I definitely cannot support this motion. One of the priorities stated by this government is to promote economic growth in the Northwest Territories, and I do not see how sending our money to southern companies and southern contractors is going to do that in any way. There are businesses that will shut down and there will be jobs lost. We already have social programs consuming a huge portion of our budget, and that is ever-expanding. If we were to do something like get rid of the BIP, I think it would be highly regressive and we would be shooting ourselves in the foot.

The intent of the BIP is to provide insurance so that northern contractors can, on an equal footing, bid against southern contractors and southern suppliers. That is a good initiative, it has worked well, it has helped to develop our northern economy, to the point now where there is competition amongst northern companies and I think the government is getting good value for their money.

Other provinces and jurisdictions also have business incentive initiatives. Particularly in my riding, a lot of people have gotten into the area of manufacturing, and they are competing with provinces like Quebec where the Quebec government will subsidize employees in the manufacturing sector to the amount of 50 per cent. I think it would be absolutely ludicrous to have this government remove that assurance that we are interested in promoting and supporting northern businesses. Thank you.