Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Honourable Members, at this time I would like to say hello to my wife and children back home. Mr. Speaker, during my campaign I spoke of our youth and how they would be the future of our communities. At present, the youth represents 44 per cent of our population. We have seen the numbers of how many are making it through the system and how many fall between the cracks. We, as a government, have to make it possible for our youth to move on with their lives. This also applies to those who have already failed in the present system. We have to give them the necessary tools to become more successful and to prepare them for the many changes that will be coming their way.

That is why I say that we, as a government, should allow our education system to plan for the longer term and the running of programs on a year-to-year basis is not a good way of doing business.

Our college, as it presently exists, needs to distribute on a more equitable basis the core funding it receives. We, as a government, should give our education system the tools necessary to do this. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause