Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I had a prepared text today for a Member's statement, but I've decided to diverge from that and wing it, so to speak, on another subject.
I was at the Environmental Review Panel hearings just before I came here today, and a presenter went before the panel and made a very passionate plea on behalf of the land, the wildlife and the environment of the Barren Lands. It was a very passionate plea and it resulted in the presenter breaking and becoming very emotional, and people in the audience also breaking down and becoming very emotional during his presentation. But when I heard that, I wanted to stand in the House today to say that I haven't heard all the other presentations to the Environmental Review Panel, but I hope that someone has stood before that panel and made an equally impassioned plea on behalf of the youth of the Northwest Territories who are without hope, in many cases, of finding employment in their home territory. I guess it's my hope that we will find a balance between protecting our beautiful land and our wonderful wildlife, but also taking care of our very most valuable resource, that being our young people in the Northwest Territories. Thank you.
---Applause