Thank you. Mr. Chairman, Mr. Arlooktoo makes a number of good points, travel and so on and so forth. First of all this amendment to the Commission's recommendation came to me this morning. This report has been available since June 30 and was presented to the Speaker of the House. I had no time to deal with this. It just came in front of me this morning at a meeting. The amount of time that I did have to deal with it was a five-minute phone call to the hamlet of Arviat in which they responded with a letter stating their concerns and their dismay that this was happening after the deliberations that took place regarding the study. Mr. Speaker, to me it would make no sense to have Arviat join up with another community that would bring its population to over 2,000 people with one Member and give a seat to another to Sanikiluaq with 495 people. I stand to be corrected, the information was 490. We will assume that it is 700. It will still raise the issue which brings the point forward that the MLA for Arviat will be responsible for over 2,000 people.

We have a community that has the fastest growth rate population wise in Canada and probably North America and the highest unemployment. To expect one Member to serve that many people with that many social problems and high unemployment is unthinkable. There are a number of issues here. The report made it very clear as to what they felt was a fair balance to their recommendation. There was a great deal of time, effort and money spent on this report and to have it twisted and contorted at the last minute, I think, is somewhat unfair to all parties. I guess the issue is I have not had the time to speak to my communities. I do not know who has spoken to Whale Cove. I would think and I believe that they should have a voice and I would have concern that they have not been consulted. For all these reasons, I think it only fair and I respectfully move that we defer this item until such time we have an opportunity to fairly and honestly speak to all parties. I think that is only reasonable and fair.

With that Mr. Chairman, I will be asking for your support to defer this item so that we can spend the time on it that is necessary given the fact that this came on the table in front of me this morning. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.