Mr. Speaker, in regard to the Northwest Territories Development Corporation, the Northwest Territories Development Corporation was established in 1990 with the passage of the Northwest Territories Development Corporation Act. The corporation has a somewhat unique mandate in that it is charged with going where the private sector cannot or will not go to create jobs for northerners. This means the corporation focuses most of its efforts in small communities where unemployment rates are high and opportunities are few. For the most part, companies under the

corporation's umbrella employ people who have had little or no opportunity to join the wage economy.

In 1996, Mr. Speaker, approximately 1,200 people were employed through job creation with the corporation. A profile of these employees show that 60 percent were female; 80 percent were aboriginal; 75 percent had less than a grade 10 education and 50 percent were on social assistance and employment insurance prior to working for the corporation.

Wages paid by the corporation amount to nearly $5.6 million. An additional $7.5 million was paid for supplies, services and products such as carvings. On the revenue side, the corporation generated $8.6 million, most of which came from the south and is new money in our economy.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to note that initiatives by the Northwest Territories Development Corporation reach far beyond the goal of creating jobs for people in small communities. Those who gained employment have the opportunity to learn, prosper and look forward to a more positive future. Employees receive on-the-job training, gaining skills that are transferable and attractive to other employers. As a result, corporation employees can lead more productive lives and become a positive role model in their communities.

The initial thrust of the corporation is to create jobs. Recently, efforts have concentrated on streamlining the marketing arm of the corporation. Three marketing companies have been merged into one and a new sales inventory system has been put into place. This system provides detailed data to make sales projections and identify product requirements. In addition to these improvements, the corporation has set up new retail outlets to distribute its products. The corporation now has outlets in eastern Canada, where Inuit products are in greatest demand and in western Canada, where Dene products seem to be most popular.

Mr. Speaker, the Northwest Territories Development Corporation is just one of the tools we have at our disposal to implement policies, directed at improving the standard of living of northern residents. The Corporation has made significant progress in developing our economy. I hope to see it play an even greater role in helping to meet the needs of small communities. I believe the corporation is now in a position to expand operations, and it my expectation that this will occur in the upcoming year. Thank you.

--Applause