Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, one thing that we do not hear much of in this House and in the discussions that go on in the Northwest Territories, we seem to be discussing a lot in the area of development, diamonds, in consideration of opening up our resources. Mr. Speaker, the environment in the Northwest Territories is sensitive and must be viewed as such, in regard to the challenges that we face in the Northwest Territories compared to the rest of Canada and the world. But, Mr. Speaker, we have to consider those challenges such as tundra, permafrost, river systems that flow from high populous areas in the south and north to the Arctic Ocean.

But yet, Mr. Speaker, we have to learn from our past experiences that we have had in the Northwest Territories when it comes to development. Mr. Speaker, I am talking about issues such as the Cannol Trail which was built in the 1940s in regard to running a pipeline from Norman Wells to Whitehorse in the Yukon. Also, consideration of the Dew Line sites that basically spread across the Arctic from Alaska all the way to Greenland. Also, uranium mines which were developed during the 1940s on Great Bear Lake which is now becoming an issue with the people of Deline. In regard to those issues, Mr. Speaker, we have to consider, how are we going to deal with abandoned mines such as Pine Point, for example, the arsenic problem that we have at Giant Mine and also the abandonment of camps on the tundra, the cause of the prospecting rush that took place. Also, the consideration of the increased mining claims in the Northwest Territories, the possibility of abandoned mines and exactly what the cost to this government is going to be in the long term.

Mr. Speaker, as aboriginal people in the North that live in unity with the environment, we have to realize that the environment is probably one of the most sensitive things that we can deal with at this time. Mr. Speaker, we have not had an opportunity to really look at the implications of the greenhouse effect that is presently underway and the effects it will have on permafrost in the Northwest Territories, from the experience on the east coast of Canada with the problem with their fishery and now we are seeing it in the west coast. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like unanimous consent to conclude my statement.