Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, also known as Admiral, the Honourable Brian Tobin, has recently announced last week the northern turbot quotas for NAFO sub-area O in Davis Strait off the east coast of Baffin Island totalling 5,500 tons, and has requested proposals from Canadian companies wishing to use foreign vessels for this fishery in 1995, under stringent landing requirements in Canadian ports.

I wish to announce that, once again, hunters' and trappers' associations from Baffin communities are submitting proposals that would employ Inuit from these communities. The HTAs from Lake Harbour, Iqaluit, Broughton Island, Clyde River and Pond Inlet, along with Avataq Fisheries, are urging support for their applications on two grounds: firstly, the Nunavut final land claims agreement, article 15.11 states that an Inuit economy is based in part on marine resources is both viable and desirable and; secondly, several of the criteria and operating guidelines developed for sub-area O allocations in 1995 by DFO should in fairness and justice, work in favour of Inuit-owned applicants from Baffin. One of the criteria states that evaluation of each application will be based on adjacency to the resource.

Mr. Speaker, these turbot are in waters adjacent to Baffin Island and are not, incidentally, in waters which were part of the recent dispute with the European union over turbot quotas.

Another criteria states that special consideration will be given to proposals involving affirmative action for native participation in the fishery. These applications have my full support.

I rise today to encourage other MLAs, our MP for Nunatsiaq, and the Ministers of Economic Development and Tourism and Renewable Resources of our government to use their good offices to ensure that this year the allocations of turbot quota in area O are consistent with and respectful of provisions of the Inuit land claim; furthermore, that the allocations given preference to those applicants who are most adjacent to the resource: residents of Baffin Island.

I would just like a few moments to conclude my statement with unanimous consent, Mr. Speaker.