Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Later on today I will be tabling a petition from the Fort Resolution Health Centre employees of Fort Resolution. Along with it came a letter addressed to myself,

"I hope this letter finds you in good health and spirits. We are writing to request a settlement of our pay equity entitlements. We are making this request for the following reasons. We are now employees of a private organization, The Deninu Health and Social Services Board. We are no longer affiliated with the Union of Northern Workers. We are no longer GNWT employees. The Union of Northern Workers does not represent our concerns.

We believe the GNWT's offer to be fair. We believe the union's demands to be excessive in this economic climate. We believe the settlement monies will go a long way to helping northern families and the northern economy now. We believe these monies to be rightfully ours. We believe that any further negotiations will be fruitless and only create a bigger rift between the involved parties at a time when unity, good will and cooperation is what is required to make this great territory even better. We would like to thank you for taking the time to consider this petition. A copy of this letter will be sent to your Minister of Finance, the Honourable John Todd."

Signed by the health workers in Fort Resolution. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.