(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to make a statement on behalf of the Baffin Members of the Legislative Assembly. We are very concerned to learn the decision has been taken by Cabinet to eliminate the regional director's position in the Baffin region. There are a number of important issues in our region which the regional director is handling. The Baffin regional director has been
providing very good support to the Baffin Leaders' Summit, which I chair.
It is helpful that the regional director can represent all departments and agencies of the government in the Baffin region. Community transfer is an important priority in our region. The regional director is chairing a committee of all the key departments overseeing implementation of Community transfer in our region. Having the regional director chair this committee shows that it is an important priority for Cabinet and not just one department.
At our recent Baffin Leaders' Summit, this initiative, which we know is also a priority of the government, was identified as a priority by Baffin leaders. It is especially important that it succeed in our region which, unfortunately, has more than its share of social problems.
Our regional director now chairs a regional wellness committee. If the regional director no longer chairs this committee, we are concerned that this might reduce the support given to this important committee by other departments.
We know that the regional director carries out a number of other important functions in the region. For example, the regional director looks after important visitors who regularly come to the Baffin region. Last year, it was Prime Minister Chretien and Chancellor Helmut Kohl. There are other important visits and meetings planned for the coming year.