Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I would like to speak in support of this motion. I say that because of the attitude the federal government has toward people of the Northwest Territories. This is reflected in some of the recent decisions the federal government has made. I make reference to the agreement between Canada and the United States on the cruise missile testing for another ten years without our consideration in the Northwest Territories. I say that because of the attempted dumping of metal waste in the Arctic. These decisions reflect the attitude the present federal government has toward people in the Northwest Territories. It is further reflected again in the cuts to funding to Northwest Territories programs. Some of the areas where they want to cut are in grants in lieu of taxes. This is going to hurt our municipalities where aboriginal people live and where there are federal government operations.

Mainly in the western Arctic in treaty areas there are grants in lieu of taxes which are given to the municipalities on behalf of treaty Indians. That is going to hurt the municipalities and is going to directly affect treaty Indians in these communities. The friendship centres are going to be cut. We have received letters from them saying they are going to close down their doors for a day in protest of these cuts. As a representative for people in my area where there are friendship centres, I find myself in a situation where I am unable in the House to do anything to help them.

In the area of industry, science and technology in the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs, there was funding towards aboriginal people to get involved in economic development. A cut in that area is going to hurt in the initiatives that some people in communities are trying to do.

Because of that, I support this motion fully. Mahsi Cho.

---Applause