Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this government needs to spend more time and energy on job creation. Creating jobs is the key to improving our northern economy. For the past 18 months, I have advocated the transfer to the north of federal positions that deal with northern issues, a move that could bring hundreds of positions to various positions in the north.

Eight months ago I moved a motion, seconded by Mr. Picco, Member for Iqaluit and passed by this House, calling on the Premier, Mr. Morin, to pursue that transfer, and ask the federal government to compile a comprehensive listing of all such civil servants in the federal departments.

The Premier commented on this issue last week and says the transfer is being handled under the northern accord negotiations. Negotiations for an accord have been going on for at least a decade. It is a complex, time-consuming issue that may or may not ever be finalized to our satisfaction. My point is, why not pursue the job transfers separately? Have them moved to the north and then if a northern accord is reached, this government could take over responsibility for the employees. In the meantime, we would get the economic spin-off of those positions, generating taxes and benefits. We need those jobs and influx of money, Mr. Speaker, throughout the north. Bringing high level, high skill jobs north would accomplish two things. It would make the decision-makers live in the places affected by their decisions, and it would stimulate the northern economy. That, Mr. Speaker, is far more important in the short-term. Pursuing the Holy Grail we commonly call the northern accord is commendable but very difficult. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause