Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the people of the western Arctic talk about diamond mining sorting and so one, plus recruiting the existing PY's to Nunavut come 1999. We in Nunavut area continue to see high suicide rates, high rate of unemployment, high dependency on social assistance and high birth rates. I also heard many times that the western membership do not want to pay for the creation of Nunavut. By the same token, when the people of Nunavut decided to have the creation of Nunavut, that was a dream and aspiration.

In that regard, they realize that once Nunavut is created, the people of Nunavut would fill out the jobs in the Nunavut government. Mr. Chairman, I think we, the Members of the Nunavut Caucus have sat back to continue to hear that Nunavut is getting all kinds of financial help. By the same token, the western membership talked about recruiting headquarters jobs, existing jobs to Nunavut area, at the same time talking about mining and diamond sorting. Mr. Chairman, I do not think the people of Nunavut are about to compromise the ambition of the west for your dreams and aspirations.

I believe that we have qualified people in Nunavut area as we debate the issue of employment, economic development, social problems and so on of the Northwest Territories. There are people in Nunavut area that are in training. There are people in the Nunavut area that are qualified, but not able to get a job in that area because few jobs are really for our taking. There is a very low turnover in Nunavut area. At the same time we have heard Members talk about Affirmative Action Plan. The Members who talked about Affirmative Action Plan questioning the government. Does the government recognize the Affirmative Action Program of this government?

The government has indicated they have. There are people who are qualified and eligible under the Affirmative Action Program who are ready and willing to work for the Nunavut government once the Nunavut is created.

People of Nunavut, when they decided that once Nunavut is created, they were united as one group. Because they realize that once the Nunavut is created, job opportunities and so on would be theirs in their own area. My question to the Premier is, once Nunavut is created, will you assure this committee, the people of Nunavut who are qualified to take on a job with the government and those who are eligible on their Affirmative Action Program will be given the first crack at the job. Thank you.