Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank my fellow colleagues for giving me the opportunity today to make a reply to the Budget Address, as it was on the order paper. I'm sure with all the media present, they have taken notice,

Mr. Speaker, the announcements by Mr. Todd about community wellness and community empowerment were well taken. But using the community empowerment example, I hope that we do not dump programs and responsibilities onto communities and then withdraw our monetary commitments because we are being cut fiscally.

Mr. Speaker, I also have some concerns with the announced Mortgage Investment Corporation. After having time to speak to commercial lenders in the residential markets, I feel that the MIC may not be justified and I will be looking for more detail from the Minister.

Mr. Speaker, the Todd budget will go down in history as his first budget, but it will also be remembered as a budget that tried to change the spending habits of the GNWT; not an easy task. Mr. Speaker, I supported Mr. Todd for Cabinet because I thought he was the best person to fill the Finance portfolio. Mr. Speaker, unbelievable as it sounds, after I've seen the questions that I've asked the Minister over the past X number of months, I still believe this. However, I will continue to offer Mr. Todd and my fellow colleagues in Cabinet prodding to continue to cut our spending by looking for increased efficiency and not just motherhood statements and flowery words as I have heard over the past few weeks.

The people of the NWT deserve no less and will remember these things when the elected Members seek re-election, and justifiably so, Mr. Speaker. I would like to pass on to my fellow colleagues in Cabinet and Mr. Todd a short statement: A goal without a number is just a slogan. And, Mr. Speaker, the people of the NWT deserve more than a slogan. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--- Applause