Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Premier regarding the social and economic viability of the smaller communities, especially where we have high unemployment, high number of people on social assistance, income support. I would like to ask the Minister exactly what this government is doing to encourage his departments to try and assist those communities by whatever economic opportunity comes along such as government contracts, either sole source, negotiated, or basically publicly tendered to ensure that the maximum benefit of public funds being spent on these projects are used to its maximum in our smaller communities? I do not say this lightly because I feel there are a lot of young people out there who want that opportunity to work, but do not feel comfortable when they see people from outlying communities or the larger centres coming into the ridings like the Mackenzie Delta, the one I represent.

I would like to ask the Premier, what is he doing to encourage his cabinet colleagues and other deputy ministers to ensure that they get the maximum benefit to our smaller communities to generate jobs and also help stimulate the smaller community economies?