Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, we in the Natilikmiot region, consisting of Pelly Bay, Gjoa Haven and Taloyoak, have had problems trying to retain economic development officers. They have a habit of only staying a couple of years in Taloyoak. I'm not saying this is the fault of the previous Ministers or the present Minister. I don't know what the problem is. Maybe the job is not attractive enough, I don't know.

The Kitikmeot Inuit Association, together with CEDOs has a plan to administer and manage the economic development officer position and the PY in Taloyoak. A formal request was made to the honourable Minister of Economic Development. I was very privileged to be at that meeting. The Minister has indicated to me that, if this is the wish of the members of that community, that he would comply. I know the KIA and CEDOs have worked very, very hard. They have put a tremendous amount of time and effort into this plan. I know it will work because this is coming from the community and the hamlet council of that community has also given their support to the initiative. The incentive is coming from the community and I know the Minister is in support of this initiative.

Mr. Chairman, I hope, at some time in the future, once we deal with the matter in Taloyoak, that we will finally be able to get an economic development officer for my community of Pelly Bay. There was request made about a year ago. I think there was a misunderstanding. People thought I was not supporting the community of Pelly Bay to get an economic development officer PY in that community.

Mr. Chairman, I know the regional superintendent, Mr. John McGrath, has worked very hard for that region, but he does not have all the resources and means to do the things he wanted to do and what the people want. But, hopefully, with this new initiative in Taloyoak, we will be able to help the community and the individual who lives in that area to develop some ways and means to get economic activity finally going in that side of the Kitikmeot region.

I know Mr. Kelvin Ng, my colleague, is in support of whatever economic development we can initiate in that region. I'm very thankful for that, he is a Member I can work with. It is very comfortable to work with Mr. Kelvin Ng. The only difference we have is that there are too many government departments and programs in his area. I hope some of those will be transferring to part of my area. I know he and I can work over that some day soon.

Mr. Chairman, Gjoa Haven is in the process of starting a community development corporation. We all know that the community development corporation's priority is to hire and train local people. We know that the money stays in the community whenever there is a community economic development corporation initiated by the community.

I also have one in Taloyoak who want to start up their own community development by renting office space and some accommodation to the government staff. In most small communities, the only means of income coming to the community is usually the staff of this jurisdiction. I hope that the Minister will be sensitive to the people who want to start a community development corporation in any given area, especially when the community has a proposal to provide office space to government staff within the community. I know the system. The government is in the process of getting rid of all the government staff houses, and I hope, given that, they will also want to rent office space from the community development corporation.

In conclusion, I know that the Minister has lived in the eastern Arctic for many years and he has been a proponent of community development corporations, community hire and government buying from the community. I know he has worked very hard since taking over the portfolio as the Economic Development and Tourism Minister, and I know he will continue to do that. I have every confidence in the Minister. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.