Good afternoon, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we have, over the past year, listened to rhetoric and posturing from both the union and the government over contract talks. It is normal that tough positions have been adopted by both sides; however, with the aid of mediation, the impasse can be resolved with no disruption of services to the residents of the Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker, it is my position that collective bargaining is a necessary and democratic process, however, perhaps it is time that the union let go of certain benefits for both economic and moral reasons.

Let me first say that I admire the union for agreeing to the principle of affirmative action. As the aboriginal population of the Northwest Territories becomes better educated and skilled, there will be more opportunities for them in the territorial public services. However, Mr. Speaker, when I examined the collective agreement currently in place, I did see areas that are no longer appropriate. Let me explain. For example, is it really fair for an aboriginal or long-term northerner to work all their adult life for the Government of the Northwest Territories and not reap the same benefits upon retirement as a southerner who retires or quits after 10 years of services?

This, currently, is the way things are as a result of the collective agreement's ultimate removal package. Mr. Speaker, the so-called ultimate removal package has to be rationalized. Twenty years ago, it may have been necessary to offer such expensive benefits to attract qualified candidates to the north. Mr. Speaker, I do not think this is the case today given the large supply of educated and skilled southerners currently unemployed or underemployed in southern Canada.

It is also not a fiscally-proven benefit. Mr. Speaker, it must be remembered that once we, as government, pay for the ultimate removal of an employee to southern Canada, that person is no longer an economic benefit to the territories. What I mean by this is that unlike southern jurisdictions, the majority of the retirees from the Government of the Northwest Territories do not stay in the north. As a result, our government loses a portion of its tax base and our local businesses lose consumption dollars. Mr. Speaker, I've noticed over the past several years that more of the people who we originally hire from the south have decided to stay in the north after retirement and I applaud their decision.

To conclude, Mr. Speaker, I want to be on record as supporting the government's efforts to modify this outdated element of the collective agreement. Mahsi cho.