Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the wee hours of the morning, I raised the issue of the need to focus our agenda down to two key priorities. The first one being that we should be focusing all our attention and resources on trying to make sure the programs and initiatives we started in the communities are backed up and running as effectively as possible. In the last two years, we have asked the people we represent to make sacrifices and to share the pain that was required to balance our budget and get our financial house in order. They have done that. Now it is up to us to make sure that we do not break that faith when we move to try to rekindle the economy, look at employment initiatives and deal with social problems.

The other issue, Mr. Speaker, is that of division and the need for a smooth transition. Of course, I would like to restate the point of key concern to me is the fact that division has to take place at no expense to services and programs in the west. The reason I restate that, Mr. Speaker, is because I want to reassure the people that I represent and the people of the west that even though once again the Member for Iqaluit has made attempts when he asked the Minister of Education yesterday to move the trades program from Thebacha to Iqaluit, that will not happen.

Mr. Speaker, I must give the Member credit. He has more gall than Caesar. A few short weeks ago, he was championing the cause of moving $13 million from western health boards to eastern health boards, a move which would have seriously disadvantaged the health boards in the west. Now, we see him once again trying to work his wily tricks.

Mr. Speaker, the Member for Iqaluit is a clever, political trickster. He talks to us, look here I speak of compassion and friendship with one hand and in the other hand, he wants to reach into the pocket of the west, take our wallet and empty it out. I do not believe the people of the west or the east for that matter would accept that. If we are going to proceed smoothly to division, we cannot keep doing that. Every time it happens, it just reinforces the fact that there is a shift or there maybe a shift and that we must be vigilant.

Mr. Speaker, I know that is not the intent of this process and I would hope, Mr. Speaker, I request unanimous consent to conclude my statement.