Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to begin by saying that I was very pleased to see Mr. Todd's new traditional Scottish footwear this morning, bringing down his budget; his Scottish golfing shoes.

However, the government still has a $1 billion budget and we do have the will and desire to do government differently. Doing government differently takes time. Mr. Speaker, no one likes change, but change is coming whether we like it or not. We have to be prepared to respond to these changes in a proactive way.

I think many of the suggestions and ideas announced by the Finance Minister today are indicative of this. However, I feel in some areas, such as the reductions in the capital budgets, we didn't go far enough. We have to base this area of government on community needs and not wants.

In other areas such as the elimination of key regional positions and offices, maybe we went too far. Mr. Speaker, this is the balancing act that we will have to participate in, in the life of the 13th Assembly. The recently announced dollar values for Nunavut is a concern. The continued transitional and incremental costs for Nunavut and the new Western Territory will have to be addressed.

Mr. Speaker, although I tabled the report on the Iqaluit Focus Group yesterday in this House, I had presented copies to the Ministers and Members several days before. I am pleased that some of the recommendations from the report have been included in Mr. Todd's address today.

--- Applause

Mr. Speaker, I look forward to debating the budget in the House over the next few weeks. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Todd's new shoes will be used to run from my debate and I appreciate that. Mr. Speaker, I know Mr. Todd will let me catch up to him. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--- Applause