Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Part of our discussion during the review of the business plans for the department concentrated on the area of the reductions for this particular department. It goes along in the same vein as my honourable colleague from Inuvik, Mr. Roland, just mentioned, we do need job creation but at the same time it benefits the territory as a whole.

One of the areas of tremendous concern that I have expressed several times with this particular department and with the Department of Renewable Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, is the fact they have been cut back. I realize that we have had to bring our budget in line and had to cut the deficit. In my opinion, the cuts in these departments results in further unemployment, which results in people having the need of going onto the safety net in the territories, which in essence, increases our costs, which in some ways is unproductive. There needs to be support and I emphasized this to the Minister to pass along to his cabinet colleagues, to ensure these two departments, specifically Transportation and RWED, need more money. And why? It is because they can enter into projects that will benefit the territory as a whole. Job creation, like Mr. Roland said, you improve the highway system, you also increase tourism. It is extremely important, in my mind, to have those kinds of initiatives developed in the territories. We need the highway from Rae to Yellowknife improved. It is in terrible shape. It is prone to accidents. It is a stretch of highway, where if we could concentrate some funds in that area in the next couple of years, we could definitely improve our tourism. Secondly, the spinoff benefit is the trucking industry, the residents of this area and to everybody. At the same time, we are creating jobs.

The concern I have is with that whole area, Mr. Chairman, the fact that we keep peering at these departments, but if we are not careful, the social envelope area is going to go from 65 percent to 70 percent to 75 percent. I realize we have need in those areas. I am not trying to denigrate those needs. What I am saying is, we also have needs in a department that is a job-creating type of department. That has to be kept in mind by all Members of the Legislative Assembly. It certainly has to be kept in mind in formulating the budget. I would strongly urge the Minister for next year, with these budgets, that have basically been put together which we are here to review the efficiency and allocation of the total budget. Next year, I will want the Minister to push for more money into this particular department. I can see nothing but good coming out of that. Those are my comments, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.