Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Looking at the future fiscal climate in the Northwest Territories and the pressures we know are going to be visited on the next government, I listen with interest to the debate about whether the ombudsman should be created now or later or whether the ombudsman should be amalgamated with the office of the Access and Privacy Commissioner, which I thought would have been the best use of resources and perhaps a chance to save some money through sharing of an office and perhaps an individual.

But, Mr. Chairman, I wonder if the next government is to meet the deficit reduction targets that are required by the bill recently passed by this Assembly, if it is to meet the requirements for restraint which we know and fear will be imposed by the financial restraint threatened by the Government of Canada. I wonder whether this isn't an academic debate. I wonder whether, when teachers, nurses and programs which are very vital to our communities are going to be cut because of severe fiscal problems, we'll be able to afford to consider such questions as how the office of the ombudsman will work. I wonder if we'll consider it impossible in light of the fiscal burdens on the horizon.

I just want to make that point, I guess, Mr. Chairman. It's a good debate and an interesting debate, but I wonder if fiscal reality is not going to mean that other, more urgent priorities will have to delay the implementation of this legislative action paper. I think it's an interesting question for the future and I guess I just want to note that I believe the biggest question will be the cost, and whether that cost can be justified in a time of severe financial restraint. Thank you.