Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I think it was a couple of weeks ago that we had the swearing-in of the new Governor General, the Honourable Romeo LeBlanc, in Ottawa; well-attended by the Northwest Territories. I believe the Commissioner was there and others to participate in that ceremony. I've had the pleasure, over the past several years, of meeting Mr. LeBlanc on a couple of occasions in Ottawa. And, as a result of his latest appointment, I sent a congratulatory letter on behalf of my constituents.

The outgoing Governor General, the Right Honourable Ramon Hnatyshyn and Mrs. Hnatyshyn, has been a frequent visitor to the Northwest Territories. He was here on a number of occasions prior to his becoming Governor General, and certainly on two occasions during his tenure when he visited Yellowknife and other communities. It is always nice to have representatives of that high office visit this part of Canada. The motto on the coat of arms does say "from sea to sea," but in fact, Mr. Speaker, it should say from "sea to sea to sea." It is good to see that, on occasion, this high office does come to this part of the world and they are welcomed and shown the hospitality that northerners give. I certainly would extend an invitation, on behalf of my constituents at least, to the new Governor General and Mrs. LeBlanc to come to the Northwest Territories to visit us on the first occasion they can find in their busy schedule.

Mr. Speaker, it was very pleasant news when they induct such an important office and in his inaugural speech he said -- having been a correspondent over the years -- it isn't always that the media reports the good news. They are very quick to report bad news, incidents that occur: war, pestilence, crime, stuff like that. He encouraged the media to report more good news and it does happen. I think it is a good idea because people get very cynical when they read newspapers and all they see in it is very bad news. It was good news for us to hear the announcement of his appointment and the swearing-in ceremony.

One piece of good news that some northerners have told me they would like to see one of these days, would be that the Queen's representative in Canada would be an aboriginal person. We talk about the two founding races and we have had representatives from both English and French, but it is time that they look at an aboriginal person for the office of the Governor General. I just thought that I should point that out for perhaps the next time around. The Prime Minister should look around for someone, starting now, as the tenure of the Governor General is only five years.