Thank you, Madam Speaker. During the 11th Assembly, we established a Special Committee on Northern Economy. This work really was to provide some kind of long-range idea about the way we should go as a jurisdiction. It was adopted by our Assembly.
One of the recommendations was that we establish a round-table on the economy and the environment. That was chopped after a short time because it was seen to be redundant, but a lot of thought had gone into the way we were going as a territory. It was felt by our committee and Members at that time that if we were going to develop in the west -- especially in the west -- then it was very important that we didn't put ourselves in the position that we have to react and take on fights with all the groups of people who are attracted to this part of the world and there is a battle which suddenly they can engage in; raise lots of money to protect this and that.
I would urge the government to really look at some kind of forum, whereby all the stakeholders could meet -- and it doesn't have to be expensive, it doesn't have to meet every week -- maybe once or twice a year to exchange information so that northern people can set the ground rules about the way we're going to develop. That was the point of the round-table. I'm sorry, in their haste to look at things that could be chopped out because they didn't have an immediate impact, the government reconsidered the need for this kind of forum right now. Simply because I believe we are on the verge of major developments in the west and I don't believe we should allow people outside of this jurisdiction, and outside of Canada, in many cases, to dictate to us how we go. Thank you.