Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I wish to speak again about NorthwesTel, the second part of my statement that I wanted to speak to on this particular issue.

As I indicated, we had lunch with Mr. Boorman, the President, yesterday and he gave us a broad overview of some of the factors affecting NorthwesTel and its ability to be a viable appropriation. On the other half of that equation, while we have to be sympathetic to a certain extent to NorthwesTel, we have to recognize that the communities, as well, have strong concerns about the level of service and whether it will, in fact, be affordable.

Mr. Speaker, NorthwesTel is aware of that concern, if not from me, from many others that they have heard those concerns from. They recognize and they have been told repeatedly that they have to do a better job in terms of marketing and responding to people and community concerns.

Mr. Boorman indicated the fact that they intend to go out to the communities and start trying to, in fact, address that shortcoming. Mr. Speaker, I think we have to see our relationship with NorthwesTel as something of a partnership that requires a certain amount of goodwill by both parties. That has to be based, of course, on both parties having all the facts and being aware of all the figures to ensure that, in fact, we are not subsidizing a corporation.

CRTC, I think will be, I would hope, looking at those factors when NorthwesTel approaches them on these issues of concern. Mr. Speaker, the people of the north and NorthwesTel have a vested interest in a strong, affordable telecommunication system that links all of our communities together and to the world. I would encourage NorthwesTel as they come to us looking for support to ensure that their corporate house is in order as well and that they are going to be able to address in a reasonable, affordable way, the concerns of the people of the communities of the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

--Applause