Mr. Speaker, over the weekend I had the good fortune to go to Edmonton to attend the big conference, Meet the North, Build a Vision. Mr. Speaker, there was a significant northern presence at that conference. In particular, I am very proud and I would like to commend the community of Fort Smith who had, in my opinion and in the opinion of many people I talked to down there, one of the best displays at the conference. Mr. Speaker, there were four linked booths put together by the community groups and government, such as the Town of Fort Smith, the Fort Smith Chamber of Commerce, Northwest Air Lease, Taiga Tours, Designer's Den, the Department of RWED, Wood Buffalo National Park, and Mr. Laurie Dexter, all put their efforts together and put together, I think, one of the best booths I have seen. It was definitely a credit to the community.

It is very important for people in the north to recognize that we have to, in fact, sell the many attributes and good things we have up here. Too many of them are a secret to the people in the south. It was a very good conference and I am very happy and proud of the people of Fort Smith. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause