Thank you Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to outline a problem that I see becoming larger and more serious. My constituency in the Community of Pangnirtung are worried about the future of their airstrip, and the air service. Mr. Speaker, anyone who has travelled to Pangnirtung knows that the airstrip is now in the middle of the town, right beside the main school. This town is growing, Mr. Speaker. It is the second largest town in the Baffin region. There are rules that 740 type aircraft may no longer be able to serve the town because of this airstrip and it's location. This is a growing town and great potential for business development. It is the centre for major arts and crafts business. A major tourism destination because it is the entrance to Auyuittuq National Park. It is also the centre of growing commercial fisheries in the Baffin region.
All of these positive elements in the community depend on the air services. The future economic growth of this community is closely tied to the airstrip. To relocate the airstrip is a major project in my community. In Pangnirtung with it's narrow land space and high cliffs, it will be a great challenge, but the work must begin now, the planning of location, the planning of facilities and, of course, the planning of the funds necessary for such a project. It might be easy for some people to say wait for Nunavut, they can pay for that, but, Mr. Speaker we all know that these projects take a long time and we must start now. I will be working closely with the people of Pangnirtung and the Minister of Transportation in an effort to get this project started to the community to continue to grow. Thank you.
(Native Language speaker)