Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, would like to make my statement on a more serious matter. It is in relation to what the honourable member from the Fort Rae area had talked about, which is education. Mr. Speaker, the Premier, in his speech the other day, indicated that we should focus on three core priorities. Two of those were to improve economic conditions and to address social conditions.

Those are, I believe, directly related to the education levels of Northerners. For years, the Legislative Assembly has stressed the need for education for all northern residents. We made several movements in that area, including adopting a small school secondary program, implementing a new education act, and dramatically expanding the roles of Aurora and Nunavut Arctic College.

In 1996, there was a snapshot done of the western NWT labour market, which showed having more education increases the chance of getting a job. It showed that 29 percent of those, with less than grade 9, have a job. Only 29 percent. At the same time, it showed that if you have a university degree, you are almost guaranteed to have a job. Those were at a 91 percent level. Those numbers may have changed a little since then.

Mr. Speaker, I request unanimous consent to conclude my statement.