Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, we've just heard the opinion of the Minister of Public Works and Services who stated that its estimated cost of implementing the BIP over the year is approximately $30 million. I firmly believe that this government has to take some definite steps towards trying to balance the budget this year. I believe that this would be a definite step towards this goal.

Mr. Chairman, I believe that it would not interfere with the government's responsibility to honour the benefits and preferential treatments that are suggested in land claims. I believe that those are law. The land claims suggest that the land claims groups would receive preferential treatment for business in their areas. I don't believe that elimination of the BIP would interfere with that process. The reason I believe this is because the Minister has been stating over the last number of days and weeks that the people, particularly in Nunavut, have been asking for 10 per cent over and above what the BIP is. Therefore, it seems to stand to reason that if you remove the BIP, we're only dealing with 10 per cent. I think that the people in Nunavut realize that the BIP is really not beneficial to them at this point in time.

All I'm asking for at this time is that we suspend it until we have a balanced budget. It may also give the government time that they need to see whether, in fact, this thing was beneficial. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.