Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to inform Members of the good work which has been accomplished by the parish hall fund-raising committee in Iqaluit. Last Friday, thanks to all the organizing costs being covered by the Royal Canadian Legion from branch number four, a packed concert featuring Susan Aglukark and other northern entertainers raised a magnificent sum of $9,500 towards the new parish hall.

Mr. Speaker, Iqaluit desperately needs a new parish hall. The present building came from the United States Airforce and was built in 1943. There has been overwhelming support from all segments of the community for a new parish hall. As Canon Mike Gardener, our local pastor put it, many people, churchgoers or not, have put their hearts into supporting a new community hall. The community has, once again, pulled together behind this project, which was advocated and supported by the late Simonie Alainga. Although the parish hall fund raising committee has not even been in existence for two years, they have raised $121,000 to date towards a new parish hall. A lot of these funds were raised in nickels and dimes, collection boxes in Northern Stores and Arctic Ventures, which meant about $500 every two weeks and personal donations.

The local committee's fund-raising efforts were also given a great boost by the approval of a $400,000 NWT infrastructure funding contribution on April 6th. I would like to thank the Honourable Art Eggleton and particularly the Honourable Richard Nerysoo, Minister responsible for the funding in the Northwest Territories, for their swift approval of the community's application in time to be announced to the community at the fund-raising concert last Friday. This was a great boost and encouragement to the sell-out crowd in attendance.

Mr. Chris Groves, chair of the fund-raising committee tells me that the fund raising will continue to meet the target of $550,000 set for the new hall. Construction will begin this summer. I would like to thank Mr. Groves and the other members of the fund-raising committee: Peter Scott, Mary Ellen Thomas, Diane Smith, Mathusalah Kunuk, Pauloosie Kilabuk, Paul Taylor and the good people of Iqaluit on their good work on this very worthwhile project. Qujannamiik.