Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I have had many disappointments in the past during my time as a Member of the Legislature, I have been here for about seven years now. I have had more that one capital project from a community that I have lost, either being deferred or money going to another region. To those Members who have lost their projects, I say, welcome to the club.

Mr. Chairman, the community health centre in Gjoa Haven seems to be the starting point of all that is going on here. Mr. Chairman, like, you got more than I got, you know. I would like to try and put things into perspective.

Mr. Chairman, I believe that Cabinet Ministers make an important decision. I would like to give you a little history of Gjoa Haven Health Centre. During my time as a member of the Legislature for the seven years I have had meetings with the community, we have had meetings with the Minister of the Health Centre, we have had meetings with the Premier of the Eleventh Assembly, in this case Nellie Cournoyea.

We have gone to the regional council, we retain their support. We have had meetings with the Ministers, with the leaders of the community of Gjoa Haven, we have written correspondence to the appropriate Ministers. We have had a petition from the community to try and retain the health centre which has been deferred once or twice in the past.

Mr. Chairman, every conceivable means has been used to acquire the health centre for Gjoa Haven. We have lost the project three times, perhaps, four times, in the past. I think the Ministers when they make the decision, in this case about Gjoa Haven's health centre, they have had many requests from different levels of leadership within the jurisdiction. Even the health board got involved in the request.

Mr. Chairman, it is my understanding that during this fiscal restraint we have to, to a degree, let the managers manage. Let them set the priorities according to the informed decision from the communities, affected communities from the leadership, from regional leadership and from the local leadership. I sympathize with members who have lost their major project with substantial amount of money, but it is not the first time it has happened. You will not be the only one who has lost you project. I have lost three projects during the past six years.

Mr. Chairman, because we are in a democracy, all twenty-four members of the Legislature are not able to make decisions on behalf of the government. We have selected, we have delegated the Cabinet members to make day to day decision on our behalf, on behalf of the public. I believe, Mr. Chairman, that given the fiscal restraint that we are faced with the Cabinet has a very difficult task before them. Given the needs demonstrated by the communities, by the region and also demonstrated by a number of communications between the Cabinet and the affected communities, I think, the Cabinet membership has made a good decision but not satisfactory to everyone.

Mr. Chairman, I agree that the current practice by the Cabinet Ministers is not acceptable, perhaps, unfair. But somebody has to make the tough decision. I remember when we first got elected into the thirteenth Assembly the Premier of this government, Nellie Cournoyea, appeared before the caucus, she told us at that time, she said I do not envy you guys. You are going to have to make the tough decisions, This is not a time to be popular, this is the time to make the right decision. I believe that, Mr. Chairman, like you, like the Members, especially those who have lost substantial amount of money to changes to the capital plan.

I am not happy with the process. From here on you should try to make recommendations to the government within our ability, within our power as ordinary M.L.A.'s. Once that has happened, then we have to look into the policies and directives of the government to determine, Mr. Chairman, if the current practice is, in fact, in line with the power that was given to us by the federal government. If it is within the scope of the power given to us by the federal government I am willing to live with that, but I think the problem is communication from the cabinet to affected M.L.A.'s about their projects.

I sympathize with each and every one of you, that the lack of communication may have played a role in what is happening now at this time. It is not a pleasant discussion, what is happening, but I think once we talk about it, determine the guidelines or recommendations, and perhaps all the animosity that is going on before us will disappear. Like I said before we have news in Gjoa Haven and Kitikmeot every conceivable means to try and acquire the nursing station, we have lost it once or twice, or three times before. I believe that the cabinet has made the right decision because we have demonstrated the need to acquire the health centre. I wish from here on that the name health centre of Gjoa Haven has come up a number of times. I am not about to sit here and listen to people talking about my community. I do not want to get personal and I hope that I have indicated to you that I put things into perspective. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.