Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to speak on a subject that is very, very secretive. That is the issue of confidentiality. As Members of this House, we are admonished to respect the sacred trust placed on us by being involved in the business plans and participating in budget preparations. Is it okay to say budget, Mr. Speaker?
Mr. Speaker, it has occurred to me recently that many people are party to this highly confidential information. People such as mayors, municipalities who are consulted about capital plans, capital budgets, contracts which are placed in newspapers subject to budget approval, prior to the budget even being released. We have our Minister of Health and Social Services on CBC Northbeat talking about the closure of a facility subject to a budget that has not been released yet.
I just wanted to bring this issue of confidentiality up today, and report to our constituents that we are bound by confidentiality as MLAs. However, you might hear much more than you would be able to get from us, because we respect this, by talking to just about anybody in the Northwest Territories. Thank you.
-- Applause