Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As I said last week, the health of the Nunavut economy will be better with a larger number and broader base of individual businesses, rather than the economy relying on four large corporations, regardless of who the owners are.

This is a straightforward and logical argument for me, especially if we put in controls to ensure that the Inuit population will get its fair and proportionate share. I understand that the president of NTI has been invited to the Baffin Leaders' Summit next month, and I look forward to discussing this further with him at that time.

I would also like to note, Mr. Speaker, that it appears that the largest newspaper in Nunavut, which is also the local paper for Iqaluit, appears to be actively discouraging discussions on the low level of incremental funding through means available to it. I hope that is not the case and I look forward to seeing much more debate on this matter in future editions.

I must say that I could not blame them for trying to limit debate since, as the funding stands now, Iqaluit will get most of the positions, most of the buildings and so on. Nunatsiaq News has a vested interest in making sure that the jobs do not go out to other communities and obviously a larger population and more government jobs would be very good for that paper.

Mr. Speaker, there was also a popular argument recently that the GNWT did this to itself by not responding to the NIC report. I will concede that there has been no formal written document issued until recently, entitled "Response to the NIC Report." However, I do know that the GNWT has made a tremendous effort, through correspondence and face-to-face meetings, to influence the federal Cabinet submission on the funding needed for incremental costs for the Nunavut government.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, I must advise all residents of Nunavut that I will not stay quiet on these issues, despite the pathetic tactics by those trying to protect their own interests in the building of our new government. I look forward to meeting and dealing with these challenges head on in the next 33 months leading up to Nunavut. I especially welcome the opportunity to work with the NTI Board of Directors to build the best future we can for all the people of Nunavut. Thank you.

--- Applause