Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I don't know if I can top that, Michael. A job well done.
This government has outlined the course of action it will take over the next four years, in a document titled Northwest Territories Agenda for Change. Of the 10 priorities the government listed, improving social and economic conditions ranked two and three effectively; community empowerment ranked fourth; and, control of our future is ranked in the ninth position.
The govern ment-stated vision includes a healthier and "better educated and self-reliant northerner able to enjoy a good quality of life, access to more jobs and more jobs they want and need." Mr. Speaker, I believe we will have to settle for a more practical vision of helping northerners.
A pragmatist viewing our current plans would wonder how the government can hope to improve social and economic conditions when they are reducing or withdrawing funds put in place to ease social realities and raise the level of our education and training programs.
The communities have already questioned the real meaning of empowerment, asking how the level of the children's education can be raised when school boards are being forced to lay off numerous teachers. The Kivallivik region alone will lose six teaching positions this year: one in Baker Lake and five from my own community of Arviat.
Mr. Speaker, this is a prime example of an issue that will not only have a direct negative impact on our children, but will indirectly impede our progress in preparing for a sound foundation for Nunavut. When we tie the critical issue of education with the decreased incremental dollars, some of which are for training, with the sum recently announced by Mr. Irwin, I believe we will all agree that our deep concerns over education and training are more than justified. Mr. Speaker, when we consider the reduction in our federal funding of approximately $100 million and the incremental funding for division as proposed by Mr. Irwin, the net gain is shameful. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Matna. Mahsi cho.
--- Applause