Thank you, Madam Speaker. More good news from Iqaluit today.
---Laughter
---Applause
Madam Speaker, this being National Co-op Week, I wish to rise to congratulate the Toonoonik Sahoonik Co-op of Pond Inlet on their acquisition of a hotel in Iqaluit, formerly the Bayshore Hotel, which is now known as the Tununirmiut Hotel. I'm very pleased that this hotel is now owned in the north by a co-op which already opened a retail store in Iqaluit earlier last year.
The new owners have invested in renovations and improvements in service and the new hotel has already proved to be a popular family eating and meeting place. I understand that the co-op has plans to expand this facility in the future and I was very pleased to learn that they're open to some equity of participation by a new and rejuvenated Iqaluit co-op, which I would like to see formed.
I was also very pleased to have attended the official opening of this new venture earlier this year, along with my colleague, Mr. Titus Allooloo, MLA for Amittuq, and Mr. James Atagotak, chair of the board, and certain directors.
Madam Speaker, this is the kind of mutually-beneficial cooperation of which we are proud in the Baffin. I am delighted that the co-op movement and particularly this very progressive co-op from Pond Inlet has such a strong presence in my constituency. Qujannamiik.
---Applause