Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to speak about mining in general, diamonds, specifically, and the opportunities they afford the Northwest Territories, the Dogrib region and my community of Yellowknife.

I strongly support the proactive and aggressive approach taken by the Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, Mr. Todd. Mr. Todd has put the mining accord on the front burner. He is forming a coalition from the effected regions, of the private sector, aboriginal groups, government and the mining industry. This opportunity will only come once. If we don't seize it, it will be gone forever.

If the economics are there, mines will be built. Some people may not like that, but that is a fact of life. This is a big play and either we are in on it or it is going to happen without us. There are very legitimate concerns that have been expressed by Members in this House about the environment, about broken promises from the past, about how it will effect land claims and how it will effect the treaties. I, for one, think those issues are very serious and have to be dealt with. But it still comes down to some hard and cold realities. Either we work with the industry to maximize opportunities for jobs and business or we are left out in the cold. We will watch airplanes carrying our diamonds, our jobs and our business opportunities flying at 30,000 feet overhead.

If we want to lessen our dependence on Ottawa, we have to take advantage of these opportunities. There is no doubt in my mind that as the federal government tries to wrestle down their deficit, no matter what the Minister of Finance does -- and he is doing a very good job -- we are going to be hit. I think we have to recognize that is a big reality.

I want to take this opportunity to thank the government, to thank Mr. Todd for the support and the cooperation they've given to the Yellowknife business community. The Yellowknife mining community, as many of you may not know, have been involved in this diamond play for many, many years. However, the magnitude and the speed at which this play is developed has been overwhelming. I think it's been difficult for the government, and definitely difficult for the business community here in Yellowknife to gear up for it.

Madam Speaker, could I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement?