Thank you, Mr. Chairman, my general comments are in relation to this government now taking on responsibility to fund the diamond industry, the mining industry. Considering the government just came out of the hole, just barely balanced the books and considering all the cuts we have put to the people in the communities, I am surprised we now have money to give to the diamond industry, to the mining industry, but we do not seem to have any money to help teachers salaries and benefits, and nurses salaries and benefits.
I have a hard time understanding how the department of transportation could feel it was their responsibility to supply land and a commercial/industrial area at the Inuvik airport for the diamond industry, when they cannot even keep the roads in shape. The other point I would like to make here, Mr. Chairman, is Yellowknife is complaining steadily about the lack of employment and opportunities, economic opportunities in this region, but Yellowknife is getting all the money. Yellowknife is getting all the big contracts, all the highway contracts. The roads are developed around Yellowknife.
Now we have to fork out money to keep them alive. I just do not understand that at all. I understand the principle the Minister is putting forward, putting money up front is going to come back later. I suppose when I reach this item, I am going to ask him a question in relation to that, is that does he expect to get it all back in taxes? Something like that? I do not know but I just do not agree with the principle that is being put forward here is that we have to keep the big companies going while the poor are going without. I just do not understand that. That is my comment on this particular bill.