Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My statement today is in regard to the question of fairness and opening the area around Yellowknife to other aboriginal organizations to look at the possibility of acquiring real estate in Yellowknife and also having the ability to lease back that space to this government. Mr. Speaker, I am talking about two organizations in general, the Dene Development Corporation and the Gwich'in Development Corporation, who have made several inquiries into certain real estate transactions in this city in regard to Lahm Ridge Tower, the Laing Building, the Stuart Hodgson Building and other real estate opportunities they are presently looking at. Mr. Speaker, in regard to the comments in this House in reference to the Lahm Ridge Tower, I think the aboriginal groups have made it clear that they will not settle for anything less.
Mr. Speaker, regarding the organizations I speak of in which the Laing Building has been one of the real estate transactions they have been working on for a number of years, the Gwich'in Development Corporation have been looking at it for the last two years. Since then the Dene Development Corporation has taken on looking and purchasing such properties and also the possibility of becoming active in the real estate market in Yellowknife. They are involved in allowing themselves to compete in this market and be able to acquire leases from this government. Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time I will be asking the Minister of Public Works questions about these leases and why has it taken them so long and why was the Lahm Ridge Tower deal was done in such a short period. Thank you.
--Applause