Thank you, Madam Speaker. This weekend I had the pleasure of helping out at the third annual bachelor auction sponsored by the local office of the Canadian National Institute for the Blind. The auction raised over $5,000 for program work and operational costs. A good time was had by all.

Madam Speaker, in an economic climate such as we are experiencing, it becomes much more difficult for voluntary groups and agencies to raise the necessary portion of money needed to keep programs operating and we, in Yellowknife, are fortunate to have had the generous input and support that we get.

Special thanks must go to the Explorer Hotel, Sounds Sensations and the many restaurants that contributed facilities, entertainment and door prizes for this event. But it was through the generosity of the good people at Clark Bowler who matched, dollar for dollar, some of the bids, that our objectives were reached.

CNIB regional director, Lydia Bardak, her staff and volunteers, including our own Ms. MacPherson and Ms. Harris, had to have done a wonderful job of rounding up a good slate of eligible bachelors who promised lots of fun and good times for their successful bidders. Events such as these ensure that the necessary and important work of CNIB can continue. Thank you.

---Applause