Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Like many of my colleagues in the last number of weeks I have had an opportunity to spend time in my constituency. There are many issues swirling about the community both of a territorial and community nature. Things like division, the constitution, what is going to happen with NTPC, the number of MLAs and pay equity.

The fundamental issue that has been there since I have been elected and continues to be there is that of the economy, the economy at the community level and at the territorial level, jobs, bread and butter issues and employment. The sense I have received very clearly from my constituents as members of the new Western Territory is, they want to know what the plan is in the west for the new Western Territory. They want us to make some decisions and get on with things. Decide on a name, whatever that will be. Let us put some of these issues to rest. How many MLAs are we going to have? Let us deal with it and get on with it. They want to be able to concentrate on other more fundamental issues.

There is some concern, I must confess, about NTPC and what is going to happen. Should it be a joint corporation or should it be split? The few comments I have heard about the number of MLAs were mainly negative and that we do not need more MLAs. Let us put the money to better use like education, housing and health.

--Applause

The comments I have heard about pay equity and the offers that are on the table now from the government, which I will speak to later in the week, were fairly straightforward. Give us a chance to vote on it and we will tell you what we think. I cannot argue with that common sense approach. Mr. Speaker, as we move toward division, we have many issues before us, but my constituents have made it clear they want to know what the blue print is for the west, what is the plan and to make sure we have a strong economic foundation to move ahead. Thank you very much.

--Applause