Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I stand today in regard to the whole question of office space and the aspirations that aboriginal groups have of possibly being owners of real estate in Yellowknife and looking at the potential Yellowknife has to offer in that area and being told, time and time again this government is not open to that possibility, to any long-term leases. Basically, the arrangement which will be looked at is a month-by-month lease. Yet we hear in this House, there are new organizations on the block who seem to be operating on a new ball field, which seems to have its own rules which apply to certain groups. Yet regarding the Gwich'in Tribal Council who has made several attempts to this government to look at the Laing Building and look at the possibility of purchasing it with the idea of a long-term lease, being told that was not acceptable by this government. We hear of a similar arrangement of a purchase regarding the Lahm Ridge Tower in which they received an eight-year lease in the area of $9.5 million. So, it makes me wonder exactly whose rules are we playing under? Basically, it all depends on who the players are. I think when we talk about an open government and a public government to the people we represent, we have to also take in mind who are we accountable to. I think at the end of the day, it is who pays for these long-term leases regarding the creation of two new territories and the cost to the new governments after division, also, the cost of administering services to both governments and taking on new debts which is crucial in our period of time with regard to one year before division.

I think we have to ask ourselves, can we afford these decisions at this time in regard to finding new ways of purchasing items or getting ourselves locked into long-term leases? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause.