Thank you, Mr. Speaker, welcome back. Welcome back Members. These are trying times for Yellowknife's economy, Mr. Speaker. We currently find ourselves in a devastating economic downturn which started with the actions of this government in 1996 when it began a two-year process of eliminating 464 Yellowknife positions. The NWT Construction Association estimates 900 northern construction jobs were lost because this government slashed its budget by $50 million. We have also seen the shutdown of the Colomac Mine, the Ptarmigan Mine, Echo Bay Lupin Mine which together have taken nearly 700 jobs out of the north. Combine that with Con's New Year's layoff of 130 employees coming less than a month after Giant's layoff of 27 workers and this community is reeling. Giant and Con are among the top three municipal taxpayers in Yellowknife contributing nearly $2 million each year to the city. Then there is division looming in only 14 months. Two hundred and eighty six Yellowknife-based government jobs are identified to be eliminated or transferred to Nunavut. On and on the list goes. Enough is enough, Mr. Speaker.

Yellowknife is a large contributor to the northern economy. With only a quarter of the north's population, it accounts for 43 percent of all income and presumably spending and that

benefits other northerners as well. This government needs to focus its attention on rebuilding and supporting the Yellowknife economy. What we need is for Cabinet to send a message to the federal government as a start, in addition to their own program, that the federal government have a responsibility for northern development. Ottawa should provide economic stimulation through incentives such as Ottawa transferring federal employees who work on northern issues to the north. I have spoken on that before, Mr. Speaker. We passed a motion on that just last session. Ottawa should provide money for exploration programs to ensure the long term sustainability of our mines and development of new ones. Ottawa should provide money to upgrade and modernize our mining industry and design a program to rebuild Canada's gold reserve. Ottawa should also develop mining regulations to ensure value-added industries are established in the north. That would be a good start in providing jobs in this community, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.