Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Good afternoon to the Minister and her staff. As Chairman of the Infrastructure Committee over the past two years, I have had an opportunity to work very closely with the Minister and her staff. I can honestly say that when we have made committee requests for information, the Minister and her staff have always been forthcoming and I must say, on a timely manner.

The issue of the Keewatin regional transfer begs some further comment, I believe. Originally, the Keewatin transfer was the airport transfer of the airports in the Keewatin region. I understand that in a meeting that was held in Whale Cove, I believe, a Keewatin Region Leadership meeting, they had requested the transfer of all operations and maintenance and capital funding for those communities. When we had a chance to have a look at just the motion in a November meeting of the Infrastructure Committee we were still unsure as to the direction the communities were going to take. I should add that this morning we had an opportunity to meet with four of the mayors from the region and I think it is safe to say that we want to revisit their proposal. Earlier reports that we had, that we wanted to stop it cold, I do not think are fair or justified at this time. Indeed, we want to have a chance to review it. I would hope that perhaps in the new year, maybe April, we would have an opportunity, the Infrastructure Committee to go to Rankin Inlet meet with the mayors and actually get a better understanding with the office of the Interim Commissioner, the Minister for MACA and NTI present to see what is in the proposal. I thank the Minister for her support and also thank the mayors from the Keewatin region who actually came to Yellowknife to explain their proposal a little better today.

that the Minister and her staff should keep a close eye on that situation, so that indeed, we use that money for what it was granted for, and maybe to hopefully fast-track some of the identified projects.