Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, I want to join other Members in congratulating Mary Simon, who last fall was appointed as Canada's first ambassador for circumpolar affairs. This appointment illustrates both the importance of the Arctic region as the globe evolves, from the former bi-polar world of the United States and the Soviet Union, into a world where regions take on much more importance.

The ambassador, in her talk with us today at noon, talked about her first goal as ambassador, which is to create an Arctic council which will consist of eight northern countries: Canada; United States; Russia; and, a number of the Scandinavian countries, who will join together to discuss areas of mutual interest, whether it is trade, the environment, defence, et cetera. It is interesting because the Canadian government is embarking on new foreign policy concepts and this gives the northern people of Canada an opportunity for the first time to play a much more important role in Canada's foreign policy. If the Arctic council goes ahead, which I hope it will, people of the Northwest Territories, especially aboriginal people in the Northwest Territories will have, for the first time, a significant role to play in determining the foreign policy of our country.

So I see it as a tremendous opportunity for the people of the Northwest Territories. I also see it as a unifying factor of the Northwest Territories, where much of our politics tends to divide us as we are separating into two territories and as the western Arctic goes through constitutional discussions. By our involvement in the circumpolar world, we will find areas that can unite us. I also say that our government and Legislative Assembly, presently Mr. Kakfwi, deserve a lot of credit for the ongoing support that they have given to the whole concept of strengthening the circumpolar world.

With that, Mr. Speaker, I would like to offer my congratulations to Mary Simon. I am sure she will do a tremendous job as our ambassador to the Arctic world. Thank you.

---Applause