Thank you, Madam Speaker. I continue to have grave concern, Madam Speaker, about the government's determination to eliminate the Science Institute of the Northwest Territories.

The fears of those who promoted the concept of a science institute, more than 15 years ago, have now been realized, the political process advanced to the stage where science is bought like any other commodity. Governments shuffle around the science that best supports the positions of the government in power.

Eliminating the Science Institute means the legislature would no longer have an arm's length agency that would provide it with the best advice available without fear or favour. The science advisory function would be part of the college system, and would be lost in the workings of the largest department of the government. The focus has completely changed from what was originally envisaged.

The attitude of government seems to be if we can't control it, let's eliminate it. Some of the most memorable events to have occurred in this legislature have occurred when, through the Science Institute, Members have listened to careful, objective analysis of northern scientific problems by scientists with no axe to grind and no positions to promote.

I vividly recall the debate on uranium mining and the deep impression made on William Noah -- and I just use him as an example. He was, at that time, the MLA for Baker Lake. I remember the gratitude he felt towards those scientists who carefully explained the nature of uranium mining in a fair, objective fashion. This, I fear, would be lost and we would be the poorer for it. Thank you, Madam Speaker.

---Applause