Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, this week two major made-for-TV film productions are commencing production in the Northwest Territories: Frostfire, in Yellowknife, which some Members know about, and The

Trial at Fortitude Bay, in Iqaluit. Madam Speaker, these productions, I'm sure Members appreciate, provide sizeable economic benefits to the communities in which they shoot.

The Trial at Fortitude Bay, like Map of the Human Heart and Agaguk and other recent productions filmed in Iqaluit and many others filmed there over the years, will employ Inuit as actors at generous wages, many more local people as extras, as set builders, people who rent their snowmobiles and Komatiks, their vehicles, provide caribou clothing and artifacts. This is a well established industry in the Northwest Territories. Madam Speaker, so is the Canadian film industry.

Most provinces, and even the Yukon Territory, have film development corporations or policies to provide the financial incentives these productions sometimes need to make the shoot viable in their jurisdiction. I believe a program of this kind is now even more important for the Northwest Territories, since other provinces, and even the Yukon, have programs to offer incentives. I know for example that Churchill, Manitoba, with the support of the Manitoba Film Development Corporation, was actively bidding with the production consortium of the Trial at Fortitude Bay for the opportunity to have the economic benefits of shooting outdoor scenes on location in Churchill.

I would like to thank the Honourable John Todd, his deputy and his regional superintendent for some financial assistance that was provided to help tip the balance so the Trial at Fortitude Bay could be filmed in Iqaluit and in the Northwest Territories. We need a proper policy, proper programs and a more orderly approach to attracting these important benefits to the north. Thank you.

---Applause