Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, because of the anticipated growth associated with the creation of Nunavut, the federal government allocated monies under the Nunavut incremental infrastructure envelope. These monies were targeted to the decentralized communities and Iqaluit, as outlined in Footprints 1 and 2. As part of that program, Iqaluit was scheduled for a new seven-classroom school. After reviewing the enrolment numbers and the unprecedented growth in the Tundra Valley and Happy Valley area of Iqaluit, it was quickly realized that the seven classroom facility as planned would be redundant at completion next fall. With support of the Iqaluit education authority and our departments of Public Works and Services, and Education, we began lobbying the federal government to come up with the extra money to expand the original seven classroom school to 11 classrooms. Needless to say, Mr. Speaker, that most officials and departmental staff were not very hopeful that new monies could be found, although the demonstrated need was there.

Mr. Speaker, I met with the Honourable Jane Stewart earlier this summer about the situation and the redundancy issue of the new proposed seven classroom school. Ms. Stewart also had an opportunity in early July to travel to Iqaluit to see the increased development and growth first hand. At the end of July, DIAND announced that they would increase the proposed new Iqaluit middle school from seven to 11 classrooms. I would like to take this opportunity, Mr. Speaker, to thank the Honourable Jane Stewart and the Nunavut Secretariat, our departments of Education and Public Works and Services and the Iqaluit education authority for their support and encouragement over these past several months of hard work on behalf of the people of Iqaluit. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause.