Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to direct this to the chairman of the committee. I wonder if, in its deliberations, the committee considered a question that I find often comes up in my riding, especially since Iqaluit took the bold step in 1976 of closing the local liquor store to over-the-counter sales; a step that I don't think has ever been regretted by the majority of residents in the community, although it has been complained about by some.

Ever since that decision was made -- as a result of a petition by the people of Iqaluit to the then Commissioner, Stuart Hodgson, who acted decisively to agree to the community's request -- the simple question has come up as to whether drinking is a privilege or a right in the democratic society that we have in the Northwest Territories.

I would like to ask the chairman if that question came up, and whether the legislative action paper dealt with that question. Is it premised on drinking being a privilege in the Northwest Territories and not a right? Thank you.