Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This country has to realize that the cost of doing nothing is unacceptable. All governments, including the Government of the Northwest Territories, have to devote resources to improving the lives of our people.
I have a special concern with the need for adult education and, later this week, I will be raising this issue here in the House. We have to strengthen our education programs so our people can have hope in themselves, in their ability to contribute and in their ability to benefit from the economy. This is a single example of an area where an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Mr. Speaker, the Royal Commission said it would be a travesty of justice if action to rectify the results of a history of dispossession were abandoned on grounds of fiscal restraint. I agree. We cannot let the spectre of a deficit keep us from making decisions which will, in the long run, benefit both our economy and our fellow citizens.
Mr. Speaker, in the Premier's opening address he indicated that we now need to focus on three core priorities. Two of those priorities are to improve economic conditions and to address social conditions. Mr. Speaker, I hope this is an indication he is willing to put his money where his mouth is - to put money into educating the thousands of people in the NWT who cannot get a job because their education level is too low. Thank you.
-- Applause