Thank you, Madam Speaker. Today, I would like to make a Member's statement on government negotiated contracts, specifically in my community of Pond Inlet. Pond Inlet had a chance to experience one of the first negotiated contracts. I would like to report that, although this was a relatively small contract that was negotiated between the co-op of Pond Inlet, Qillaut Development, and Merkosak Construction, well over 100 people are employed right now in Pond Inlet.

I would like to commend this initiative taken up by government, and especially the Minister of Housing for his ability to foresee that negotiated contracts will work in smaller communities. We have had numerous contracts in the community, but they are given to outside contractors who only employ three or four local people. At the present time, because of this negotiated contract and also because of the cooperative effort of the co-op, Qillaut Development and Merkosak Construction, we are able to see well over 100 people employed in the community. For that, I would like to thank the government. I hope this will continue in the future. Thank you.

---Applause