support of this motion and hope the Government of Canada hears our pleas, hears about the importance of the work being done in the Northwest Territories, and considers it an investment in the future of this country to provide an adequate level of support for this important work. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.