Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will speak in Inuktitut. (Translation) Mr. Speaker, thank you. As we all know, right now, the income tax will have to be worked on in the very near future. Mr. Speaker, we all know, the ordinary people do not know how to do their income tax, especially in the smaller communities. We do not have any help to file income tax. In Yellowknife, you have H&R Block that we could use for support, but in the smaller communities, we do not have anything like this. Mr. Speaker, there are many people who need help filling out their income tax forms and every year, the income tax form changes. Even when you are able to speak the English language, the returns are very difficult to understand. We, the Inuit, are the taxpayers, especially in the north. We have to think about them because they are not able to read English. As stated, even if you are able to read, it is very difficult to understand and a lot of people do not fill out their income tax forms because it is very difficult for them. We do need help in the smaller communities. Is there any help available from the government? Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (Translation ends)

--Applause

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Enuaraq.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I too, would like to say that today is Friday and I am also very thankful. We have been pretty busy for the past five weeks. Mr. Speaker, I had the opportunity to be on the front page in a newspaper article this week, and I learned that by going through Internet messages on the computer. Yesterday, I started going through internet messages again, just to find out whether I still remain to be on the front page for this week. I learned that two dogs have taken away my front page in the news article and Mr. Speaker, I hope those two dogs are not Mr. Kakfwi's dogs. Thank you.

--Laughter/Applause

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Picco.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, over the past two years, originating with the Iqaluit Trade and Promotion Office, I have been involved in trying to create some new economic activities at the Iqaluit airport. One of these initiatives included the opportunity of cold-weather testing. The idea of a cold-weather testing facility came about because of the usage of the Iqaluit airport for cold-weather testing by different major airlines. As an example, the cold-weather testing of an airbus 340, owned by Air France. That alone, Mr. Speaker, significantly dropped approximately $750,000 into the local economy. Yesterday, Jerry Ell of the Qikiqtaaluk Corporation and I, met with the Minister of Transportation to again revisit this proposal. Mr. Speaker, hopefully over the next few months, more developments may be made public that could result in significant revenue streams and unique opportunities for new jobs, as well as international and corporate exposure for Iqaluit. Mr. Speaker, we have to look at new economic and job creation opportunities outside of government. This ongoing initiative may result in private business setting up a cold-weather testing facility in my community that may result in new opportunities for jobs and revenue streams. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Ootes.

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Erasmus.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today because I refuse to be influenced by harsh words of others. I refuse to remain silent anymore. I rise today to applaud the government on their stance on the diamond industry.

--Applause

I applaud their insistence that valuation and sorting must occur off site and in a northern community. I applaud their stance on value-added secondary industry, that they want to work with the industry to ensure access to a constant, reliable supply of diamonds at fair market value. Mr. Speaker, it is the government's responsibility to ensure that northern residents benefit from northern resources, not just to allow people to fly in and fly out or drive in and drive out, as the case may be. Mr. Speaker, we have heard that on average, the federal government will get annual revenues of something like almost $200 million a year, while the Government of the Northwest Territories will receive $17 million a year. That is less than we will have to spend on infrastructure and social programs in support of the mines. Mr. Speaker, I would rather see diamonds stay in the ground than receive less benefit than we spend on social programs caused by the mines. Yes, Mr. Speaker, I applaud this government's stance on the diamond industry. Thank you.

--Applause

Members' statements. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Morin.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It gives me great honour and pleasure to introduce a fellow who served in this House and was also sitting with me for four years and two Assemblies ago. He helped me greatly to understand the rules of this House. I was very fortunate when I got elected, I had Members who served in the House for many years who were very honourable and knew how the rules and the procedures of the House worked and how to work as an MLA. I would like to recognize the honourable Ludy Pudluk from the High Arctic.

--Applause

Mr. Speaker, Ludy was a good friend of many Members of this House and he still is. Welcome to the House, Ludy.

Thank you, Mr. Morin. Welcome to the Assembly. Life must be good after politics. You do look younger.

--Laughter/Applause

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Roland.

Welcome to the Assembly. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. O'Brien.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize a good friend of mine and a better friend to Mr. Todd, Mr. Glenn McLean, the president of the Keewatin Chamber of Commerce. Thank you.

--Applause

Thank you. Welcome to the Assembly. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mrs. Groenewegen.

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Ningark.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize my senior, my teacher and my friend, Mr. Ludy Pudluk.

--Applause

Thank you. Recognition of visitors in the gallery, Mr. Evaloarjuk.

Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Mr. Barnabas.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I would also like to recognize my predecessor, my colleague and resident of Resolute. He is also with the NHURD Board. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause