Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, the Premier announced that she will table a report dealing with the government's proposal to privatize the Northwest Territories Power Corporation. I rise today to express my concern that such an important report is coming forward in the final hours scheduled for this House to meet.

Madam Speaker, without time to read the tabled document and reasonable discussion in this House, what may be a one-sided or biased position favouring privatization is now going to the public and may colour the public's perception about just how many Members support this initiative. Madam Speaker, I want to be on record as not supporting privatization of the Northwest Territories Power Corporation in the foreseeable future. In fact, most of the Members with whom I have discussed this issue have indicated that they don't believe that privatization makes sense right now.

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Madam Speaker, this is in spite of extensive briefing sessions provided by the government and lobbying in favour of privatization by some Members of Cabinet. I should note, Madam Speaker, that Mr. Ballantyne and Mr. Ng have already spoken in this House against privatization.

Madam Speaker, I look forward to having the opportunity to fully debate this issue with Cabinet in the fall. And, in the meantime, I would like to make sure the public knows that the position presented in the report the Premier will table today is that of the government, in other words, of Cabinet. It does not represent the feelings, desires, wishes or program that all the Members of this House aspire to.

Madam Speaker, I would urge the public to view the report with a very critical eye. I know that I will.

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