Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My petition reads: "We, the undersigned business people of Hay River, wish to bring to your attention some of our concerns regarding the new business incentive policy. The proposed reduction of the base incentive from 15 per cent to 5.8 per cent is not acceptable. The low percentage will not provide the protection needed for northern companies to operate on a level playing field with the South. The 5.8 per cent incentive will allow southern companies to bid competitively with the following direct advantages over northern companies: no investment in the NWT; no northern employment costs; no contributions to the northern or

municipal tax base; and, no local northern economic contributions to the North or northern people. I believe that the NWT government is paying a 15 per cent premium for goods and services is simply false. The present and every growing competition between northern companies ensures the NWT government a fair marketplace. In closing, we recognize the fact that it is not the desire of the GNWT to finance the success of northern companies by means of the business incentive policy, however, we strongly feel that it should not be made the mandate of the GNWT to introduce a policy that unfairly handicaps the ability of northern companies to bid competitively against the South." Petition No. 12-13(3) is signed by 40 prominent business people in Hay River. Thank you.