Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, in the past I have brought up the issue of tax-based versus non-tax based communities and the way support is given. I believe there still needs to be some work done in this area. Over the two years we have seen reductions and I think tax-based communities, in my opinion, have taken the brunt of it. For example, reductions in water/sewer rates usually meant an increase in taxes. Thankfully, in the community of Inuvik, they have managed once again to not give us an increase. I think that is an area that needs to be worked on.

Another area is the CTV Act as we talk about community empowerment. I am sure there must be changes in the CTV Act to accommodate some of these community empowerment initiatives, because it is spelled out fairly clear in the City, Towns and Villages Act what communities can do and how they must operate. I am interested in that area as well, as to some of the changes that are occurring. There were some changes made this last sitting we had to that act, but I think there is ongoing work. I would like to know where we are at with that.

In the area of community empowerment, I was one who spoke in support of it, and I still believe that it is an area that requires work. Unfortunately, the big thrust of community empowerment came when we were doing a lot of reductions. Communities were not too enthusiastic in taking up the idea, especially when they learned they were going to be taking less funds for a lot of the operations. Hopefully, with the budget being settled down here where we do not have any more reductions to focus on, that would continue. I think also, due process as we heard earlier, needs to be done. For example, in a community like Inuvik, they are undergoing self-government negotiations that will have a very significant impact on the way business is done with this government, for some time yet, before that concludes. That is something that needs to be looked at. Again, it impacts tax-based and non-tax based communities, how revenues will be treated and so on. I look forward to going through the budget and addressing the specific concerns I have raised and hope to get some information that I can share with members of my community. Thank you.