Thank you, Mr. Speaker and thank you, colleagues. Mr. Speaker, I am completely in favour of creative ways of financing capital projects which ridings are looking for, whether it be roads, schools or hospitals. There is an element of accountability missing when these arrangements can be made by the financial management board without being exposed to the public scrutiny of this House. Frankly, this proposal makes me nervous given that there are only 518 days to division. I am not suggesting this government should come to a grinding halt or we should not be visionary until after division. The reality is that east and west are coming to a parting of the ways; a dividing of property and a dividing of outstanding liabilities. If you knew you were getting divorced next month, I doubt you would be out shopping for a house today. Does the risk of imposing long-range commitments on either new government out weigh the benefits of such a significant change?
Another example of a proposed far reaching commitment is the intention announced in the House last week by the Minister for Public Works and Services, the Honourable Goo Arlooktoo to go to RFP next month for the private sector construction of fuel delivery pipelines, Chesterfield Inlet, Coral Harbour, Arviat and Rankin Inlet and I quote, "when the construction is completed, the government will lease back the pipelines for a five-year period, at which point they will be owned outright by Nunavut government." This is a multi-million dollar purchase of infrastructure which this government is going to purchase now on behalf of Nunavut. I would like to ask, what is the rush? If this is such a good idea, it will still be a good idea in 1999. I am sure the extension of existing contracts for one year could be readily negotiated.
Mr. Speaker, in view of the short time between now and April 1, 1999, I suggest that we very cautiously consider the deferral of further fundamental sweeping changes to the policies of this government which could potentially, significantly impact the plans, priorities, autonomy, direction and self-determination of either of the two new territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.