Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to express my strong support for a new direction which has recently been announced with respect to the Science Institute of the Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker, last week when I was gone, a couple of my colleagues expressed some of their opinions regarding this. After reading Hansard, I thought I would like to express my opinion.
Mr. Speaker, I certainly was pleased to learn that the Minister is considering an arrangement which would see close affiliation between the college and the Science Institute of the Northwest Territories. It is my view that such an arrangement would benefit the institute and would also strengthen the college. The people of the Northwest Territories would, no doubt, be farther ahead as a result. Mr. Speaker, I say it would benefit the Science Institute of the Northwest Territories because I believe it could create science technology programs which are currently absent from the college system.
Recognizing the institute's role in technology development, particularly in the areas relating to tanneries and wildlife harvesting projects, shop facilities and access to college world class renewable resource training programs, would no doubt strengthen the capabilities as well. The college in turn would benefit from this. Post-secondary institutions across Canada have always been active in research and development. Pairing the facilities of the Science Institute of the Northwest Territories and the college would increase our ability to contribute to important research on issues which are relevant to our northern people. Mr. Speaker, the potential for sharing this type of technology in its expertise is no doubt significant. It would not only improve the ability of the college and the institute to meet their respective mandates, but it will save money that this government needs so badly.
I am enthusiastic about the direction which I believe the Minister is taking in this regard and I urge him to proceed in developing a formal implementation plan which can be reviewed by this House in the future. Thank you.
---Applause