Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to make some brief comments today about the concern I have about community libraries across the Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker, community libraries are very important institutions at the community level. The community library in Fort Smith is a centre place for literacy and it also, in a community of 2,500 people has over 10,000 users a year. I am very concerned Mr. Speaker, because I have heard that the government has a review under way which would show a cut to existing budgets to community libraries

Mr. Speaker, it is my understanding that the existing community libraries have not had their funding raised in 10 years. The community in Fort Smith cost shares the library with the territorial government. If in fact this is the case, that this study will be recommending that there will be cuts to existing libraries, it is something that I will be hard pressed to support. The intent of the government may be laudable to try to spread community libraries around, but it makes no sense to me, Mr. Speaker, to cut already underfunded institutions to create even more underfunded and under-resourced institutions. So, I would encourage the government, if they are going to pursue this initiative to in fact make it a positive initiative where they try to identify funds to build community libraries, not to cripple the existing ones to try to build more inadequate community library services. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause